ShockHound

Back in the day, before MP3s or CDs or vinyl or wax cylinders had even been invented, people typically had to go to church to hear traditional Christmas music, or wait for the local gang of carolers to make their rounds. Neither option, however, was particularly ideal: The former had its obvious drawbacks — like, you had to wear clothes in order to attend — and the latter often involved being shaken down for ha’pennies or figgy pudding. So much for the concept of “the good old days,” eh?
    Of course, we have the opposite problem these days — too many Christmas songs to sort through, and a million different places to look for them, on the Internet and otherwise.  What’s a person who wants to put together a cool Christmas party playlist with a minimal amount of hassle or time expenditure to do?
    Lucky for you, ShockHound has convened a panel of experts — and by “experts,” we mean rock stars — to dig up some serious Christmas gold. We’ve got Passion Pit, Glasvegas, Hurricane Bells, the Maine, Frank Turner, OK Go, Peter Bjorn and John and many more weighing in on what music goes great with a lit-up tree and a bowlful of egg nog. Follow their sage advice, and you just might find yourself enjoying the merriest Christmas ever.



PASSION PIT

Jeff Apruzzese’s Holiday Playlist

John Lennon — Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
This is one of those songs I would hear on the radio every Christmas season —I didn't even realize that it was John Lennon until recently!

Alvin and the Chipmunks — The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
This song reminds of decorating the tree with my parents. Every year when we would hang ornaments we would listen to this on record.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby — Little Drummer Boy
This is a no brainer…Bowie with Bing Crosby?! The conversation that takes place between them before the song is surreal.

The Beach Boys — Little Saint Nick
This is what I would imagine every person in California listens to on Christmas.
　
Bob Dylan — Must Be Santa
My Bobby D must have been drinking a lot of egg nog when he made this...
　
The Jackson 5 — I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Ah, little MJ brings some true Motown flavor to this Christmas classic
　
Bruce Springsteen — Santa Claus is Coming to Town
The Boss turns this song into an anthem. Every year during Christmas my dad would make me play the sax solo.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra — Christmas Eve Sarajevo
The most rock ‘n' roll holiday song there is.

Doug Kershaw — Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey
I think this is the only Christmas song my grandmother knows; every year when we would go to her house this song would be on repeat for hours.

Mariah Carey — All I Want For Christmas Is You
Plain and simple, Mariah kills it on this song. Where are you Mariah?

Download Passion Pit’s Holiday Playlist HERE



GLASVEGAS

Paul Donoghue’s Holiday Playlist

Darlene  Love — Please Come Home For Christmas
We used to cover this every Xmas, and thought about doing it in every set because of how good it is.

The Ronettes — Frosty The Snowman
The Ronettes are one of the girl groups who brought us together in the first place. We were the weirdos listening to Xmas songs in June.

Darlene Love — Winter Wonderland
Most of this selection will befrom Phil Spector. Regardless of what has happened in his personal life his music will stand up against anything.

The Ronettes — I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
I'm just working my way through Phil Spector's Christmas album now (A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector). Buy it and hear why (on sale for a limited time now on ShockHound!).

Slade — Merry Xmas Everybody
It's THE song you have to hear about a million times at Xmas. It's like a flower that only blooms at Xmas.

The Waitresses  — Christmas Wrapping
One for Xmas parties. Vocals owe a lot to Blondie though.

Bobb B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans — Here Comes Santa Claus
I really hope this isn't the follow up to number four on my list.

Silent Night
I can't pick any particular version of this. I think it's fair to say this has stood the test of time. Like a fine communion wine.

The Crystals — Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer
The last had to be from Spector. And what better symbol for Xmas than Rudolph. The hardest working deer in showbiz after Bambi.

Download Glasvegas’ Holiday Playlist HERE



HURRICANE BELLS/LONGWAVE

Steve Schlitz’s Holiday Playlist

The Chipmunks — The Chipmunk Song
This is my favorite Christmas song. I had the 45 when i was a kid and I used to drag my Fisher Price record player around behind me, listening to it at Christmas time.

