By Andy Argyrakis, senior editor, gmclife.com

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday out of the way, gift givers can now browse the malls and the web without the hassles of crowds and website crashes. Sure, it’s still a mad rush in either area, but now with the buzz simmering ever so slightly, consumers can take comfort in slightly less insanity as the countdown clock ticks closer to Christmas. And believe it or not, some of the deals out there are actually better than they were during all of the mania, especially in the case of buying music-related gifts online. You’ll find something for everyone on your list, from U2 to Group 1 Crew, and Johnny Cash to those silly Veggie Tales characters. So kick back and relax (with mouse in hand) to check off everyone on the list without leaving your easy chair (or spending an arm and a leg).

1. TobyMac Moving Pictures
Rapper/hip-hop hero TobyMac adds another notch in his belt ending yet another banner year with this DVD compiling all of his solo music videos. It clocks in at the sale price of $8.99 at the moment, though no matter when it’s purchased, expect to catch high energy concept clips of “Get This Party Started,” “Gone,” “Lose My Soul” and “Tonight,” plus a handful of live videos.

2. Randy Stonehill The Definitive Collection
Paying a $1.99 for this “Jesus Music” trailblazer’s greatest hits is truly a steal of a deal, but it’s all perfectly legal in this physical edition of a recently remastered collection. Many of the singer/songwriter’s influential career crests are on the docket, including “Shut De Do,” “I Could Never Say Goodbye” and “Who Will Save the Children?”

3. U2 t-shirts
Concert t-shirts are almost as expensive as tickets these days, and in the case of U2’s recent 360 Tour outing, they’re starting at $30. But for those who love the band and want to sport some swag while bypassing that steep price tag, there’s always the sale sections on its official website, which finds equally cool designs from the 2005/2006 Vertigo Tour for only $8 a pop.

4. Mariah Carey Merry Christmas II You
Even if Mariah Carey’s released a plethora of major pop and soul hits over the years, her most beloved track is arguably the holiday anthem “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” On this second Yuletide offering, she reprises the hit via an “extra festive” edition, along with many spiritual standards like “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” And the best part is the price, which in an MP3 format (that can also be emailed as an electronic gift), is only $4.99.

5. Garth Brooks CDs
Did you miss out on grabbing seats to Garth Brooks’ December residency in Nashville or his pricey spring outing in Las Vegas? Well, at just $5.50 per disc, fans can swoop up several of the country crooners’ best-selling CDs, including now classic collections like Ropin’ the Wind (featuring “The River”) and The Chase (including “We Shall Be Free”).

6. Group 1 Crew Christmas Ultimate Fan Pack
Pop and hip-hop lovers are sure to devour this web-exclusive holiday bundle featuring many of Group 1 Crew’s most popular merch items. The $29.99 package is loaded with a choice of t-shirts in any desired size, a phone decal and a poster personally signed by group members. Those who order by December 15 also score free shipping!

7. Sandi Patty Duets 2
Looking for the perfect add on for Mom or Grandma but don’t have a ton of dough? Check out this 2009 release from Sandi Patty, featuring her practically operatic vocal range across a slew of beautiful ballads, backed by a little help from several famous friends. Guests include Amy Grant, BeBe Winans and David Phelps for a mere $3.99.

8. Johnny Cash Legacy Editions
Ever since the passing, of the Man In Black, his record label’s been combing through the archives to give fans a slew of forgotten treasures. Two of his most significant performances earn lush 2 CD/1 DVD box sets – At Folsom Prison and At San Quentin – both of which are slashed to practically half price at $20 or less.

9. Veggie Tales The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown
Besides all the aforementioned ideas for grown-ups, don’t forget a stocking stuffer for the kids at $4.99 (for a limited time). For the cartoon lover, catch a karaoke-styled DVD of Veggie Tales’ The Ultimate Silly Song Countdown, loaded with sing-a-longs like “I Love My Lips” and featuring everyone’s favorite characters Bob, Larry and “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything.”

10. Make Your Own Mix Disc
Last but not least is a chance to put your own creative stamp on a gift without having to pay for anything but a blank CD! Head over to Amazon’s free MP3 section and scour the hundreds of free selections to customize a collection. At press time, hot hits were available for the taking by Beyonce, Huey Lewis and the News, Point of Grace, Chaka Khan and Avalon.

---

About the Writer

Andy Argyrakis is a Chicago-based entertainment writer/photographer who appears in the Chicago Tribune, IllinoisEntertainer, Daily Journal, Concert Livewire, Hear/Say Magazine and Image Chicago (to name few). His record label writing credits include Warner Brothers, Atlantic, Curb, EMI and Universal, with additional photo credits for Fuse TV, Live Nation, Nikon, Pollstar, Celebrity Access, Paste Magazine, MTV.com and Vibe.com. He’s also the author/narrator of "Access Matthews" (an audio CD tracing the career of Dave Matthews Band) and spends considerable time on tour, including outings with Arlo Guthrie, The Guess Who, Madina Lake (on Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution) and Gospel Music Channel’s very own "Gospel Dream" (where he served as season one judge).