Xmas Song Blog

Is someone building up a repertoire for a future Christmas album? Maybe but for now I'm just happy to have Lisa Hannigan's version of The Christmas Waltz. Her second Christmas release of the year, it's a lonley reflective version but pretty it's it's own sweet way and Hannigan's voice can still break a heart at 30 paces. Buy it now from Bandcamp and all proceeds raised from the sale of this track will go directly to Simon Community to help tackle homelessness in Ireland. For whatever reason I can't embed the track but check it out here .   The Christmas Waltz by Lisa Hannigan

The Too Pure singles club has come up trumps again. Last week they gave us DZ Deathrays Christmas cover of Lonely this Christmas (listen at the bottom of this post). Now Leeds band Pulled Apart by Horses have given us their version of Merry Christmas Everybody. They've made it lovely shouty thrash along. At xmassongblog we highly approve. Listen below and available as part of a split 7" with the DZ Deathrays track from 08/12/2014. Also check out our friends at Christmas Underground . They've unearthed Matt Pond PA's newest Christmassy track A cover of George Harrison's “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth).” Follow the links via their blog to the free download.

A quick couple of releases from the last couple of days. Stereogum announced the full release of Amazon's 'All is Bright' playlist from which you can get Yoko Ono with The Flaming Lips singing Happy Xmas(war is over) Also on that playlist is Ladyhawke singing Merry Christmas Everone. It's a big bouncy version of the classic UK Christmas number one. You can get your copy from Amazon here . As far as I ca tell there's no versions on Soundcloud or youtube yet but if you find one I'll post it here so you can have a preview. If I'm honest the rest of the playlist appears at first glance to be a whole lot of nobodies. If you think any tracks are worth annother listen tweet me @xmasssongblog and I'll reassess. I know there's alot of British artists covering Joni Mitchell's classic 'River' but Lisa Hannigan is one of our favourites. Recorded in aid of aware a depression support charity in Ireland. Hannigan released her version today and you

Ok back from a trip to London and time to recap what I've missed. The biggest news was the reveal of Amazons playlist "All is Bright"  Some of the tracks have been put on youtube for previewing. We only cover the coolest indie and alternative songs so I'm most excited about Yoko Ono teaming up with The Flaming Lips for a cover of the Lennon Classic Happy Xmas (War is Over) check it out. I'll be checking out the other tracks as they make their way to the UK. Also pointed out to me whilst I was away was this cracking lo fi cover of Lonely this Christmas by Aussie punk band DZ Deathrays Enjoy.

Los Campesinos have announced the release of a Los Campesinos Christmas. a 6 track mini album with a mix of their previous Christmas releases, new Christmas songs and cover to finish. tracklist: 1. When Christmas Comes 2. A Doe To A Deer 3. The Holly & The Ivy 4. Kindle A Flame In Her Heart 5. The Trains Don’t Run (It’s Christmas Day) 6. Lonely This Christmas check it out here http://loscampesinos.com/ The first track has already been released listen below

I did not complete a playlist in 2013 so this one had to do for two years. We’re Following The Wrong star – Billy Bragg The Christmas Waltz – She & Him Holiday Road – Auqabats Stay Another Day – Frank Eddie Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Fucked Up Minuit Chretiens – Rufus Wainwright I Saw Three Ships – Sufjan Stevens (Don’t Call Me) Mrs. Christmas – Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler Slashed Wrists This Christmas – Gruff Rhys Silent Night – Richard Hawley, Jarvis Cocker & Lisa Hannigan The Cowboy’s Christmas Ball – The Killers Christmas – The Drums In The Bleak Midwinter – Smith & Burrows Driving Home For Christmas – Lucy Rose (Oh What A) Night Before Christmas – Aidan John Moffat The Christmas Song (Alternative Version) – The Raveonettes Last Christmas – Frank Turner All I Wonderful Christmas Is You – Summer Camp It’s Christmas And I’ve Got Everything I Want – Spectrals Xmas Swagger – Princess Superstar Murder By Mistletoe – Felice Brothers Little

