Merry Christmas kiddos, just about all you have to look forward to this week record shopping is a stocking-ready collection of reissues and collections. Oh, and Ghostface.

Ghostface Killah More Fish (Def Jam)

Wu Tang member and Staten Island resident Ghostface has indeed delivered more fish. In a manner somewhat reminiscent of the good old days (now nearly ten years ago, making Ghost a near AARP card holder among rappers), More Fish provides the requisite number of hard knocks tales from the streets, plenty of name dropping and orchestral samples laced with classic R&B splatters. "Ghost is Back" shines as a leading track, starting slow then opening up with a decidedly old-school sounding collection of sounds: traditional snare beats over flute and heist-worthy bass lines, dirty scratching and the age-old dilemma over how to murder other mc's. The album features production work by Madlib and MF Doom, with appearances by Cappadonna, Red Man and Ghost's son, Sun God.

Ghostface Killah MySpace
Ghostface on Def Jam
Buy More Fish at Waterloo

Sonic Youth Destroyed Room: B-Sides and Rarities (Geffen)

Seems like everyone is riding the "collection" trend lately: Willie, Arab Strap and Jamiroquai (and that's just this week) are all releasing collections, and Sonic Youth has jumped on the bandwagon (with good company, Waits' Orphans isn't a shabby cell mate when it comes tto selling records full of old material) with their Destroyed Room. Covering the last ten years of their career with Geffen, the album includes outtakes from Sonic Nurse, a handful of previously unreleased tracks, Japanese b-sides, and compilation and soundtrack offerings. The hardcore fan will probably at least be aware of most of these songs, but the band has made sure to tempt them too: three of the songs are new to everyone, and "The Diamond Sea" appears with an alternate ending.

Sonic Youth Official
Sonic Youth MySpace
Buy Destroyed Room at Waterloo

Taylor Hicks Taylor Hicks (Arista)

Well, it's probably a no-brainer that they chose some sort of diner font for Hicks' debut album, and it's probably just as well that it's self-titled (we squirm, afflicted with high levels of second-hand embarrassment every time we read the words "Do I Make You Proud?"), but we can't believe there's not a single Doobie cover to be found on this album. Sure, "Takin' it to the Streets" appeared as a b-side to his first single, but come on. We're looking for a full-length version of "Superstition", maybe a JD Souther or Steeler's Wheel cover, hell, throw us an Elton John song, Taylor! Hey, if you have a thirteen year old cousin to shop for, pick this one up. That Filter wanna-be guy is too busy shaving his head and singing Creed songs in his mirror to be offended.

Taylor Hicks Official
Taylor Hicks MySpace
Taylor Hicks "You Send Me" (YouTube)
Buy Taylor Hicks at Waterloo

Andre Nickatina: Bullet Symphony: Horns and Halos #3 (Fillmoe Coleman)
Andre Nickatina: Khantholgy Cocaine Raps 1992-2005 (Fillmoe Coleman)
Arab Strap: Ten Years of Tears (Chemikal Underground)
Bobby Bare: Bird Named Yesterday/Talk Me Some Sense
Bushwick Bill: Little Big Man [Chopped & Screwed] (Asylum)
Cash Money & Marvelous: Where's the Party At? (Traffic Ent.)
Contriva: Separate Chambers (Morr Music / M.M.)
Fantasia Barrino: Fantasia (J-Records)
Ghostface Killah: More Fish (Def Jam)
Giddy Motors: Do Easy (Fat Cat)
Jamiroquai: High Times: Singles 1992-2006 (Sbme Import)
Jarvis Cocker: Jarvis (Rough Trade)
Johnny Cash: Forever Johnny Cash (Madacy)
Kenny Rogers: Forever Kenny Rogers (Madacy)
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo: Road to the Riches [Special Edition] (Traffic Ent.)
Lisa Gerrard: Silver Tree (EMI)
Paul Oakenfold: Lively Mix
The Ramones: Best of the Ramones (St. Clair)
Roger Sanchez: Come with Me (Tinted)
Roy Orbison: Forever Roy Orbison [Tin Can Edition] (Madacy)
Sonic Youth: Destroyed Room (Geffen)
Taking Back Sunday: Louder Now: Partone [CD/DVD] (Warner Bros.)
Taylor Hicks: Taylor Hicks (RCA)
Two Gallants: Nothing to You Remix (Alive)
Tyrese: Alter Ego (J-Records)
Willie Nelson: Willie Nelson [Madacy 3 Disc] (Madacy)
Young Jeezy: The Inspiration (Def Jam)