Bob Dylan —  Must Be Santa Claus
From his new record — I love the cherry nose! Ho! Ho! Ho! line and the Mexicali-ness. I can see him in his cowboy suit playing it.

Chuck Berry — Run Run Rudolph
These old Chuck Berry songs are just some of the best sounding recordings of music ever made. Another song I remember dancing to as a young kid in Rochester, NY.

Vince Guaraldi — Christmas Time Is Here
The saddest Christmas song ever! But so beautiful.

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts — Little Drummer Boy
I just heard Joan Jett on the radio the other day, "Bad Reputation.” Only she could sing this song rolling her r’s..... “rrrrrump a pom pom....”

Chuck Berry —  Merry Christmas Baby
I love when he says "you bought me a hi-fi and now I'm in paradise.” I can relate. And the reverb is great, too.

The Beverley Sisters — I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
I always wanted to hear the Pierces sing this song. A classic.

Vince Guaraldi  — Linus and Lucy
Another "Charlie Brown Christmas" song. This one is not technically a Christmas song, but around the holidays it does trigger a Christmas- like feeling...

Julian Casablancas — I Wish It Was Christmas Today
Santa's sleigh is coming to the USA!

The Flaming Lips —  White Christmas
I have the WXPN version but I have heard others, there was a live vinyl single I remember from years ago. This is a perfect, if slightly imperfect, holiday send off.

Download Hurricane Bells’ Holiday Playlist HERE



THE MAINE

Jared Monaco’s Holiday Playlist

Santa Baby — Eartha Kitt & Henri René
Who honestly thinks to put a sexy spin on Santa Claus? This song
is undoubtedly a classic.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra  — Carol of the Bells
This song was given a rock ‘n’ roll makeover by a group that appeals to everyone. Even my grandparents like it.

Elmo & Patsy — Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
I can remember being a kid and hearing this little gem on the radio around the holidays. Graphic, but awesome.

Adam Sandler  — The Chanukah Song
I love Adam Sandler, and this song always used to make me laugh.

Wham! — Last Christmas
We covered this song last year, and it was a blast. Great ‘80s spin on Xmas.

Nat "King" Cole — The Christmas Song
I don't normally enjoy a crooner, but when it comes to the holidays, this song is one of my favorites.

Frank Sinatra  — Santa Claus is Coming to Town
It's Sinatra. That's really all that needs to be said.

Bobby Helms — Jingle Bell Rock
I have a miniature dancing Santa Claus doll at home. When you press his button, this song plays, and he swings his hips around.

Andy Williams — It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I feel like everyone is pissed during the summer months in Arizona because it's so hot. This song always reminds me how great winter is in AZ.

Elvis Presley — Blue Christmas
Nobody can have a blue Christmas like the king.

Burl Ives  — A Holly Jolly Christmas
This song makes me feel great. That's what the holidays are all about.

Download the Maine’s Holiday Playlist HERE



FRANK TURNER

Frank Sinatra — Jingle Bells
I fully intend to end my days as a crooner, doing this sort of stuff. I want a staircase running through the middle of my band, if you see what I mean. This puts me in the mood for long-term planning.

Loudon Wainwright III — Suddenly It's Christmas
Loudon is my hero, and I have to try and get him into any list of songs I make, haha. This is a similarly themed song I suppose, but it's written by the master, so it gets three thumbs up from me.

O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional)
Most English Christmas carols are actually traditional folk songs, technically speaking. I always liked this one, both for the tune and for the King James style language. And it has a killer descent at the end of it.

Josh Rouse — Christmas With Jesus
I love Josh Rouse. This is actually a pretty serious religious song, which isn't normally my sort of thing, but it has to be said this is a great song about the holiday season.

The Pogues — Fairytale Of New York
This is actually the only bona fide excellent song about Christmas. A classic.

