advent-tunes-2016

– Jump to the song list

I love the Christmas season and I love Christmas music.

Good Christmas music, that is; a heartfelt rendition of “Silent Night” or “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and you’ve got me hooked. But I swear upon all that is good and holy, if I have to hear Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” ever again in my life, there will be dire consequences. But I digress…

This year is — to best of my knowledge — fifteen years since some college buddies and I first compiled a mix of, let’s say, “non-traditional” Christmas music. We’ve refreshed it a few times through the years and have each spun off our versions of the mix.

Today kicks off an advent calendar for music lovers: 24 days (plus some bonuses mixed in here and there) featuring lesser known holiday music by a diverse range of artists. We’ve got everything from 1960’s soul to 1990’s punk and points in between and beyond. Country, folk, blues, rock, rap, fast, slow, sentimental, irreverent, sad, funny, family friendly, and delightfully not family friendly.

My hope is that this advent calendar is a good continuation of that old college tradition and that, in the process, I can turn you on to 24+ good holiday tunes that you might not otherwise know.

Enjoy!

The Collection

A new song will be posted each day, December 1 through December 24.

  1. The Ramones – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)
  2. Solomon Burke – Presents for Christmas
  3. Calexico – Green Grows the Holly
  4. Robert Earl Keen – Merry Christmas from the Family
  5. Cracker – Merry Christmas Emily
  6. Lightnin’ Hopkins – Santa
  7. MU330 – X-Mas Card
  8. Fountains Of Wayne – I Want An Alien For Christmas
  9. Great Lake Swimmers – Hang A String Of Lights
  10. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan – Time of the Season
  11. Suddenly, Tammy! – Rock ‘N’ Roll Santa Claus
  12. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Xmas Time (It Sure Doesn’t Feel Like It)
  13. Clarence Carter – Back Door Santa
  14. Matt Arthur & The Bratlanders – I Won’t Have A Merry Christmas This Year
  15. Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick – One Christmas At A Time
  16. MxPx – Christmas Day
  17. Hayes Carll – Grateful for Christmas
  18. Folk Uke – All I Want For Christmas
  19. Chuck Berry – Merry Christmas Baby
  20. The Band – Christmas Must Be Tonight
  21. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Christmas All Over Again
  22. Willie Nelson – Please Come Home for Christmas
  23. Andrew Bird – Auld Lang Syne
  24. Johnny Cash – Silent Night