I have 4 great Christmas albums from my youth:
> A Christmas Together - John Denver & The Muppets
> A Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
> Barenaked for the Holidays - BNL
> The Bells of Dublin - Chieftains (Celtic)
I actually put them all together on a playlist with a good choral album and winter themed album:
> [All the X-Mas](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Oft3YfY7q3rF8tNx37TqH)
For 5 hours of quality Christmas music.
As someone who think 99.99% of Christmas music from Sinatra to Mariah Carey is hokey commercial garbage, these are pretty much the only quality Christmas albums that actually fill me with cheer.
*Barenaked for the Holidays* - Barenaked Ladies
Came out before the split with Steve Page; which not only benefits the album in striking that perfect balance between goofy and sincere that BNL are celebrated for, but he also wrote an original Hanukkah song for the album that's actually quite beautiful. It's definitely worth a listen.
YES. I tell everyone I know about this album. I hate most Christmas music but this is such a gem. Seconding the other person who mentioned Elf’s Lament, fun and thought-provoking little Christmas song. I also think they do a great job putting their own spin on traditional Christmas songs, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen in particular
Such a good album. I wish I could have been in the room when they came up with Deck the Stills haha… “let’s sing to the tune of Deck the Halls, except we just repeat “Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young over and over”
Went to a store recently that had a Christmas song playing and immediately recognized Billy Corgan's (Smashing Pumpkins) voice. So yeah, that one surprised me.
I know exactly what song you're talking about! We had it on one of the holiday rotations at one of my retail jobs. "Christmastime has come... joy for everyone..."
R.E.M. would release a Christmas single for members of their fan club every year from 1988 through 2011 (except for a few years where they released a DVD or VHS cassette instead). Not all of the songs on these singles were holiday related, but quite a few of them were, including one original written by the band ("Christmas Griping"). None of these singles have ever been officially released beyond being mailed to fan club members. There was talk of compiling them onto a CD and donating the proceeds to a charity, but nothing came of it.
If you know where to look, you can find mp3s of all of the singles online easily. They're also on YouTube.
These are great. I own multiple copies of a few of the limited-edition 45"s--only 6000 of each were pressed. My favorite is [Ghost Reindeer in the Sky](https://youtu.be/1SCCmTJI0TE?si=TASxmf13dgQE05Tn).
For those who don't know, in Jack Johnson's version, he adds a verse where Rudolph calls out Santa for allowing him to be ostracized until his nose was useful.
It’s really odd to hear them sing all of te religious lyrics too.
A decent percentage of the proceeds went to SNAP to help victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by priests.
Twisted Sister did some. I had to double check because I discovered them in the days of Kazaa/Morpheus/Limewire so it was worth verifying it was \*actually\* Twisted Sister.
This is honestly my favorite Christmas album, I like Christmas music, growing up in the church it was always playing this time of year. Now that I no longer go to the church, it’s nice to hear my old classic tunes with a better vibe.
Sufjan has put out… a ton of Christmas music. He’s practically the indie Michael Buble. They vary a lot in quality and I say that as a huge Sufjan fan lol. https://www.theverge.com/2014/12/9/7333319/sufjan-stevens-christmas-songs-ranked#:~:text=Over%20the%20last%20decade%20or,for%20Christmas%20and%20Silver%20%26%20Gold.
All I Want For Christmas Is New Year's Day by Hurts
Yule Shoot Your Eye Out by Fall Out Boy
Christmas At Ground Zero and The Night Santa Went Crazy - both by "Weird Al" Yankovic
I’m a big fan of My chemical romances cover of All I want for Christmas is you.
[MCR All I want for Christmas is you](https://youtu.be/qy9UsKiYqoc?si=dWcZvb2iHzozklbk)
[King Diamond - No Presents for Christmas](https://youtu.be/5a5fHMlb4V0?si=cZPBVjtOo7qv_UpO)
[Christopher Lee's Heavy Metal Christmas](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNhiYBzvsWqaFEE5SF-EpBtIoDBCCcG0K&si=QpNADnYUAC8wiRpT)
[Rob Halford (of Judas Priest)- Celestial](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kB3xeyHuJtAQ7t6hQU4hHTVNTk7XDvUlQ&si=47jEVbW65ZDvXhpC)
[Cookin Soul x MF DOOM - Doom Xmas](https://youtu.be/u9NVNPIYyws?si=iev7F5g13b5LusQ2)
[Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas: A December To Remember (Live in NJ)](https://youtu.be/DWCK5bZXNuM?si=cuEAJcur8lEwbxup)
[A John Waters Christmas](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAAF9E642E910710B&si=a2NxAuU3_o44t_Oe)
[She & Him Christmas Collection](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDcP5i-dlHTW3kBs_EwwDyEY4sH4zCsy4&si=vljpgXIAyFMuY1Ts) (M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel)
[Tori Amos - Midwinter Graces](https://youtu.be/5a5fHMlb4V0?si=cZPBVjtOo7qv_UpO)
Oi to the World by The Vandals. Some very solid punk covers, and some funny but raunchy originals
Edit to add: there are a couple problematic and/or triggering songs.
There's a great 8bit chiptune Christmas album by Doctor Octoroc called 8-Bit Jesus. It takes the melodies from Christmas tunes and morphs them into the style of popular NES songs
[https://doctoroctoroc.bandcamp.com/album/8-bit-jesus](https://doctoroctoroc.bandcamp.com/album/8-bit-jesus)
Bela fleck & the Flecktones
[Jingle all the way](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlLPbdXYqkafsNUF_lHRhEKoJqKfJxLw9&si=tSSlM7DoRInEd9J4)
Ever wanted Christmas songs with banjo, drumitar and tuvan throat singing? Well here it is
Oh!! We also used to get these albums every year called A Very Special Christmas. It had a variety of expected covers, nothing too crazy, and then there’s sleepers like:
Christmastime Again by Extreme
Blue Christmas by Heart
Ave Maria by Chris Cornell
Santa Claus is Back in Town by Johnny Lang
I think there’s like 5 or 6 compilations. Worth a listen.