Download Frank Turner’s Holiday Playlist HERE



OK Go

Dan Konopka's Unusual Christmas Playlist

AC/DC  — Mistress For Christmas
Ahhh yes, the old Christmas tradition of dirty rock ‘n’ roll and fornication! And on the 13th day of Christmas I got a mistress!

Elvis Presley — Blue Christmas
So easy to slide into the "blues" on such a holiday. I feel you Elvis.

Mew  — She Came Home For Christmas
OK Go toured with Mew when this record came out — everyone loved this song — but no one had a a clue it had a Christmas setting.

Frank Sinatra  — The Christmas Song
Frank Sinatra was played a lot in my house growing up. So weird how mobsters and Christmas go well together. I just had to have one of his on this list.

The Flaming Lips  — Free Radicals (A Hallucination Of The Christmas Skeleton Pleading With A Suicide Bomber)
In this song, the 'Christmas Skeleton' reminds me of a Jack Skellington-type guy (Nightmare Before Christmas), but it’s more like the Ghost of Christmas Past (A Christmas Carol) telling the not-so radical suicide bomber to stop trying to be like Donald Trump... Yep. That's it.

Prince  — Another Lonely Christmas
Could you imagine having Christmas dinner at First Ave in Minneapolis?

Glenn Miller — A Swingtime Big Band Christmas
Grandma loved Glenn Miller.

Run-D.M.C. — Christmas In Hollis
"Jack Frost chilling and orchas out?" Why yes, obviously that's what Christmas is all about.

The Kinks — Father Christmas
OK Go covered this Christmas song — a heart warming story of department store Santa Claus who is beaten up by a gang of poor kids who tell him to give them money instead of toys; and asks that the toys are given "to the little rich boys." At one point, a child asks the narrator to give his/her father a job for Christmas.

Download OK Go’s Holiday Playlist HERE



HEY MONDAY

Jersey Moriarty’s Picks

Bing Crosby — White Christmas
TOTALLY just sums up family Christmas time feelings. Lots of nostalgia behind that one.

Hanson — Everybody Knows The Claus
Hanson, my favorite band, wrote this original Christmas jam for their 1997 Christmas release, Snowed In.

Kenny G — Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Nothing better than some smooth jazz while getting your holiday shopping done. ALWAYS seem to hear this song at least once every shopping trip.

Alex Lipshaw’s Picks

Blink 182 — I Won't Be Home For Christmas
Blink 182 has great songs no matter what they're about. Making their Xmas songs some of the best.

Mike Gentile’s Picks

Fall Out Boy — Yule Shoot Your Eye Out
I love this song. One word, LYRICS.

Saosin — Mookie's Last Christmas
The guitar parts in this song are so catchy, I wish I wrote them.

Jimmy Eat World — Last Christmas
I love the original of this song, so Jimmy Eat World covering it made it that much better.

Download Hey Monday's Holiday Playlist HERE



ANYA MARINA

Julian Casablancas — I Wish It Was Christmas Today
His new album is so great and I love almost anything he does.

Aimee Mann — I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas
Aimee has such a distinctive voice and sound.

John Lennon — Happy Xmas (War Is Over )
A classic.

Eux Autres — Another Christmas at Home
Even though I didn't grow up in Omaha like Eux Autres, this song sure makes me wish I could spend Christmas with them "where the champagne's on tap." I love Heather Larimer's cute deadpan voice and her clever wordplay.

Download Anya Marina's Holiday Playlist HERE.



THE LITTLE DEATH

Daron Murphy’s Picks

Miles Davis  — Blue Xmas (To Whom It May Concern)
This anti-consumerist diatribe featuring the voice of Schoolhouse Rock’s Bob Dorough is by far the most cynical holiday song I have ever heard. But as with most Miles, it’s got a darkness that generates light.

Jimi Hendrix —  Silent Night/Little Drummer Boy
A brilliant interpretation of two usually-placid holiday classics, this time driven by wild, howling guitar feedback.

