Deck the halls with album press clippings

Fa la la la la, la la la la

‘Tis the season of empty inboxes

Fa la la la la, la la la la

Don we now another band’s apparel

Fa la la la la la, la la laaaaaaaaaa

Troll the ancient indie carols

FA LA LA LA LAAAAAAA, LA LA LA LAAAAAA

‘Tis the season of giving and spreading love and cheer (or, if you’re Katt, lighting candles over a period of 8 nights, eating cheap Chinese food, and wishing that Aunt Carol would quit asking about the pitiful state of your love life); the annual season of being confined in and subjugated to a house full of all of the relatives that you didn’t care to ever see again, yapping at you with flapping tongues and judgemental tones, berating the youth of today while you help turn off their notifications on their smartphones, asking “What’s your major again?” AS IF YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW, GRANDMA; a time for reflecting on another year gone by, all the while staring wistfully out the window at passerby cars, realizing that you’ll have to undergo the same events again next year, and then rushing to the cabinet to down someone else’s fine liquors as if the Prohibition revamps tomorrow and you’re the sorry alcoholic mess of human flesh in existential crisis that doesn’t want to live to see it through.

But, HOLIDAY CHEER! GIFT GIVING! VOLUNTEERING! Sharing and regifting communal smiles is all what the holidays are about, and we’re taking part in those good ol’ jolly holiday festivities by giving back to all of the ears that we’ve aurally assaulted over the course of this year.  We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite holiday music- old and new- from some stellar up-and-coming and/or independent artists.

Happy Holidays, from our little media family to yours!

If Walls Could Talk – “Baby It’s Cold Outside”

If this modernized jazzy indie-rocker version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (feat. Katelynn Corll) by Detroit’s very own If Walls Could Talk doesn’t get you all sorts of warm and fuzzy for the holidays, then you have a heart of stone.

Sinking. – “Last Christmas”

Synth-pop duo Sinking. released their oddly infectious cover of “Last Christmas” on a charity compilation called “Clause For Paws-” all proceeds will be donated to Felines & Canines, a 501(c)(3) no-kill animal shelter.

 

Bearstronaut – “New Years (Or Never)”

Jangly, silly, and smooth- just the way I like my winter holidays! Bearstronaut is offering this track (well, two-track album really) for download through December 31st. Now, here’s the giving-spirit: 100% of the profits will be donated to the ACLU. Spend $1.99 to both spread and hold the holiday cheer!

 

Beta Radio – “Songs The Season Brings” 

I’ve loved Beta Radio ever since their inception in 2010- the North Carolinian folk/americana duo has never failed to spread a smile across my face. So, of course I’m a huge sucker for their holiday music album Songs the Season Brings– the title track, in particular, being my favorite:

 

**BONUS ROUND: “Carol of Banjos.” You can thank me later. 

 

Kevin “K.O.” Olusola – “Auld Lang Syne” (Celloboxing version)

My all-time favorite cello-boxing instrumentalist made his own version of my favorite song that my friends obligatorily put on their holiday playlists when they remember that I’m the only Jew in the room. This gives me all the right holiday feels.

Sufjan Stevens – “Lumberjack Christmas / No One Can Save You From Christmases Past”

This really doesn’t require any explanation.

Said The Whale – “Summertime In Australia”

Are you a real Scrooge when it comes to trying to endure the freezing weather? Vancouver’s indie-rockers Said The Whale have gotcha covered.

**You should really just buy their whole holiday album West Coast Christmas on bandcamp.

 

Christoffer Franzen – “Christmas Morning”

No-one can capture emotion into cinematic aurals the way that Christoffer Franzen of Lights & Motion can. “Christmas Morning” is a literal cinematic soundscape expression of the excitement and joy of a young child on Christmas morning.

 

Farewell For Now – “Merry Christmas, I Miss You” 

It ain’t the holidays until you get an acoustic pop-punk holiday song. Thankfully, we’ve got Farewell For Now’s (the moniker of Matheus Amado, formerly of the now-disbanded band Above-Ground) brand new holiday song “Merry Christmas, I Miss You,” which combines equal parts midwestern pop-punk twinge and Dashboard Confessional-esque intimacy. Grab a slice of pizza and kick it back with this song while you stare at your unused skateboards.

 

Jonathan Coulton – “Chiron Beta Prime”

This is my all-time favorite holiday song.

No, I’m not kidding you.

I sing this at the top of my lungs once a day starting December 1st.

It’s the only thing that makes this Grinch’s heart grow three times its size.