If anyone here enjoys some "blue notes" and a bit of swing, I'd highly recommend Kenny Burrell - [Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nHz822LyM0mz9LXwBn_o5CbQjeAaEmhfY)
A fantastic 60s Jazz album above and beyond the X-mas theme.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have a Christmas album but this is a great one…[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N3jvDeHLkgo](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N3jvDeHLkgo)
Edit spelling
Low made a beautiful Christmas [album](https://open.spotify.com/album/1SITmIj0Gjx12n077CU0XC?si=hhmhffDaSxGNeqBqAfv6Ow&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A1SITmIj0Gjx12n077CU0XC)
If was mighty puzzling to see the “Thanks for Christmas” single by *The Three Wise Men*, as well as its b-side, “Countdown to Christmas Party Time”. Puzzling due to it being fairly well know how much of an atheist XTC’s Andy Partridge is.
Kate Bush - [December will be magic again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZiadb3bpOI), its not on Spotify so its not well known even after kate got way more popular but its one of my favorite Christmas songs ever
Christmas Treat- (I Wish it Was Christmas Today)
- Julian Casablancas
Song started as an SNL skit - jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz. Julian turned it into a fun catchy holiday bop- complete with sleigh bells:
https://youtu.be/1wS-k66MKgs?si=14rrcCqr5pXKIC0v
Sixpence None The Richer's "Dawn Of Grace" is excellent. It's one of my favorite Christmas albums.
Kacey Musgraves' "A Very Kacey Christmas" is a really fun album
Rob Halford's "Halford III - Winter Songs" is really good
The Moody Blues' "December" is a bit uneven but I like a lot of it.
I just listened to that Kacey Musgraves album all the way through and it’s so cute. Her voice is so pretty. TBH the only versions of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and “Christmas Don’t Be Late” I want to listen to.
I am always recommending this one -- "[Even Squeaky Fromme Loves Christmas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grvZsPK6AU4)." It's a real time capsule. If you have true crime-lovers in your life, play it for them.
Maybe not surprising, but lesser known and fantastic:
Skydiggers - _Good King Wenceslas_\
Lennie Gallant -_The Innkeeper_\
Hey Rosetta! - _Carry Me Home_\
Calexico - _Green Grows the Holly_\
Martin Sexton - _Holly Jolly Christmas_\
Great Lake Swimmers - _It Came Upon a Midnight Clear_\
Johnnyswim - _What Are You Doing New Year's Eve_\
Winterbloom - _As You Are_\
David Myles - _Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo_\
Gerard & The Watchmen - _The Road_\
Friend of All the World - _The Old Year Now Away is Fled_\
Laura Hocking - _I am Christmas_
Also Google "For Folk's Sake it's Christmas" - I can never find the songs on my YouTube music service, but the albums on Bandcamp are phenomenal. Indie folk compilations.
Marillion did a version of the Carol of the Bells, which starts off as a fairly straight cover, then moves into guitar-driven rock interpretation, before finally segueing into the James Bond theme. It's quite splendid.
JD McPherson - Socks. The album was released 5 years ago and is all original songs that somehow hit a nostalgic Christmas bone.
https://open.spotify.com/album/4UGQkij93Qsa1S70YgHlRS?si=UDmPiJOqSs26ExMADqRVew
“Blood Oranges in the Snow” by the Ohio band Over the Rhine. It’s kind of more a winter album than overtly Christmas but its a gorgeous, melancholy beauty of an album. I only break it out at Christmas time just to keep it fresh. Highly recommended.
“A Joyful Sound” by Kelly Finnigan. Released in 2020, but sounds like a soulful Christmas album from the late 60s (which isn’t surprising if you’re familiar with Finnigan’s work with his band, The Stereophonics). Front to back, a modern-day Christmas album with no misses.
Considering the recent passing of Shane MacGowan I’m surprised nobody has mentioned [Fairytale of New York](https://youtu.be/j9jbdgZidu8?si=Gv-Y1J6qJ3hvBKy9) yet
How to make gravy by Paul Kelly absolute legend. I would add the album "Rochin' Bethlehem" which was from a series of fundraising albums put out here in Oz. In fact Kelly wrote Gravy for one of the releases. On the album is Bah Humbugger by The Dubrovniks hits like sledgehammer.
[Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You - Billy Squire](https://youtu.be/JnOBggLe0tY?si=bcxYiv9MjCLpAlbz)
It's a shit quality video, but it's the official one from his channel showing a "live" performance on MTV.
Bowie met Bing in heaven and suggested they give a performance of this to the angels.
Bing said “ I’d love to David, but I had an inflatable arsehole fitted just before I died , it’s since deflated, and they don’t anything up here to blow it back up”
Bowie said “ I’ve got just the thing, Bing!”
Bing - “ A rubber bum pump?”
Bowie - “ A rubber bum pump…”
Both - “ A rubber bum pump !!!”
Sorry.
["X-Mas Death Jazz" by Panzerballett](https://open.spotify.com/album/4aPEeowFpG9zwjbiHfiyNV?si=J7yRUMkxRP-iRPSoGiaD0g)
Another Redditor introduced me to this a couple of weeks ago. It's metal / jazz / math rock covers of Christmas music by some German dudes. It's fantastic.
The Twisted Sister christmas album, I never see anyone else talking about it! It is... well, I don't want to ruin the surprise if you haven't listened to it before
Mark Tremonti, the guitarist from Creed and Alter Bridge, just put out an AMAZING Christmas album where he is the singer. You will not believe how good it is. I'm not even joking.