Bing Crosby — Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)
I have no idea if this is actually true, but as a child I always liked to believe that “Mele Kalikimaka” was indeed “the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day.”

James Brown  — Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto
You’ve gotta love this super-funky appeal for St. Nick to redirect his toy delivery to the world’s most challenged inner city areas. Wise sentiments from the Godfather of Soul.

Otto Klemperer  — Bach’s Mass in B Minor
This 1967 recording captures the elegiac grandeur of Bach’s greatest liturgical work, hearkening back to a time when people still believed that Jesus actually had serious magical powers.

Moby’s Pick

Nat King Cole — Oh Holy Night
Because it's nice?

Laura’s Dawn’s Picks

Brenda Lee — Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree
One of the more unique vocalists of the ‘50s (I've got her unforgettable performance of "The End of the World" on vinyl at home), Brenda had an awesome raspy catch in a sweet voice that's clearly had a martini (and a smoke) or two — and just try not to wag your ass during the saxophone solo.

Elvis Presley — Blue Christmas
The guitar work and the amazing back up vocals on this classic track are only slightly less awesome than Elvis's delivery of the opening line.

Bing Crosby — White Christmas
The recording is like bottled magic air. Play it, and you're in the room with Bing, with a cascade of female background harmonies swirling around ya like snow.

The Beach Boys — Little Saint Nick
Run, run reindeer! Nothing else needs be said. Get your sugar on with some homemade pumpkin pie and play this song until you crash.

Johnny Cash — Silent Night
As far as I'm concerned, this is the only recording of this song.  Sparse, lean, profound — full of wonder.

Willie Nelson — Pretty Paper
Social commentary, sadness, and hope — and such yearning and such vivid storytelling.

Aaron A. Brooks’ Picks

David Bowie and Bing Crosby  — The Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth
Being a drummer, I love this for obvious reasons. Their duet is full of the hope, joy and the beauty that is Christmas. Seeing these cultural icons from different generations mix it up is delightful.

Nat King Cole — The Christmas Song
Simply classic. The flawless string arrangements and Nat's honeyed vocals bring a whole new level of class, style, sophistication and joie de vivre to the spirit of Christmas.

Eartha Kitt — Santa Baby
What's Christmas without a little sex and self indulgence. Sexy, provocative and delicious. Makes you want to do it on the floor, by the fire, under the tree...

Louis Armstrong  — Zat' You Santa Claus
A wonderfully naughty and fun Christmas song! Louis' voice always makes me smile and the big band arrangement is very jovial. Reminds me of sneakin' and peekin' at the presents as a child.

Judy Garland — Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Just beautiful, heartwarming and a little sad. Hard to keep your eyes dry while listening to Judy's bittersweet vocals.

"L’Inverno,” from The Four Seasons, Vivaldi
Inspiring, lush, epic and evocative music. My first choice to get me in the Christmas spirit. When it comes on, the tree is lit, the Brandy Eggnog is flowing and the Roast Beef is in the oven.

Download The Little Death’s Holiday Playlist HERE




BREATHE CAROLINA

Kyle Even’s Picks

Perry Como — Christmas Song
This is my favorite Christmas song! Hands down!

Circa Survive — The whole Jaturna album
I bought it around Christmas time, good snowy night CD!

Johnny Mathis — It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Love this song from Home Alone!

Bing Crosby — Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)
Kiki Aliki Maca? I think that's what it's called??? Haha! It's in the movie Christmas Vacation and it's during the best part of the movie!!!
  
Bing Crosby — White Christmas
The title says it all!

David Schmitt’s Picks

Story of the Year — Until the Day I Die
I got this CD for Christmas and listened to it all season.

Lights — February Air
This song has a winter feel and reminds me of Christmas time.

Savage Garden — I Knew I Loved You
This song was my mom's favorite. I bought it for her for Christmas with money she gave me. Hahaha.

Eartha Kitt — Santa Baby
My grandma always had it playing early Christmas morning when we went to her house.