2011's playlist for your perusal 1 Mistletoe and Wine – Idlewild 2 Christmas Was Better In The 80's - The Futureheads 3 Christmas In Harlem - Kanye West (Feat. Cam'ron, Vado, Jim Jones, CyHi Da Prynce, Pusha T, Big Sean, Teyana Taylor & Musiq Soulchild) 4 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - She & Him with Conan O'Brien 5 Silent Night - Sufjan Stevens 6 Got Something For You - Best Coast, Wavves 7 Merry Christmas From Aidan Moffat! - Aidan John Moffat 8 Christmas Lights - Coldplay 9 Winter Wonderland (feat. Rod Thomas) - James Yuill 10 The Gift That Keeps Giving - Super Furry Animals 11 Snow Day - Matt Pond PA 12 ¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe! - The Killers 13 Do They Know It's Christmas Time - Badly Drawn Boy 14 Le Cantique de Noël - Röyksopp 15 Merry X-mas Everybody          - Brendan Benson 16 Kindle A Flame In Her Heart - Los Campesinos! 17 It's Christmas and You're Boring Me - Slow Club 18 The First Noel - Weezer 19 Lonely This Christma

In 2010 my CD had one of the best opening tracks of all my CDs. In fact I think it may be my favourite playlist. 1 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Slow Club 2 I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Julian Casablancas 3 Winter Wonderland - Goldfrapp 4 Goodbye England (Covered In Snow) - Laura Marling 5 Just Like Christmas - Snow Patrol 6 The Fairytale Of New York - Florence And The Machine With Billy Bragg 7 The Last Of The Melting Snow - The Leisure Society 8 Winter Winds - Mumford And Sons 9 Hark The Herald Angels Sing - Weezer 10 Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Naomi And Goro 11 Star Of Wander - Sufjan Stevens 12 White Christmas (WXPN Version) - T he Flaming Lips 13 Jospeh, Better You Than Me - The Killlers, Elton John and Neil Tennant 14 Jingle Bells (Dan The Automator Remix) - Dean Martin 15 Christmas In Cleveland - The Raveonettes 16 Merry Christmas I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight - H elen Love 17 C

Once again I posted a CD containing my favourite indie Christmas tunes to my friends in 2009. Here's the playlist. Check my other posts for all the playlists from ten years of these CDs. 1 Santa Claus – Belle & Sebastian 2 A Christmas Duel – The Hives & Cyndi Lauper 3 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – The Raveonettes 4 Candy Cane Children (Merry Christmas From The White stripes) – The White Stripes 5 Someday At Christmas – Jack Johnson 6 Don’t Shoot Me Santa – The Killers 7 Christmas Trees On Fire – Holly Golightly 8 Only At Christmas Time- Sufjan Stevens 9 The First Snowflake – Boy Least Likely To 10 Christmas In Prison – Emmy The Great feat. Lightspeed Champion 11 Is This Christmas – The Wombats 12 Ghost Of Christmas – Manic Street Preachers 13 Through December - Laura Veirs 14 Merry Christmas (War Is Over) – Badly Drawn Boy 15 Christmas TV – Slow Club 16 Sleigh Ride - KT Tunstall 17 Last Christmas – Coldplay 18 We Wish You A Merry Christmas – Weezer 19 A Snowflake Fell

You'll be realising by now that my tastes in music are somewhat acquired and not going to suit everyone. So where should you head to find the great alternative Christmas tunes for you? Well there's loads out there, but I've been hunting Christmas tunes for 10 years now so here's my guide to the blogs and shops that are worth hunting for your perfect Christmas tunes. One of my favourite blogs on the internet is stereogum . They've been posting lists of new Christmas songs on and off for years now. Try these lists from  2004   2005   2007 2009   2010 2011 plus a buyers guide to xmas music in 2006 and their all time best list from 2013. Music news sites are full of Christmas tunes in December Pitchfork and NME are two of the best. As for blogs particular favourites of mine are generally the ones that have helped me find and download Christmas tunes preferably for free. 17 Seconds likes a good Christmas tune, has great taste and often posts new Christmas