Speaking of which...

In reference to the Elliot Smith post: this is why Sufjan Stevens does such great Christmas music. He has the whole melancholy thing pegged. He manages to be nostalgic and melancholy and innovative so avoids kitsch in the bad way and achieves holiday nirvana. I tried to buy his collection on iTunes but the system would not let me.
Christmas and Romanticism? Does melancholy suggest a connection between the two--one that I'd resent and don't understand yet.