Download Breathe Carolina’s Holiday Playlist HERE



MISS DERRINGER

Morgan Slade’s Holiday Playlist

The Ramones — Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)
This song is not just a great Christmas song, but a great Ramones song.  Great vocals by Joey.  Great guitars by Johnny. Kinda down and realistic cuz people do fight and argue a lot. Even on Christmas!

Darlene Love —  Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
This was played during opening credits for Gremlins. It’s sad and her man isn’t home which is realistic considering that happens to people a lot.  Which actually ends up paralleling the plot of Gremlins since for some weird reason the husband is at a robot convention on Christmas Eve. 

April March & Los Cincos — Last Train to Christmas
We used to listen to this album a lot when we first started out.  Our original drummer used to be in Los Cincos and April March is a great singer.  The violins are cool too...

Johnny Cash — Silent Night
This Christmas album came out in 1963.  All the classics sound great when he does them. Christmas songs can get a little cheesy, but none of these are. A classic song of course.

The Cure — Last Dance
This song has the line “Christmas falls late now flatter and colder.”  The song is about growing apart from someone you used to know really well.  Something that happens to a lot of people in life unfortunately.

Merle Haggard — If We Make It Through December
Another downer (sorry!).  About making it through a tough winter.  Poor guy can’t buy his kids any presents. 

Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run
Classic Chuck Berry. Has all the classic elements of 1950s rock ‘n’ roll. It really moves and still sounds great.

Roy Orbison — Pretty Paper
Roy Orbison has one of the best voices in rock ‘n’ roll history. It’s also got the full on orchestra effect, which only helps to make it more dramatic. 

The Ronettes —  I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Besides their classic “Be My Baby,” the Ronettes put out a bunch of great songs.  This one (as always) has a great lead vocal performance from Ronnie Spector. Too bad Phil Spector stole all their money!

Download Miss Derringer’s Holiday Playlist HERE



blessthefall

August Burns Red — Carol of Bells
Clearly the first song anyone thinks of when the holidays come around. Mosh and drink cider.

Jimmy Eat World — Last Christmas
This our bands theme song…we all sing it when someone says Christmas.

Blink 182 — I Won't Be Home for Christmas
A timeless song that anyone can relate to around Christmas.

The Maine - Ho Ho HOpefully
I think what our good friend John is trying to do is put a good spin on the holiday season.

Alvin and the Chipmunks — All I Want For Christmas
Alvin knows what’s up.

The Used - Alone This Holiday
One of the better original Christmas songs nowadays.

Elvis Presley - White Christmas
Self-explanatory.

*NSYNC — Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
Its *NSYNC...come on people.

The Jackson 5 — Someday at Christmas
I think my mom plays this on repeat at least eight times on Christmas day.

Download blessthefall’s Holiday Playlist HERE



RENE LOPEZ

The Pogues — Fairytale Of New York
The greatest lyrics of any Christmas song ever written.

John Lennon — Happy XMas (War Is Over)
Even though Yoko's voice annoys me I still love this. I just take deeps breaths when she sings.

Prince — Another Lonely Christmas
In high school I used to sit in my bedroom and cry listening to this. Really I did.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby — Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth
Do you remember the first time you  saw the video of Bowie and Crosby singing this classic Xmas song? It freaked me out!!! Did it freak you out?

Run-DMC — Christmas In Hollis
It's Christmas time in Hollis, Queens. Mom's cooking chicken and collard greens. You feel me?

Bruce Springsteen — Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
This is the best version of this tune. Hands down. Bruce makes me believe in Santa.

Nate Dogg & Snoop Dogg — Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto
I'll be sitting on my stoop on West 4th St on Christmas day blasting this out of boom box. My neighbors are gonna love it!!!

Jose Feliciano — Feliz Navidad
You can not grow up in a Puerto Rican household with this being the number one jam played at every family Christmas party. Have you ever tried Coquito?

Otis Redding — Merry Christmas Baby
Otis is one of my favorite singers and I sing a version of this to my wife in a yellow speedo every Christmas morning.

