Traditions are always about what you’ve done in recent years, so here a few of my favorites from the ghost of Christmas past sure to spice up your holidaze…
Merry Mixmas : Various Artists — Well-known remixers taking their best shots at the classics, including “All I Want for Xmas,” “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Let It Snow,” “Santa Baby,” and more. This is my go-to Christmas album, and the one I spin the most. Hosting a Christmas party and want to spin some cool holiday tunes? This is the album you can put on repeat. After four years, this is still my favorite Christmas album of all time.
Jars of Clay : Christmas Songs — Dissonant and haunting aren’t two adjectives normally used for Christmas carols, and that’s why I dug out this classic at the first sight of snow. Album came out last year (with an accompanying tour) and inspired me to give JOC another chance. This year they’re up for a Grammy. This is definitely a buy-worthy album.
Erran Baron Cohen : Songs In The Key Of Hanukkah — This is a fun one. It’s about time someone brought the ancient music of Hanukkah into the 21st Century. This album contains five reinterpretations of classic favorites as well as five original tunes created exclusively for this project, all sung in English, Hebrew or Ladino (Judaeo-Spanish). Erran Baron Cohen : “Dreidel” (mp3)
Dance Band : Happy Holidays From Hans — Minneapolis’ own Dance Band are an unstoppable, no-pants-wearing force. Group alumnus The Perfect Beat moved to Duluth for a job two years ago, but that didn’t stop him from sharing this holiday tuneage. Download the whole thing here via zip and then put this one in your holiday mix: Happy Holidays From Hans : “Santa” (mp3)
Lojinx : Christmas Present — Lojinx is sharing a free download of 7-track mini-album of Christmas songs featuring artists from the Lojinx roster, the mini-album consists of original Christmas themed songs from Nate Campany (Brooklyn, USA), The Wellingtons (Melbourne, Australia), as well as British pop band Farrah, Danish musician Henrik, Londoner Caroline Lost, trans-Atlantic electro duo The Bad Machines and one-off duo collaboration Nightlights. Get it here.
My First Earthquake : “Fa-La-Freezing” — the San Fran indie rock foursome sent me this track last year, based on lead singer Rebecca Bortman’s 5th grade holiday recital (spiced up with lyrics influenced by her birthday two days before Christmas and being Jewish). My First Earthquake : “Fa-La-Freezing” (mp3)
Natalie Janssen : Split – LA singer-songwriter Natalie Janssen is sharing two Christmas tracks — “Christmas in Los Angeles” and “Snowed in for the Winter” — with fans. Download them here.
The Hush Now : “Jingle Bells” — Here’s a track from Noel from Boston indie pop group The Hush Now slaying “Jingle Bells” on the accordion. This will spice up your mix. The Hush Now : “Jingle Bells” (mp3)
Last and least, here’s Gunther’s video for “Christmas Song” – I just can’t help but share Swedish musician, club owner, and former model Gunther’s Christmas Song video…hope it makes your holiday bright and cheery:
Thanks for posting our holiday cheer! Fa La Freeezing has a video as well!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4EJfUtYknU
Thanks for posting our holiday cheer! Fa La Freeezing has a video as well!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4EJfUtYknU
It's snowing like crazy in Minneapolis right now. Very festive, you know.
It's snowing like crazy in Minneapolis right now. Very festive, you know.
What about Julian Koster's Singing Saw At Christmastime?
What about Julian Koster's Singing Saw At Christmastime?
[...] Ho ho ho… I posted a holiday music round-up two weeks ago full of oldie but goodies. [...]