Somewhere in between watching my mom and dad play Santa for my little brother and reading this (which I find radically true, in most cases), I kinda got bummed that I had gotten so old, so fast. Well, at least old enough to not (fully) believe in the fat man and not be pre-occupied with anticipation on counting down to Christmas Day. Didn’t it seem like every waking moment you had after Thanksgiving was spent waiting for Christmas? Not anymore, now it just sorta arrives subtly. That sucks. But no time to dwell, for I have more yuletide cheer to spread around via contagious alternative Christmas music. It’s the last day you can technically listen to it, so play it out until your ears bleed…from all the good tidings of cheer, of course.
Dismemberment Plan – This Christmas
The guitar riff in this song is so good, I am almost sad that I am only supposed to listen to it during a specific time period of the year. Regardless, Dismemberment Plan is able to take a relatively underappreciated Christmas song and turn it into a great track.
Coldplay – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Given their global success/domination with the release of XY, I figure it’s only a matter of time before they release a full on Christmas album. This song is Chris Martin solo on his piano at some radio show in L.A.. Very nice quality, and quite frankly a really good song.
Low – Just Like Christmas
Although Low has been around since 1994, they’re music certainly doesn’t sound dated by any means. Having realeased a Christmas album in 1999, their rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy” was picked up by the Gap and used to sell a many jeans. However, the true beauty in their Christmas music is in this song.
Ron Sexsmith – Maybe This Christmas
I think the rate of a new Christmas song coming out, successfully anyways, is about every decade or so. The newest one that gets a lot of radio play would’ve been that Mariah Carey one. Hopefully, this one could be the one for our decade. But since I just realized this song was featured on The OC, any chance of that happening is pretty slim. Here’s to hoping.
The Format – Holly Jolly Christmas
This is a great combo. Take one of my all time favorite bands and let them cover one of my all time favorite Christmas songs, and good results will yield. Burl Ives has a great voice that is nearly impossible to match, but The Format manage to make this song their own. It was just released a few weeks back, so enjoy.
Sufjan Stevens – Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!
I’m willing to bet that Sufjanny Man (my personal nickname for him) can do no wrong when it comes to music. Like I said in my previous post, Sufjan has enough Christmas songs to make any fan happy, but this song has easily been my favorite Christmas song of this season. Boogey to this one, please. Do it for ole St. Nick.
So, that does it for me this Holiday Season. Merry Christmas to Connor and everyone else that pays us a visit. You guys are great. I have a lot more Christmas music, so if you crave more send me a message. Hope everyone gets some good music and egg nog.
PS. Apparently Hanukkah started uber-late this year, and on Christmas…Jesus would be proud, eh? Anyways, I came across a nice little Jewish flavored song that almost makes me wanna convert…well…not really, but enjoy it anyways. Spin that dreidel!
Save Ferris – Christmas Wrapping
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“Ives was one of those named but he agreed to appear before the HUAC and named several former friends, including Pete Seeger, as members of the Communist Party. This enabled him to continue his career in Hollywood and he appeared in Show Boat (1954), East of Eden (1955) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955) and The Big Country (1958).”…….Have a Holly Jolly Christmas in Hell Burl Ives.
Never claimed he was a great American, just a good singer.
the format too! you rock.
Nice links to the pertinent songs.
NO sarcasm here, we all came here to read you little, little diatribe of bs and childish crap, not hear the songs you linked to, so good work.