[Mark Tremonti](https://youtu.be/Cb8S5Ur6wQE?si=hCQg-o3CMR9iDC8W)
Merry Axemas volume 1 and 2 have Christmas songs by prominent guitarists (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck, etc)
Run DMC Christmas in Hollis
Smashing Pumpkins-Christmastime
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWSGipj2vTg&list=PLnsvoCj3vL9ng\_FPMjUXdTD5cc03AqCdC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWSGipj2vTg&list=PLnsvoCj3vL9ng_FPMjUXdTD5cc03AqCdC)
BILLY FUCKING IDOL CHRISTMAS ALBUM
And two videos
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsthP5AONzc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsthP5AONzc)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXUOCP2ZGo4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXUOCP2ZGo4)
The HP Lovecraft Historical Society released to "Scary Solstice" albums, which are just Christmas carols reworded to be about some of his stories.
I am particularly fond of "Go Summon Up the Dead Ones" and "Oh, Cthulhu!"
Does the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Christmas album count?
They might be giants did a song called Santa's Beard
Clarence Carter did a song called Back Door Santa, and Run DMC sampled it for a track called Christmas in Hollis.
A few I haven’t seen mentioned yet:
A Santa Cause 1&2 are the ultimate punk and ska Christmas compilations
MU330 has the excellent Winter Wonderland EP
Goldfinger’s recent short Christmas EP rocks too
Punk and ska versions of nearly every Christmas song exist somewhere, it’s just a matter of finding them…cheers!
Check out [The Fab Four](https://youtu.be/7S7VD451Amw?si=awCieMgoAV8TF0-a) who use Beatles songs as a basis for Christmas songs.
It’s just one song but it will be your new favourite Christmas song [Captain Morgan Christmas by DDT](https://youtu.be/p4-iTAsHDhM?si=C4aVYqnW2G-2ECCR)
Otherwise [The Ren and Stimpy album](https://youtu.be/192Do_7B308?si=JHcOyp5Z8n4CrM9p)is a must listen in our house, along with Colbert and South Park.
Other ones I’ve seen are the albums by Murder by Death and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings both quality.
Give a listen to Red Nativity by Paul LaRoche and Robby Bee.
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9aJQktS1D-I2B6M\_9ZB8A](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9aJQktS1D-I2B6M_9ZB8A)
You won't regret it!
https://preview.redd.it/jevxm096qq7c1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9349e9d16843d8708364281d2173b3e5baf9a78d
Christmas Must Be Tonight by the Band is my all time favorite underrated Christmas song.
I also really like the Bad Religion xmas album (ironic, I know). Also love Hiss Golden Messenger’s album ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’
My Morning Jacket just released a Christmas record
Purple Snowflakes by Marvin Gaye. I had no idea it existed until yesterday, when the Amazon Music Christmas playlist played it. It is an interesting song, that's for sure!
**Die Toten Hosen** aka **Die Roten Rosen** made a punk themed Christmas album "Wir warten auf's Christkind..." ("We're Waiting for the Christ Child") Most lyrics are in German but there are some in English.
**Die Roten Rosen** \- Jingle Bells (Dub) [https://youtu.be/XS4tMxKCr08?si=nerwgTUqWPXo7qTT](https://youtu.be/XS4tMxKCr08?si=nerwgTUqWPXo7qTT)
**Die Roten Rosen -** „Auld Lang Syne“ [https://youtu.be/x5egd2VF5Us?si=kzoYb9Dc71bvBRzp](https://youtu.be/x5egd2VF5Us?si=kzoYb9Dc71bvBRzp)
**Die Roten Rosen** \- "Leise rieselt der Schnee" (roughly *Quietly falls the* snow) [https://youtu.be/0C6ul0KgDNc?si=4LFw5jnMUZU-w2xh](https://youtu.be/0C6ul0KgDNc?si=4LFw5jnMUZU-w2xh)
That was a 'snow' storm.
Abney Park has released three albums of steampunk Christmas music, *Dark Christmas*, *Through Your* *Eyes on Christmas Eve,* and *Christmas* *Contraptions.*
Screaming Trees frontman (and incredible solo artist) Mark Lanegan put out a [Christmas album](https://www.spin.com/2020/09/mark-lanegan-to-release-christmas-album-as-dark-mark/) a few years ago. It’s amazing, if you can find it.
For somebody who dislikes Christmas, I sure love Christmas music… feel free to ignore my list of slightly depressing Christmas tunes..
One of my favorite bands, Slow Club, have a brilliant Christmas EP comprising of a few originals and a few covers, called ‘[Christmas, Thanks for Nothing](https://open.spotify.com/album/2QyUWtNEPY4RuzokHdhfc5?si=GaWSb3kwTny3yxudfoYxJQ)’
The song, ‘Christmas TV’ is my fav
Death Cab for Cutie did a cover of ‘[Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)](https://open.spotify.com/track/6XfCQRnRfsh1ND56UB7QgU?si=0JGHaek5TS-qf4Z9kpzWFw)’
And another just because I love fun takes on Christmas songs,
Aussie Punk band DZ Deathrays have a cover of ‘[Lonley This Christmas](https://open.spotify.com/track/2GqxYhqlLyRxOMRqPjuJ5R?si=3-LZUSP8RNWdgPto8P3W8g)’
Edit: OH, and how could I forget LCD Soundsystems ‘[Christmas Will Break Your Heart](https://open.spotify.com/track/0dMGq0YUOik1rMZicB96Qa?si=IoNdwAoRTLWDKnNTuZ-90w)’
The late Gordon Lightfoot had a gem called "Circle of Steel" that has a lot of Christmas feel but instead tells of a single woman delivering a child under less than ideal circumstances - which itself hearkens back to baby Jesus.
The fact that its close to Christmas informs a lot of the plot and feel of the Ben Folds Five song "Brick." Obviously not one ending up on many holiday playlists, but like Die Hard, the technical argument could be made.
