If you think nobody makes Christmas songs any more, you’re about to experience a few moments of pure joy.
Here’s our pick of the best alternative Christmas tracks, for when you’re sick of Cliff, tired of Slade and you’ve even heard Fairytale Of New York one too many times.
1. Grandaddy – Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland
2000 was a banner year for non-rubbish Christmas songs – that’s when XFM’s It’s A Cool, Cool Christmas was released, bringing with it 21 tracks of sweet relief from Noddy Holder and co. No song was cooler than the opening song by Grandaddy, with its knowing references to one of indie music’s most legendary producers ad artist. Might lose a couple of points for Christmassiness though.
2. Emmy The Great featuring Lightspeed Champion – Christmas In Prison
Emmy The Great knows a thing or two about Christmas songs – she recorded a whole album of the things a couple of years back with her boyfriend Tim Wheeler from Ash. We reckon this is about as good as it gets though – a cover with Lightspeed Champions of Christmas In Prison, which hits those sad Christmas loneliness notes just perfectly.
3. Monty Python – Christmas In Heaven
If you don’t fancy spending Christmas in prison, how about spending it in heaven instead? This track is taken from Monty Python’s Meaning Of Life – probably their worst film, in truth, but it paints a Yuletide picture we’re more than happy to embrace.
4. Joe Innes & The Cavalcade – Santa Says “Relax”
Santa Says “Relax”, by Joe Innes & the Cavalcade
Bursting with lo-fi charm, this song proves you can throw yourself into the Christmas spirit and still come out with your cool well and truly intact. Complete with nods to Die Hard, Laura Marling and mulled wine, it’s as warming as… well, mulled wine. This song is taken from last year’s For Folk’s Sake Christmas album – a mine of modern Christmassy gems.
5. Julian Casablancas – I Wish It Was Christmas Today
If you’d like your Christmas to be more like an indie disco than a family get-together, stick this one on and jump around the front room. It’s called I Wish It Was Christmas Today, and Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas sets a suitably impatient tone.
6. Dan Michaelson and the Coastguards – Another Messy Christmas
This is the story of Christmas as told from the point of view of Santa Claus’s wife, and it’s not a happy tale. Low on festive cheer but surprisingly high on emotion, it really shouldn’t be as touching as it is. It’s brand new this year, too.
7. Fountains Of Wayne – The Man In The Santa Suit
You may just about remember the 1997 minor festive hit I Want An Alien For Christmas by Foutains Of Wayne – they of Stacey’s Mom fame – but you almost certainly haven’t heard that single’s B side, The Man In The Santa Suit. It’s all about the trials of a down-at-heel man forced to work as Santa in a mall, and it’s great.
8. The Raveonettes – The Christmas Song
Father Christmas lives in Greenland and Greenland is a territory of Denmark, so you really should have at least one Danish Christmas song in your life. This one is typically echoey and lovely from the Raveonettes – plus it has sleigh bells. And it doesn’t get much more Christmassy than sleigh bells.
9. Ellen And The Escapades – By The Fireside
By the Fireside, by Ellen and the Escapades
Speaking of sleigh bells, check out this track from Leeds folkies Ellen And The Escapades. Ellen Smith has one of the best voices around, and By The Fireside radiates all the festive warmth the title promises.
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