So, I don’t really like Christmas songs. I mean, I don’t even really celebrate Christmas. But in much the same way I am fascinated by Asia albums, Night Ranger videos, and 1980s soundtrack songs, I find holiday music endlessly interesting. I’ve got a collection that is terrifying both in size and scope, and every year, my quest for non-sucking yule tunes causes said collection to grow. Here are twenty-odd songs that have passed the test this season. Download and enjoy!
Bing Crosby – Happy Holidays (Beef Wellington Remix): This song gets stuck in Leah’s head all the time, to the point where she’ll go around singing “Happy Holidays:” and then yelling at herself. So naturally, I play it all the time. All the remix tracks are from this cool Six Degrees compilation.
Otis Redding – Merry Christmas Baby: Can’t argue with Otis.
Jet – Back Door Santa: Yeah, they’re trendy and annoying and stupid, and so am I for buying this on iTunes. But this ain’t half bad.
Barenaked Ladies – Hanukkah Blessings: It’s so hard to find good contemporary Hanukkah music. Thanks, BNL!
Berlin Symphony Orchestra – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Red Baron Remix)
Fiona Apple – Frosty the Snowman: I can’t imagine whose idea this was, or why she agreed to it. TakenÁ¢€”along with the Keb’ Mo’ and Thorns songsÁ¢€”from this album.
Coldcut – Coldcut’s Christmas Break: Yep, that Coldcut.
Bobby Vinton – Santa Must Be Polish: Not as funny as “Dominic the Italian Christmas Donkey,” but that was on last year’s CD.
Barenaked Ladies – Hanukkah, O Hanukkah
Bing Crosby – The First Noel (Attaboy House Party Mix)
Louis Armstrong & The Commanders – Cool Yule: Louis makes everything cool. This song can be found in many different placesÁ¢€”I got it from a Starbucks compilation!Á¢€”but why not start here?
Juliana Hatfield – Make It Home: From an old Atlantic holiday compilation.
Sarah McLachlan – Song For A Winter’s Night: Leah loves this one:it’s a cover of an old Gordon Lightfoot song. Get it here.
Brian Setzer Orchestra – Jingle Bells: Proof that even a shitty, greasy old cornball can do something sort of cool once in awhile.
Roomful of Blues – Let it Snow: From their Roomful of Christmas album. They haven’t been the same since Sugar Ray left the band.
Berlin Symphony Orchestra – The Nutcracker Suite (Baz Kuts Breaks Mix)
Keb’ Mo’ – We Call It Christmas
Barenaked Ladies – I Have A Little Dreidel
Bob & Doug McKenzie – Twelve Days Of Christmas: Well, of course. A holiday classic.
The Darkness – Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End): I still can’t decide whether I love or hate this band.
Guster – Carol of the Meows: Exactly what it sounds like. Love me some Guster. This is from iTunes.
The Thorns – Silent Night: I was one of the people who thought a Matthew Sweet/Pete Droge/Shawn Mullins team-up should have been better than it was. Great vocals, boring songs. Here’s one they didn’t write.
James Taylor – Auld Lang Syne: Should auld acquaintance be forgot:
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