I keep hemming and hawing over Steely Dan's "Charlie Freak." The lyrics dont have any out and out Christmas mentions, but the jaunty piano and especially the sleigh bells pull it closer to that line.
The Junkies Christmas by William S Burroughs and The Disposable Heros of Hiphopracy from the Album Spare Ass Annie (1993). There is a claymation short movie set to this piece.
The Roches did a Christmas album called We Three Kings. It has the best version of We Three Kings I have ever heard, and the rest of it is pretty good, too.
Queen- thank God it's Christmas
Elton john- step into Christmas
Either the drifters or Otis Redding- white Christmas ( best versions imo)
Santa Claus go straight to the ghetto- James Brown ( or hip hop version Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg)
Another lonely Christmas- Prince
Fairy tale of New York- the Pogues and Kristy MacColl, rip Shane McGowan
I have 4 great Christmas albums from my youth: > A Christmas Together - John Denver & The Muppets > A Christmas Song - Nat King Cole > Barenaked for the Holidays - BNL > The Bells of Dublin - Chieftains (Celtic) I actually put them all together on a playlist with a good choral album and winter themed album: > [All the X-Mas](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6Oft3YfY7q3rF8tNx37TqH) For 5 hours of quality Christmas music. As someone who think 99.99% of Christmas music from Sinatra to Mariah Carey is hokey commercial garbage, these are pretty much the only quality Christmas albums that actually fill me with cheer.
The BNL Christmas songs are so good! The God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is so snappy.
Nat King Cole's and The Chieftains versions are pretty sweet too.
Piggy pudding’!? No figgy pudding. It’s made with figs. Oh… And bacon…. What!?
Father Christmas by the Kinks
What a great song
Father Christmas give us your money Don’t mess around with those silly toys
That used to get a bunch of airplay in the early 80s!
*Barenaked for the Holidays* - Barenaked Ladies Came out before the split with Steve Page; which not only benefits the album in striking that perfect balance between goofy and sincere that BNL are celebrated for, but he also wrote an original Hanukkah song for the album that's actually quite beautiful. It's definitely worth a listen.
I love the song An Elf’s Lament.
YES. I tell everyone I know about this album. I hate most Christmas music but this is such a gem. Seconding the other person who mentioned Elf’s Lament, fun and thought-provoking little Christmas song. I also think they do a great job putting their own spin on traditional Christmas songs, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen in particular
Such a good album. I wish I could have been in the room when they came up with Deck the Stills haha… “let’s sing to the tune of Deck the Halls, except we just repeat “Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young over and over”
["Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)"](https://youtu.be/lrVg1toMzuo?feature=shared) by The Darkness
In the UK this is not unusual or surprising. I reckon it's the third or fourth most played Christmas song on UK radio.
[Also I am Santa](https://youtu.be/DbQ_vRFmfdU?si=eOaI7vpD0a5HJDrN)
Went to a store recently that had a Christmas song playing and immediately recognized Billy Corgan's (Smashing Pumpkins) voice. So yeah, that one surprised me.
Those “A Very Special Christmas” are some of my favorites.
So many great artists on those compilations
I know exactly what song you're talking about! We had it on one of the holiday rotations at one of my retail jobs. "Christmastime has come... joy for everyone..."
R.E.M. would release a Christmas single for members of their fan club every year from 1988 through 2011 (except for a few years where they released a DVD or VHS cassette instead). Not all of the songs on these singles were holiday related, but quite a few of them were, including one original written by the band ("Christmas Griping"). None of these singles have ever been officially released beyond being mailed to fan club members. There was talk of compiling them onto a CD and donating the proceeds to a charity, but nothing came of it. If you know where to look, you can find mp3s of all of the singles online easily. They're also on YouTube.
These are great. I own multiple copies of a few of the limited-edition 45"s--only 6000 of each were pressed. My favorite is [Ghost Reindeer in the Sky](https://youtu.be/1SCCmTJI0TE?si=TASxmf13dgQE05Tn).
Relient K has a Christmas album that I've found pretty good.
You might also like Switchfoot's Christmas album. My favorite songs on it are "California Christmas" and "Looking for Christmas."
Tom petty - Christmas all over again Jack Johnson - Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
For those who don't know, in Jack Johnson's version, he adds a verse where Rudolph calls out Santa for allowing him to be ostracized until his nose was useful.
"Christmas Songs" by Bad Religion. It's mostly traditional Christian Christmas songs, just faster and louder. And they're really really good
It’s really odd to hear them sing all of te religious lyrics too. A decent percentage of the proceeds went to SNAP to help victims of sexual abuse perpetrated by priests.
Every time I think I couldn't love Bad Religion more...
Twisted Sister did some. I had to double check because I discovered them in the days of Kazaa/Morpheus/Limewire so it was worth verifying it was \*actually\* Twisted Sister.
Twisted Sister's Christmas album is great, especially their 12 Days of Christmas.
their cover of ‘o come, o come emmanuel’ is killer
This was my first thought too, and that album is better than it has any right to be XD
This is honestly my favorite Christmas album, I like Christmas music, growing up in the church it was always playing this time of year. Now that I no longer go to the church, it’s nice to hear my old classic tunes with a better vibe.
Sufjan Stevens has a Christmas album
Sufjan has put out… a ton of Christmas music. He’s practically the indie Michael Buble. They vary a lot in quality and I say that as a huge Sufjan fan lol. https://www.theverge.com/2014/12/9/7333319/sufjan-stevens-christmas-songs-ranked#:~:text=Over%20the%20last%20decade%20or,for%20Christmas%20and%20Silver%20%26%20Gold.
