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

53. River - Travis

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!