The Ronnettes — I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
What would you do if you walked in on your mama getting down with Santa?

Download Rene Lopez’s Holiday Playlist HERE



MOTIONLESS IN WHITE

Chris Cerulli’s Holiday Playlist

Alvin and the Chipmunks — Christmas Don't Be Late
If you watch Christmas cartoons as the holidays get closer and miss out on this one then I feel sorry for you. I've seen many Christmas cartoons throughout the years and this song is by the far the catchiest within all of them. Must be the high-pitched vocals!

Johnny Mathis — It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
When I was still in school and had that big Xmas vacation that every kid looked forward to but parents hated, my mom would always play this song and bust my ass because of the line "mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again.” She had to remind me that my vacation would soon expire and it was back to school! Love you too Mom!! Hahaha.

Vince Guaraldi — Christmas Time Is Here
Charlie Brown was always one of my favorite characters growing up because of how depressed and how in touch with reality he was. The Peanuts Christmas special is one of my favorite Christmas cartoons of all time and the "Christmas Time" opening theme song always brings that family feeling, even if I was to hear it in the middle of summer.

City And  Colour  — Comin' Home
This isn’t exactly a Christmas song in any way. In fact, to me it's just a song Dallas Green wrote to express what it's like to be away from the people/person you love weather you're on tour or whatever the case. I chose it now because we are on the road and will be JUST making it back home for Christmas. It would've been my first Christmas in 24 years not being home and I definitely appreciate having such awesome friends and family to come home to.

Marylin Manson — If I Was Your Vampire
Again, not a Christmas song but the entire story takes place on Christmas morning right before the sun is coming up. I love his lyrics and where he takes you in your mind and as soon as I hear "6:00 AM Christmas morning" the visuals come rushing in. I just build the screenplay in my mind…and of course it revolves around the Christmas setting.

The Used  — Alone This Holiday
As if Bert McCracken wasn’t already a genius, the lyrics for this song definitely reflected on what I was going through at the time I heard it. The line "Throw the thought of us away, you'll be alone this holiday" is my favorite. I'm a very big fan of bitterness and irony so for such harsh lyrics inside a Christmas sold = sold.

Download Motionless in White’s Holiday Playlist HERE



RED COLLAR

Mike Jackson’s Picks

Low — Silent Night
I always liked this song.  I think the implied message of “Silent Night” is basically — sleep now, tomorrow the shit hits the fan — which seems entirely holiday appropriate on so many levels.
 
Band of Horses — The First Song
This song does a good job of capturing the odd holiday juxtaposition of melancholy and hopefulness.
 
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists — Born on Christmas Day/Annunciation Day
Ted Leo sounds like a cross between David Byrne and Tim Harrington on this song — awesome.  Also, my first child is due sometime right around Christmas, so it had to be on here.
 
Sufjan Stevens — Get Behind Me, Santa
Growing up in the mid-west, I heard plenty of hell fire and brimstone preachers bellow, "get behind me, Satan", which of course is ridiculous because if you are doing battle with the prince of darkness it seems like the last place you would want him is behind you.  I mean, I would want to see that shit coming.
 
Jason Kutchma’s Picks

Roy Orbison — Pretty Paper
Roy Orbison's sweet and sour special; sometimes it's in his tone, sometimes it's in the lyrics, but the gems are when it's both. Roy is asking if you can spare a dime...after all, 'tis the season of giving.
Tom Waits — Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis
Tom Waits songs are short films and in this one he's asking, “Baby, can you just loan me a few bucks (again)?”...after all, 'tis the holiday season.

The Kinks — Father Christmas
Ray knows that if you ask nicely, you'll get a pat on the head, a twist of the cheek and you'll still be left with an empty hand.  Ray Davies' ain't going to ask you for shit. Nobody understands what the holidays really mean to people better than the group of kids in this song.
 
Beth Kutchma’s Picks

Wham! — Last Christmas
Teenage drama over the holidays.