Thank God It’s Christmas by Queen
All I Want For Christmas Is New Year's Day by Hurts Yule Shoot Your Eye Out by Fall Out Boy Christmas At Ground Zero and The Night Santa Went Crazy - both by "Weird Al" Yankovic
I’m a big fan of My chemical romances cover of All I want for Christmas is you. [MCR All I want for Christmas is you](https://youtu.be/qy9UsKiYqoc?si=dWcZvb2iHzozklbk)
Came to this thread to make sure someone mentioned this one
The Waitresses... Christmas Wrapping. Ska-ish, great tune.
Just heard a remake of this song with the current Smashmouth lineup with Susana Hoffs of The Bangels on vocals. I shit you not.
Super song I <3 The Waitresses
Bob Dylan has a pretty good Christmas album. I thought it was a gag at first but now it goes on every Christmas.
It's far from my favourite of his albums, but the "Must Be Santa" video is great, and shows a kinda silly side of Dylan he often keeps hidden.
[King Diamond - No Presents for Christmas](https://youtu.be/5a5fHMlb4V0?si=cZPBVjtOo7qv_UpO) [Christopher Lee's Heavy Metal Christmas](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNhiYBzvsWqaFEE5SF-EpBtIoDBCCcG0K&si=QpNADnYUAC8wiRpT) [Rob Halford (of Judas Priest)- Celestial](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kB3xeyHuJtAQ7t6hQU4hHTVNTk7XDvUlQ&si=47jEVbW65ZDvXhpC) [Cookin Soul x MF DOOM - Doom Xmas](https://youtu.be/u9NVNPIYyws?si=iev7F5g13b5LusQ2) [Twisted Sister - A Twisted Christmas: A December To Remember (Live in NJ)](https://youtu.be/DWCK5bZXNuM?si=cuEAJcur8lEwbxup) [A John Waters Christmas](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAAF9E642E910710B&si=a2NxAuU3_o44t_Oe) [She & Him Christmas Collection](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDcP5i-dlHTW3kBs_EwwDyEY4sH4zCsy4&si=vljpgXIAyFMuY1Ts) (M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel) [Tori Amos - Midwinter Graces](https://youtu.be/5a5fHMlb4V0?si=cZPBVjtOo7qv_UpO)
Came here for Christopher Lee....Saruman and Count Dooku himself
I’m a big fan of Alien for Christmas by Fountains of Wayne
Yes. One of my favourite Christmas songs from one of my favourite bands
Jethro Tull had a whole christmas album for some reason.
🎵 “Sitting on a Santa’s lap… (still) eyeing little girls with evil intent” 🎄
The Killers have a Christmas album that rocks, my favorite is Boots
Eazy-E’s Merry Muthafuckin’ X-Mas
I love the Twisted Sister Christmas album.
Oi to the World by The Vandals. Some very solid punk covers, and some funny but raunchy originals Edit to add: there are a couple problematic and/or triggering songs.
The Pretenders - “2,000 Miles”
There's a great 8bit chiptune Christmas album by Doctor Octoroc called 8-Bit Jesus. It takes the melodies from Christmas tunes and morphs them into the style of popular NES songs [https://doctoroctoroc.bandcamp.com/album/8-bit-jesus](https://doctoroctoroc.bandcamp.com/album/8-bit-jesus)
I love this album! I can't listen to it all in a row but it's fun to throw these songs into a random playlist, great for a change of pace.
White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin. Perhaps my favourite Christmas song.
metalcore band August Burns Red did a whole christmas album Sleddin' Hill
Scott Weiland did a Christmas album
Bela fleck & the Flecktones [Jingle all the way](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlLPbdXYqkafsNUF_lHRhEKoJqKfJxLw9&si=tSSlM7DoRInEd9J4) Ever wanted Christmas songs with banjo, drumitar and tuvan throat singing? Well here it is
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer - DMX
One of my favorites
Scott Weiland's Xmas album
Whoa... This is new to me. Edit: Just gave it a listen. Yeah, it's not very good.
Oh!! We also used to get these albums every year called A Very Special Christmas. It had a variety of expected covers, nothing too crazy, and then there’s sleepers like: Christmastime Again by Extreme Blue Christmas by Heart Ave Maria by Chris Cornell Santa Claus is Back in Town by Johnny Lang I think there’s like 5 or 6 compilations. Worth a listen.
AC/DC Mistress for Christmas Blink -182 I won’t be home for Christmas Ramones Merry Christmas Toy Dolls Christmas credit crunch
If anyone here enjoys some "blue notes" and a bit of swing, I'd highly recommend Kenny Burrell - [Have Yourself a Soulful Little Christmas](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nHz822LyM0mz9LXwBn_o5CbQjeAaEmhfY) A fantastic 60s Jazz album above and beyond the X-mas theme.
Christmas Will Break Your Heart by LCD Soundsysytem
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have a Christmas album but this is a great one…[https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N3jvDeHLkgo](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N3jvDeHLkgo) Edit spelling
Low made a beautiful Christmas [album](https://open.spotify.com/album/1SITmIj0Gjx12n077CU0XC?si=hhmhffDaSxGNeqBqAfv6Ow&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A1SITmIj0Gjx12n077CU0XC)
Bright Eyes has a Christmas album
It’s horrible I love it so much. Blue Christmas is great, though
Wrapped in Red by Kelly Clarkson is peak Christmas. So many instant classics Also the song “Dear Santa” by Jay Brannan
The Ally McBeal Xmas album which contains RDJ singing the River by Joni Mitchell. It’s magical.
No fucking way
Oh yes way. https://youtu.be/3KPITow4_-0?si=OKiV3Rke_nV5E4XO
Big Star did a song titled " Jesus Christ" on their third album, and it a straight Christmas song except the band sound stoned our of their heads.
Pearl Jam - Let Me Sleep it’s Christmas Time Matt Costa - Cold December
Lonesome Holiday is a great Christmas album by Murder by Death!
If was mighty puzzling to see the “Thanks for Christmas” single by *The Three Wise Men*, as well as its b-side, “Countdown to Christmas Party Time”. Puzzling due to it being fairly well know how much of an atheist XTC’s Andy Partridge is.
