Pop List: 5 Christmas Albums you may not have heard of yet but which are definitely worth checking out.
November 18th, 2009
You’re probably wondering why we’re posting a Christmas list when we’re still a week away from Thanksgiving – I’m not going to lie to you, I listen to Christmas music around the holidays starting as early as now. Yes, behind this cold cynical record store clerk exterior beats the heart of a warm blooded sentimentalist.
While the beloved classics; Vince Guaraldi, Bing Crosby, The Chipmunks – are never far away from our 8-track decks (am i right?) sometimes we need a little push in a bold new direction, and by we, I mean you. So here’s Pure Pop’s list of 5 Christmas Albums you may not have heard of yet but which are definitely worth checking out.
5: Jethro Tull – The Jethro Tull Christmas Album
For a band that’s been making music about minstrels, peasants, kings, paupers, and the like for 40+ years it would seem like a no brainer that in 2003 they came out with a Christmas album. Filled to the brim with a combination of 70’s prog-rock, traditional british folk, and their own blend of oddball Dickensian lyricism and wit, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album feels like a lost relic from their creative heyday, entirely listenable as a holiday album, or just a great collection of Tull Songs.
4: My Morning Jacket – Does Christmas Fiasco Style EP
Bet you didn’t know about this little diamond in the rough, but yes – My Morning Jacket did in fact put out a Christmas EP, and if you’re a fan of MMJ (and if Pure Pop’s sales figures are correct, you’re legion.) than this one should certainly be playing at your next ironic holiday sweater party. (Note: Pure Pop Records does not condone the wearing of sweaters for ironic purposes at any time.) Just throw this well crafted little number in to the mix with some other well known classics and see how well it blends. And for those who care, there’s even an excellent cover of Nick Cave’s “New Morning”.
3: Reverend Horton Heat – We Three Kings
This is the Christmas album that you play at the Christmas party, that gets out of hand. It’s classic Reverend HH straight up Punkabilly fun and the boys in the band are in top form on a great collection of classics. I’d write more about it here, but there’s really nothing else to say.
2: Sufjan Stevens -Songs For Christmas
This is a 5 CD box set compiling 5 years of Stevens’ yearly Christmas offerings and if you’re familiar with the man’s output you know that while he’s fairly prolific, level of quality in his output is remarkably high. His string arrangements alone on these pieces take tired old holiday classics and bring out their original luster. Pretty much essential for any fan of delicate and maudlin Indie Rock.
1: Bob Dylan – Christmas In The Heart
Nevermind all the pundits pointing out the irony of Mr. Zimmerman making Christmas music, that’s not the point… Actually I’m not sure what the point is with this one. Is it a joke? A joke that no one but Bob himself is in on? Or is a serious attempt at making entertaining, timeless holiday music… Who knows, all we know is that it’s not nearly as bad as it sounds on paper and it’s often surprisingly good in places, with a ragged thrown off quality and subtle unfettered playing. Perfect for a night around the fire drinking heavily spiked eggnog.
November 18th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Re: the Tull album, did you mean paupers instead of poppers (or does Amyl Nitrate have a place in the holiday season)?
November 18th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Re: the Tull album, did you mean paupers instead of poppers (or does Amyl Nitrate have a place in holiday celebration)?
November 18th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
lol – thanks for pointing that out twice “655321″ i’ll fix it up.
November 19th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
There’s a Jethro Tull Christmas Album! How did I not know this?!?!
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:25 am
Nice List. I have a surprising amount of Christmas music for someone who never got a visit from Santa. My favorite is definitely the James Brown Christmas album, though A John Waters Christmas – especially the song Happy Birthday Jesus by Little Cindy because it is so incredibly creepy.
The Sufjan’s lovely. & I didn’t know about the Dylan one. That’s hilarious.
And everyone and his brother has an individual Christmas song, the originals being (to my mind) more interesting since no one can top time life comps for the tradition. Like Okkervil River’s Listening to Otis Redding at Home during Christmas, Of Montreal’s Christmas Isn’t Safe for Animals, The Waitresses’ Christmas Wrapping (classic), or Lou Reed’s Xmas in Febuary, etc. But seriously, I’ve got more Christmas music than you can shake a three-tiered shrine at. Lemme know if you ever wanna compare collections, or if you just happen to not have the Star Wars Christmas album & you feel your life is lacking without it.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Add The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York and Fear’s F**k Christmas to the singles list
Also, sorry about the repeat.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:28 am
no worries 655321
November 24th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I’ve got a couple to add:
Jon Anderson (of Yes) released a Christmas album in 1985 called 3 Ships which had some rearranged traditionals and some originals. This has been out of print for years, but I think it was re-released recently (unfortunately, I seem to recally that there was some quibble about it being badly remastered.)
Steeleye Span also released a Christmas album in 2004 called Winter. Also contains a mix of rocked-up traditional songs (punked up version of Good King Wenceslas) and some originals.