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iChristmas Tunes Extravaganza!
Christmas tunes are a bit of a fetish for me. Why? Well, I suppose it all started when my wife and I were put in charge of the Christmas music for the in-law Christmas party a few years ago. As I recall, we weren't married yet - still a few months off from being engaged really, but we got our task and went about it.
Every other year I'd been to the big party I'd had to suffer through a few hours of Bing. I'm sure he means well, but after a couple of tunes I've had enough of Bing. You'd think that 12 months off would make it more tolerable, but to me it doesn't really help. So, my task became clear - I needed to scrounge up enough Christmas tunes that WON'T increase my desire to off myself while in the midst of a giant in-law x-mas party - a rather daunting task at times.
Obviously I'm still standing here - I even made it through the last party on Friday 12/18/09 with no scratches, so clearly it works. These tunes are the fruits of many hours of labour. I have plenty more, but this is a selection of my favorites - about 1/4 of my stash. Enjoy, and Happy Holidays.
1. Carol of Bells - Phantom Planet
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Local H
3. Blue Christmas - Collective Soul
4. Run Rudolph Run - Sister Hazel
5. Jingle Bell Rock - Bobby Helms
6. Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels
7. Christmas Time (Is Here Again) - The Beatles
8. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Bruce Springsteen
9. Funky Christmas - James Brown
10. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Weezer
11. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - U2
12. I Won't Be Home For Christmas - Blink-182
13. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee
14. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Bright Eyes
15. White Christmas - Dishwalla
16. 12/23/95 - Jimmy Eat World
17. Someday at Christmas - Pearl Jam
18. Happy Xmas (War is Over) - John Lennon
19. Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time! - Sufjan Stevens
20. O Holy Night - Cary Brothers
21. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Copeland
22. Silent Night - Dishwalla
23. Christmas Is Going to the Dogs - Eels
24. Noel! Noel! - Eve 6
25. Holly Jolly Christmas - The Format
26. Let Me Sleep - Pearl Jam
27. Father Christmas - The Kinks
28. Christmas Baby - G. Love
29. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Jack Johnson
30. When I Get Home For Christmas - Snow Patrol
31. This Time of Year - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
32. Jingle Bells - Pearl Jam
33. I Wish it Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas
34. Little Drummer Boy - Dishwalla
35. Joy to the World - The Layaways
36. Sister Winter - Sufjan Stevens
37. Let it Snow - Magnet
38. Just Like Christmas - Snow Patrol
39. All I Want for Christmas - Matt Costa
40. Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! - Sufjan Stevens
41. Here it is Christmas Time - Old 97's
42. Don't Believe in Christmas - Pearl Jam
43. Back Door Santa - Jet
44. Do They Know it's Christmas? - Pete Yorn
45. Merry Xmas Everybody - R.E.M.
46. Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith
47. Hey Parker It's Christmas - Ryan Adams
48. Happy Christmas (War is Over) - Sense Field
49. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Death Cab For Cutie
50. White Christmas - Sister Hazel
51. Holy, Holy, Holy - Sufjan Stevens
52. Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
54. Santa Claus is Back in Town - My Morning Jacket
55. Christmas Song - Weezer
56. Someday at Christmas - Jack Johnson
57. Star of Wonder - Sufjan Stevens
58. Blue Christmas - Bright Eyes
59. Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World
60. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Mason Jennings
61. Winter Wonderland - Radiohead
62. Xmas Eve - The Damnwells
63. Away in a Manger - The Layaways
64. What Child is This? - Black Lab
65. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Hem
Here's a handy dandy zip file with all the tunes.
If you're looking for a bit more "uniformity" in your Christmas mix, I'd suggest checking out these 3 albums:
This Warm December - A Brushfire Holiday Vol. 1
Sister Hazel - Santa's Playlist
Cary Brothers - Father Christmas EP
Those three have been my favorites from the last year or two.
Also - my wife has had me on a mad hunt for a "good" version of Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer. I'm no fan of the song, but she's not satisfied by the original or the Poe version. Anyone have any others?
Merry Christmas!