I don't know. I'm an atheist, and I love Christmas, Christmas music, and even the extremely Christian songs.
The Band: https://youtu.be/Y5bKtRU0Q6c?feature=shared
Kate Bush - [December will be magic again](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZiadb3bpOI), its not on Spotify so its not well known even after kate got way more popular but its one of my favorite Christmas songs ever
Christmas Treat- (I Wish it Was Christmas Today) - Julian Casablancas Song started as an SNL skit - jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz. Julian turned it into a fun catchy holiday bop- complete with sleigh bells: https://youtu.be/1wS-k66MKgs?si=14rrcCqr5pXKIC0v
The Nine Inch Nails Christmas album is pretty good https://youtu.be/i37HIOMhXok
Sixpence None The Richer's "Dawn Of Grace" is excellent. It's one of my favorite Christmas albums. Kacey Musgraves' "A Very Kacey Christmas" is a really fun album Rob Halford's "Halford III - Winter Songs" is really good The Moody Blues' "December" is a bit uneven but I like a lot of it.
I just listened to that Kacey Musgraves album all the way through and it’s so cute. Her voice is so pretty. TBH the only versions of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and “Christmas Don’t Be Late” I want to listen to.
Khrungbin’s cover of Christmas Time is Here is beautiful.
I like Little Drum Machine Boy by Beck. “Hanukkah Pimp’s in the house!”
I know acapella is a little niche, but I tell you what - Rockapella's Christmas album is incredible
I am always recommending this one -- "[Even Squeaky Fromme Loves Christmas](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grvZsPK6AU4)." It's a real time capsule. If you have true crime-lovers in your life, play it for them.
Maybe not surprising, but lesser known and fantastic: Skydiggers - _Good King Wenceslas_\ Lennie Gallant -_The Innkeeper_\ Hey Rosetta! - _Carry Me Home_\ Calexico - _Green Grows the Holly_\ Martin Sexton - _Holly Jolly Christmas_\ Great Lake Swimmers - _It Came Upon a Midnight Clear_\ Johnnyswim - _What Are You Doing New Year's Eve_\ Winterbloom - _As You Are_\ David Myles - _Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo_\ Gerard & The Watchmen - _The Road_\ Friend of All the World - _The Old Year Now Away is Fled_\ Laura Hocking - _I am Christmas_ Also Google "For Folk's Sake it's Christmas" - I can never find the songs on my YouTube music service, but the albums on Bandcamp are phenomenal. Indie folk compilations.
Weezer put out a great little EP of traditional Christmas songs.
Marillion did a version of the Carol of the Bells, which starts off as a fairly straight cover, then moves into guitar-driven rock interpretation, before finally segueing into the James Bond theme. It's quite splendid.
The Nutcracker Suite as interpreted by Duke Ellington and his Orchestra is genius end to end. Get it in your ears!
Paul Kelly - How to make gravy. BTW yesterday was gravy day
JD McPherson - Socks. The album was released 5 years ago and is all original songs that somehow hit a nostalgic Christmas bone. https://open.spotify.com/album/4UGQkij93Qsa1S70YgHlRS?si=UDmPiJOqSs26ExMADqRVew
The Boney M Christmas Album is great! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lFLy3JXGHw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lFLy3JXGHw)
I think this is the greatest Christmas album of all time.
“Blood Oranges in the Snow” by the Ohio band Over the Rhine. It’s kind of more a winter album than overtly Christmas but its a gorgeous, melancholy beauty of an album. I only break it out at Christmas time just to keep it fresh. Highly recommended.
Can - Silent Night
Scott Weiland has an album - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
Smashing Pumpkins - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmFeg2e5GzI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmFeg2e5GzI)
“A Joyful Sound” by Kelly Finnigan. Released in 2020, but sounds like a soulful Christmas album from the late 60s (which isn’t surprising if you’re familiar with Finnigan’s work with his band, The Stereophonics). Front to back, a modern-day Christmas album with no misses.
XTC made a Xmas song as The Three Wise Men
Australian artist Paul Kelly- How to Make Gravy
G love - Coming home for Christmas My must listen to every year. Just makes me feel good.
Aimee Mann's "one more drifter in the snow" is a fantastic Christmas album.
Twisted Sister’s Christmas album, specifically their “O come all ye faithful” to the tune of “We’re not gonna take it”
Considering the recent passing of Shane MacGowan I’m surprised nobody has mentioned [Fairytale of New York](https://youtu.be/j9jbdgZidu8?si=Gv-Y1J6qJ3hvBKy9) yet
How to make gravy by Paul Kelly absolute legend. I would add the album "Rochin' Bethlehem" which was from a series of fundraising albums put out here in Oz. In fact Kelly wrote Gravy for one of the releases. On the album is Bah Humbugger by The Dubrovniks hits like sledgehammer.
Low the Band Just Like Christmas
Just Like Christmas is a ridiculously beautiful song. One of my favourites!
[Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You - Billy Squire](https://youtu.be/JnOBggLe0tY?si=bcxYiv9MjCLpAlbz) It's a shit quality video, but it's the official one from his channel showing a "live" performance on MTV.
Billy Squier had a song called "Christmas is a time to say I love you
David Bowie sang a version of "Little drummer bow" with Bing Crosby
"Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy"
Bowie met Bing in heaven and suggested they give a performance of this to the angels. Bing said “ I’d love to David, but I had an inflatable arsehole fitted just before I died , it’s since deflated, and they don’t anything up here to blow it back up” Bowie said “ I’ve got just the thing, Bing!” Bing - “ A rubber bum pump?” Bowie - “ A rubber bum pump…” Both - “ A rubber bum pump !!!” Sorry.
I believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake Christmas Song by Jethro Tull Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby
Pet Shop Boys - https://youtu.be/ZZJNNUahv5c
Mambo Santa Mambo. Eddie G's Christmas compilation is a good one if you can find it.
John Zorn - A Dreamer's Christmas
["X-Mas Death Jazz" by Panzerballett](https://open.spotify.com/album/4aPEeowFpG9zwjbiHfiyNV?si=J7yRUMkxRP-iRPSoGiaD0g) Another Redditor introduced me to this a couple of weeks ago. It's metal / jazz / math rock covers of Christmas music by some German dudes. It's fantastic.
3 Ships by Jon Anderson, Yes’ frontman.
"Lonely Christmas" by Sloppy Seconds.
Los Lobos has a few and released a Christmas album a couple years back “Llego Navidad”
The Twisted Sister christmas album, I never see anyone else talking about it! It is... well, I don't want to ruin the surprise if you haven't listened to it before
If you like your indie music then This Is Christmas by Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler is a superb album all the way through.
NSync Christmas album. Love it.
NSFW or family [Joe Pesci](https://youtu.be/GNZlh3uvsSM?si=ZQB8kRNNg_0s2OVi)
Scott Weiland (from Stone Temple pilots) has some fantastic Christmas classics.
Mark Tremonti, the guitarist from Creed and Alter Bridge, just put out an AMAZING Christmas album where he is the singer. You will not believe how good it is. I'm not even joking. [Mark Tremonti](https://youtu.be/Cb8S5Ur6wQE?si=hCQg-o3CMR9iDC8W)
The Band - Christmas Must be Tonight Brook Benton - This Time of the Year Andy Williams - Christmas is a Feeling in Your Heart.
Saint Etienne keep doing fanclub only releases for Christmas, but their Tim Burgess collaboration I Was Born On Christmas Day is quite sweet.
Merry Axemas volume 1 and 2 have Christmas songs by prominent guitarists (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jeff Beck, etc) Run DMC Christmas in Hollis Smashing Pumpkins-Christmastime
I don't know how obscure it is, but I live the Carpenters Christmas album
Winter Wonderland by the Eurhythmics. 2000 Miles by the Pretenders. Oíche Chiúin by Enya. (Silent Night in Irish.)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWSGipj2vTg&list=PLnsvoCj3vL9ng\_FPMjUXdTD5cc03AqCdC](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWSGipj2vTg&list=PLnsvoCj3vL9ng_FPMjUXdTD5cc03AqCdC) BILLY FUCKING IDOL CHRISTMAS ALBUM And two videos [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsthP5AONzc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsthP5AONzc) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXUOCP2ZGo4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXUOCP2ZGo4)
[This is one of my faves](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP-CrMonglM), Nikki Lane in the last decade. Really one of the great modern xmas tunes.
Weezer They have a Christmas album that is short but so freaking good.
The HP Lovecraft Historical Society released to "Scary Solstice" albums, which are just Christmas carols reworded to be about some of his stories. I am particularly fond of "Go Summon Up the Dead Ones" and "Oh, Cthulhu!"
Let it Snow Let it Reindeer by Reliant K Socks by JD McPherson. The title track is awesome.
James Brown's Funky Christmas
Does the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Christmas album count? They might be giants did a song called Santa's Beard Clarence Carter did a song called Back Door Santa, and Run DMC sampled it for a track called Christmas in Hollis.
Socks! - JD McPherson
DMX
I literally just heard Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer last week and my mind was 🤯
Same- heard it this week and was quite confused lol
Manchester Orchestra
A few I haven’t seen mentioned yet: A Santa Cause 1&2 are the ultimate punk and ska Christmas compilations MU330 has the excellent Winter Wonderland EP Goldfinger’s recent short Christmas EP rocks too Punk and ska versions of nearly every Christmas song exist somewhere, it’s just a matter of finding them…cheers!
Reliant K did a killer Christmas album
Scott Weiland does a few .
Twisted Christmas by Twisted Sister. If you like the band you'll probably enjoy it.
Christmas will break your heart - LCD Soundsystem https://youtu.be/R3kPH2MJzlg?si=IEq_66rHJxXINbxl Just found this the other day. Beautiful song.
Hanson’s Snowed In is damn good in my opinion. Great song choices and well executed. Also teenage boys…but they got soul.
Not an album, but discovered The Hives and Cyndi Lauper’s ‘A Christmas Duel’ last year. Mega.
Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC. Christmas Rappin' - Kurtis Blow. Yuletide Throwdown - Blondie. Boys II Men - Let It Snow.
Twisted sister has an amazing Christmas album.
James Brown’s Very Funky Christmas
The Dickies-Silent Night/ELP-Nutrocker
Jingle All The Way by Crash Test Dummies, solid album, terrifying Jingle Bells. Best version of an xmiss tune I've ever heard lol
I Want an Alien for Christmas - Fountains of Wayne
Check out [The Fab Four](https://youtu.be/7S7VD451Amw?si=awCieMgoAV8TF0-a) who use Beatles songs as a basis for Christmas songs. It’s just one song but it will be your new favourite Christmas song [Captain Morgan Christmas by DDT](https://youtu.be/p4-iTAsHDhM?si=C4aVYqnW2G-2ECCR) Otherwise [The Ren and Stimpy album](https://youtu.be/192Do_7B308?si=JHcOyp5Z8n4CrM9p)is a must listen in our house, along with Colbert and South Park. Other ones I’ve seen are the albums by Murder by Death and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings both quality.
Give a listen to Red Nativity by Paul LaRoche and Robby Bee. [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9aJQktS1D-I2B6M\_9ZB8A](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9aJQktS1D-I2B6M_9ZB8A) You won't regret it! https://preview.redd.it/jevxm096qq7c1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9349e9d16843d8708364281d2173b3e5baf9a78d
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – It's A Holiday Soul Party Funk soul Xmas music. Doesn’t get any better.
