Holy crap, dear hearts! It’s December 22nd! I’d better slide you some top-notch Christmas music to make sure your holidays is filled with those things which are awesome.
IN TIME, THE LORD WILL RISE
‘Round these parts the greatest contemporary Christmas musician is considered to be Sufjan Stevens, who put out five EPs of Christmas music from 2001-2007. Each collection contained not only thoughtful interpretations of traditional numbers, but originals that hit all the holiday touchstones: reverence, joy, Jesus, Santa, and family tension.
Bonus elf points for the greatest Christmas song titles of all time: “Did I Make You Cry On Christmas (Well You Deserved It!)”, “What Child Is This Anyway?”, and today’s track:
Sufjan Stevens – That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!
Sufjan’s box set Songs For Christmas is the best value of any purchase you’ll make all year (music or no) — $15 for 5 CDs, stickers, liner notes, stories, a songbook, and more! Through Christmas Day you can stream the whole box set and get all sorts of Christmas goodies at http://xmas.asthmatickitty.com.
WHO WE GONNA HANG WITH? THE ISRAELITES!
Thank God for the British Christmas-single tradition. Regular readers know of my appreciation for (St.) Eddie Argos, so when his sense of humor and love for pop music meet Christmas, it’s a guaranteed Vegetable smash.
Glam Chops – Countdown To Christmas
KEEP THE FAMILY STRONG WITH A LITTLE LOVE, FAITH, AND HOPE
If you only have two Christmas albums, you need an Elvis collection and a James Brown collection. You’ve probably heard “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto” (and maybe even heard Belle & Sebastian’s version), but JB’s Christmas catalog is deeeep, and he consistently gave the most sincere, least phoned-in performances in Christmas music.
James Brown – Santa Claus Is Definitely Here To Stay
‘TWAS LIGHT YEARS OF TIME SINCE HIS MISSION DID START
This one pretty much blew my mind the first time I heard it yearsnyears ago, and I still can’t even believe it. Walking the ridiculous/sublime line where so much Christmas music lives. God bless you, 1976.
Chris De Burgh – A Spaceman Came Travelling
POPCORN, SANTA CLAUS!
Mad elf props to Ida for turning me on to an amazing holiday compilation on Strut Records called In The Christmas Groove, which is filled with funky and soulful gems like this one:
J.D. McDonald – Boogaloo Santa Claus
DO THE FAIRIES KEEP HIM SOBER FOR A DAY?
This has been my favorite Christmas song for maybe five years running. Supposedly been heard by 42% of the world’s population. Not enough!
Slade – Merry Xmas Everybody
FEIGNING JOY AND SURPRISE AT THE GIFTS WE DESPISE, OVER MULLED WINE
Wait, this one is my favorite!
The Darkness – Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End)
