Check out John’s new “non-traditional” holiday single, For Christmas, available today on the store page. Here’s the cover art:

Spend a dollar for the download (or more if you choose) and you’ll get two a free bonus tracks: a cover of the Phantogram song “Mouthful of Diamonds” plus the holiday classic “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”

[Note: As of Feb. 2011, "Mouthful of Diamonds" has been "emancipated" from the "For Christmas" single and is available separately as a free download.]

Also, John taped an acoustic version of “Have Yourself…” at the ASCAP offices last week, as part of their holiday songs series. Watch it below:

I spent a good chunk of the 1990s listening to the music of Matthew Sweet, and another significant chunk trying to ape his songwriting style. Regardless of whether I ever succeeded at that, Matthew was, and still is, a huge influence on my work.

And now he makes pottery.

Thanks to Steven Page for the tip. Now go buy his album.