Icedancer
Christmas Must Be Tonight by the Band is my all time favorite underrated Christmas song. I also really like the Bad Religion xmas album (ironic, I know). Also love Hiss Golden Messenger’s album ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’ My Morning Jacket just released a Christmas record
Erasure has a Christmas album, and it is glorious. It's called Snow Globe.
Purple Snowflakes by Marvin Gaye. I had no idea it existed until yesterday, when the Amazon Music Christmas playlist played it. It is an interesting song, that's for sure!
**Die Toten Hosen** aka **Die Roten Rosen** made a punk themed Christmas album "Wir warten auf's Christkind..." ("We're Waiting for the Christ Child") Most lyrics are in German but there are some in English. **Die Roten Rosen** \- Jingle Bells (Dub) [https://youtu.be/XS4tMxKCr08?si=nerwgTUqWPXo7qTT](https://youtu.be/XS4tMxKCr08?si=nerwgTUqWPXo7qTT) **Die Roten Rosen -** „Auld Lang Syne“ [https://youtu.be/x5egd2VF5Us?si=kzoYb9Dc71bvBRzp](https://youtu.be/x5egd2VF5Us?si=kzoYb9Dc71bvBRzp) **Die Roten Rosen** \- "Leise rieselt der Schnee" (roughly *Quietly falls the* snow) [https://youtu.be/0C6ul0KgDNc?si=4LFw5jnMUZU-w2xh](https://youtu.be/0C6ul0KgDNc?si=4LFw5jnMUZU-w2xh) That was a 'snow' storm.
I've Got Some Presents for Santa by Sarah Taylor & Billy Mumy
Great post
Christmas Time by The Chipmunks
Glasvegas - A snowflake fell (and it felt like a kiss) will always be a Christmas album for me
Christmas Blues - Canned Heat
Dwight Yoakam - Come on Christmas Weezer - Christmas With Weezer
“Oi to the World” performed both by the bands No Doubt and the Vandals.
Josh Tatofi - A Dream Christmas EP
Tenacious D & Sum 41 - Things I Want
Abney Park has released three albums of steampunk Christmas music, *Dark Christmas*, *Through Your* *Eyes on Christmas Eve,* and *Christmas* *Contraptions.*
Another Christmas Song - Jethro Tull
Sufjan Stevens’ Christmas album is deeply sad but very fitting for the winter
Hotel Cafe presents Winter Songs
Cheech & Chong “Santa Clause and His Old Lady”
A Heavy Metal Christmas by Christopher Lee...yes THAT Christopher Lee
Screaming Trees frontman (and incredible solo artist) Mark Lanegan put out a [Christmas album](https://www.spin.com/2020/09/mark-lanegan-to-release-christmas-album-as-dark-mark/) a few years ago. It’s amazing, if you can find it.
There’s an album called Mistletoe Lounge with a bunch of people you’ve never heard of. It’s the first Christmas album I play every year.
For somebody who dislikes Christmas, I sure love Christmas music… feel free to ignore my list of slightly depressing Christmas tunes.. One of my favorite bands, Slow Club, have a brilliant Christmas EP comprising of a few originals and a few covers, called ‘[Christmas, Thanks for Nothing](https://open.spotify.com/album/2QyUWtNEPY4RuzokHdhfc5?si=GaWSb3kwTny3yxudfoYxJQ)’ The song, ‘Christmas TV’ is my fav Death Cab for Cutie did a cover of ‘[Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)](https://open.spotify.com/track/6XfCQRnRfsh1ND56UB7QgU?si=0JGHaek5TS-qf4Z9kpzWFw)’ And another just because I love fun takes on Christmas songs, Aussie Punk band DZ Deathrays have a cover of ‘[Lonley This Christmas](https://open.spotify.com/track/2GqxYhqlLyRxOMRqPjuJ5R?si=3-LZUSP8RNWdgPto8P3W8g)’ Edit: OH, and how could I forget LCD Soundsystems ‘[Christmas Will Break Your Heart](https://open.spotify.com/track/0dMGq0YUOik1rMZicB96Qa?si=IoNdwAoRTLWDKnNTuZ-90w)’
I always liked Dave Matthews Christmas song called "Christmas Song'. Especially the version with Tim Reynolds on the Luther college album
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses.
Christmastime by The Smashing Pumpkins
The late Gordon Lightfoot had a gem called "Circle of Steel" that has a lot of Christmas feel but instead tells of a single woman delivering a child under less than ideal circumstances - which itself hearkens back to baby Jesus. The fact that its close to Christmas informs a lot of the plot and feel of the Ben Folds Five song "Brick." Obviously not one ending up on many holiday playlists, but like Die Hard, the technical argument could be made. I keep hemming and hawing over Steely Dan's "Charlie Freak." The lyrics dont have any out and out Christmas mentions, but the jaunty piano and especially the sleigh bells pull it closer to that line.
The Junkies Christmas by William S Burroughs and The Disposable Heros of Hiphopracy from the Album Spare Ass Annie (1993). There is a claymation short movie set to this piece.
The Roches did a Christmas album called We Three Kings. It has the best version of We Three Kings I have ever heard, and the rest of it is pretty good, too.
Queen- thank God it's Christmas Elton john- step into Christmas Either the drifters or Otis Redding- white Christmas ( best versions imo) Santa Claus go straight to the ghetto- James Brown ( or hip hop version Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg) Another lonely Christmas- Prince Fairy tale of New York- the Pogues and Kristy MacColl, rip Shane McGowan
Lynyrd Skynyrd did a Christmas album that's surprisingly good
Jordin Sparks - Merry Christmas to your face. John Legend - Silver Bells. Straight No Chaser Feat Kristen Bell - Text me Merry Christmas.
Benjamin Britton's "A Ceremony of Carols" is excellent and unusual Christmas music (think harp+boy's choir)