Christmas music is a genre that can take carols, hymns, and secular holiday songs and infuse those vibes into country, reggae, gabber, rock, funk, whatever. The finest songwriters use the holiday to present new, different, bizarre, and, in some cases, really dope constructs to explore their craft. So we’d like to present some of these ideas to you.
Just so we are clear.
This is not that vanilla playlist to attack your brain, bullying you at the dang Home Depot into being reminded in mid-October, mind you, about the custom pet pajama pants you have to get out in the mail on time. Or the wave tabletop fire bowl (why are we Americans so obsessed with adding fire to what are supposed to be leisure pursuits?) on special order.
Nope. Not here.
We’ve assembled some tunes, 10 joints to be exact, to destress, pour some milk of human kindness back into the cultural Zeitgeist, blast out some weird rock scenarios, and pump a little soul into the holidays. Hopefully, you find some new go-to’s and not-so-obvious banal migraine starters—looking at you, Mariah. We could all use a little bit of peace and goodwill around December 25th, and long after that.
So let’s get to it and have a very happy holiday!
AMANDA WHITING, “SKATING,” A CHRISTMAS CWTCH (FIRST WORD RECORDS)
According to acclaimed Welsh jazz harpist Amanda Whiting, “a ‘cwtch’ is the most important word to Welsh folk. “It’s a hug, with a little squeeze. It’s a feeling. It’s cozy, loving, and safe. I wanted this album to hold you, cwtch you, and allow you to indulge.”
‘A Christmas Cwtch’ takes on assorted classics from the likes of Vince Guaraldi, Bill Evans, Holst, and Tchaikovsky, and re-presents them with original arrangements by Amanda and her accomplished trio.
This collection does feel so Christmas proper, the classic kind that brings the scent of pine needles to your senses, at times it’s difficult to decipher that this was released this month.
“Skating” carries that floating, gallant whimsy that projects the image we’ve all seen; Snoopy and the little yellow bird flying across the frozen pond. It’s easy to identify the care and love baked into what I can easily assume will become a holiday standard.
Buy it here here.
BECK, “THE LITTLE DRUM MACHINE BOY”
To my knowledge, the only holiday song that mentions 808 beats, is this version by the Beck that’s fun. Not the serious Radiohead era of Beck, but the guy who was still just happy to be heard for doing that freaky-freaky stuff. This seven-minute-long Hanukkah-themed funk-rap track is a mid-’90s interpretation of Katherine Kennicott Davis’s classical carol which is the stuff that will make you question what you put in your holiday red cup. Keep sippin’.
MF DOOM x COOKIN SOUL, “DOOM XMAS“
I’ve swapped out the classic Run-DMC for this new tradition. DOOM could do no wrong.
BELLA BROWN & THE JEALOUS LOVERS, “ALWAYS CHRISTMAS EVE“
This soulful Los Angeles outfit nails a certain staple in the Christmas-time oeuvre, the soul ballad telling the non-holiday truth, with those sleigh bells ringing, to double down on those December 25 blues.
Purchase it here.
ELTON JOHN, “STEP INTO CHRISTMAS“
I was so sorry to read recently that EJ is losing his eyesight. There is an era of Elton John that is just superior. All the hats, outfits, heels, boas, and shades were for show and sometimes overshadowed the fact that this dude behind a piano was one of rock’s most sheerly talented acts in the ’70s and into the ’80s.
Go back to Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player, with that core group of players and him behind the piano, just playing with that verve. Advancing that line of Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and hitting it big just before Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” era. I like this version of this Christmas song because you’re getting the full Elton, performing like no other.
THE REDUCERS, “NOTHING FOR CHRISTMAS“
Sometimes you need a bit of naughty pub rock to make the mistletoe shake. “America’s best unsigned band” The Reducers from southeastern Connecticut detail all the common themes for a naughty new year. This genre is often a golden one, fashioning a proper kiss-off to the boring formal way of caroling.
Pick up the single here.
SAWEETIE, “BIG SANTA“
According to our “Baecation” recipient, “It’s the season to trick.” Saweetie could not find subtlety even if it was gift-wrapped under the tree. For numerous gifts, jewelry, clothes, and said vacation, she will make it snow for her “Big, Big Santa”?
Pure holiday comedy….for some.
SAY SHE SHE, “PURPLE SNOWFLAKES” (KARMA CHIEF RECORDS)
Coming off the heater remix this summer of “In The Morning,” discodelic trio Say She She arrives for the yuletide season with a moody cover of Marvin Gaye’s psychedelic Christmas classic. “Purple Snowflakes” does complement the very eclectic nature of this outfit, who keep their burgeoning fan base dancing and guessing simultaneously as to what they shall do next. This swerve cut complements their dilettantish oeuvre.
Pick it up here.
THE WAITRESSES, “CHRISTMAS WRAPPING“
Coolest bassline in a holiday tune, ever.
KHRUANGBIN, “CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE“
“Khruangbin is the only band that will have you listening to a Christmas song in May and enjoying it just as much.” Lemme tell ya, YouTube comments like those remain undefeated. The power trio from Houston dropped this little gem in 2018, and I’ve been rocking with it ever since. I mean, you gotta be really good to get me bumping Xmas music in the summer.
I kinda detest Xmas music like pumpkin lattes, ya know.
But Khruangbin’s cover of “Christmas Time is Here,” done in their ‘it’s all vibes’ mood, is just killer. They’ve got the cascading vocals, that slight little extra bump from the drummer, Donald Johnson Jr., guitarist Mark Speer just unfurling these wavy, heady lines, and of course the masterwork of Laura Lee on bass, keeping everything so calm and chill while maintaining that tight pocket. I don’t know if I should spark one or get with the cyber-clicking for gifts.
Once again, the small band with the big name got me throwing the cool points out the window.
