THE YEAR THAT WAS: Over the last week or so, dallasnews.com has been looking back at the best of 2009. Most of the countdowns so far have been of national arts stuff like television and pop culture. But now we’ve got a review of the year in classical music and opera and (I think) a review of visual arts and architecture. The list is called Year in Review: Dallas Arts District, which curiously includes shows from the Kimbell at Nos. 3 and 4. Any who … it’s still a good reminder of some of the top notch fine art happenings from the last year. I might have included the George Segal show at the Nasher and the Philip Haas show at the Kimbell, but it’s hard to argue too loudly against what made the list.

MUSIC BITS: The Dallas Observer has ranked the best DFW albums of 2009. Topping the list: Telegraph Canyon’s The Tide and the Current (DC9 at Night) … Fort Worth’s Hentai Improvising Orchestra refuses to practice so everything stays nice and improvised. (FW Weekly) … KXT has in-studio videos of recent vintage from former Slobberbone frontman Brent Best and Fort Worth’s Maren Morris. (kxt.org).

SIGNING OFF FOR NOW: Just a note to let you know The Morning Roundup will be too covered in wrapping paper tomorrow a.m. to deliver the usual look at the day’s local arts news (which is just as well, as I predict a slow news day). So we suggest you take a break, too, and meet back up with us on Monday. Until then, I leave you with my favorite rendition of this Christmas carol. Try slipping it on the stereo when everyone’s opening gifts and see if anyone notices.