It’s been a busy year for pop-rock road warriors The Summer Set, but somewhere between the release of this year’s Everything’s Fine album and their sixteenth visit to [insert C market here], they managed to squeeze into a studio and lay down a couple bits of holiday gold (no word on frankincense or myrrh just yet). “Something ‘Bout This Time Of Year,” a mid-tempo meditation on the value of family, breezes by on an undeniable descending-stairstep guitar hook and Jimmy Eat World style chimes.  Meanwhile, acoustic duet “Old Mexico” contemplates ditching the bills entirely for some old-world desert romance. And because everyone loves a bargain, also included is the band’s 2008 Christmas tune “Love On Our Side”. Best of all, 100% of the proceeds from sales of the EP go to Toys For Tots, so lay off the bittorent just this once, ok Grinchy? Didn’t you already get enough free crapola today? Cough up the donation, and think of it as a cut-the-line pass to Santa’s “nice” list.

★★★★☆

*This review was composed by Jesse Richman