Stevie Nicks — Silent Night
Makes me want to snuggle.
 
Jon Truesdale’s Picks

Run-DMC — Christmas in Hollis
I just recently started listening to Run-DMC again after watching something on the history of hip-hop. I'd forgotten how good these guys were. One of the first tapes I ever bought with my own money was Raising Hell. I'm not sure where I first heard the song "Christmas in Hollis" (was it Saturday Night Live?) but it's like a modern day version of "The Night Before Christmas" and once you hear it, you don't forget it.  Plus the line, "It's Christmas time in Hollis, Queens and mom's cooking chicken and collard greens" always made me hungry.

The Ramones  — Merry Christmas ( I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
I remember playing this song at my grandmother's house trying to get my parents to understand that punk rock was actually okay. They finally got on board with it, I think. The whole album, Brain Drain, was one of my favorite Ramones albums.

Robert Earl Keen — Merry Christmas from The Family
A dysfunctional redneck family celebrates Christmas in their own dysfunctional way. Being from rural South Carolina, I can sort of see what he's talking about. It's a classic modern day Christmas song. My brother brings his guitar to my parent's house and plays this every year.

The Pogues — Fairytale of New York
I'm not sure if this qualifies as a Christmas song or not, although the setting is certainly appropriate. The first line is a line that only Shane McGowan can deliver with honesty, "It was Christmas Eve babe, in the drunk tank..." It's perfectly played in a 3/4 waltz time too which adds to its feel of a drunken sing-along (shout-along?). I love this song.

Download Red Collar’s Holiday Playlist HERE



PETER BJORN AND JOHN

John’s Pick

Run-DMC — “Christmas In Hollis”

Peter’s Picks

Elvis Presley — White Christmas
ABBA — Happy New Year!
The Band — Christmas Must Be Tonight
Wham! —  Last Christmas
Bing Crosby and David Bowie — Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth
Slade — Merry Christmas Everybody

Björn’s Picks

Watch This!
Bee Gees — Holiday
Cocteau Twins — Frosty The Snowman

Download Peter Bjorn and John’s Holiday Playlist HERE



FRIENDLY FIRES

Weezer — Holiday
Madonna — Holiday
Dizzee Rascal — Holiday
Change — A Lovers Holiday
LCD Soundsystem — Time To Get Away
10CC — Dreadlock Holiday
Chingy (feat. Snoop Dogg) — Holiday Inn
Ramones — Endless Vacation
Willie Nelson — On The Road Again
Cliff Richard — Summer Holiday

Download Friendly Fires’ Holiday Playlist HERE



THOSE DARLINS

Booker T and the MGs — Jingle Bells
The Kinks — Father Christmas
The Sonics — Don't Believe In Christmas
Eartha Kitt — Santa Baby
Bobby Helms — Jingle Bell Rock
Ramones — Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight)
Chuck Berry — Run Rudolph Run
The Ronettes — Sleigh Ride
Darlene Love — Winter Wonderland
Darlene Love — It's Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
The Beach Boys — We Three Kings Of Orient Are
Run-DMC — Christmas in Hollis
The Crystals — Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Tom Petty — Christmas All Over Again
Stan Beard and the Swinging Strings — Snowballs
Bob Dylan — Must Be Santa

Download Those Darlins’ Holiday Playlist HERE



THE TEMPER TRAP

The Ronettes — Frosty the Snowman
The Flaming Lips — A Change At Christmas
The Walkmen — No Christmas While I'm Talking
Mogwai — Christmas Song 
The Raveonettes — The Christmas Song
Bing Crosby — White Christmas

Download The Temper Trap’s Holiday Playlist HERE

Related Artists Breathe Carolina Longwave Miss Derringer Motionless In White OK Go Peter Bjorn and John The Maine Friendly Fires blessthefall Glasvegas Hey Monday Those Darlins Passion Pit The Temper Trap Hurricane Bells The Little Death Anya Marina