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Therefore, here's another batch of interesting alternative Xmas songs to check out, in addition to the huge 12 mix collection we already published back in 2007, now available on a special page which has seen over 40,000 hits in just three weeks!
This mix includes some of the best Christmas songs we haven't published before (with just a few exceptions), including a "Christmasy" song from Band of Horses (even though the song title doesn't indicate so). There will be one more mega-mix coming up tomorrow.
"Happy XMas (War is Over)" - John Lennon
"Come on Santa" - The Raveonettes
"The First Song" - Band of Horses
"Christmas at the Zoo" - The Flaming Lips
"Ghost of Christmas" - Manic Street Preachers
"Christmas Is Coming Soon" - Blitzen Trapper
"Believe In Me" - Fun
"O Come Emmanuel" - Belle & Sebastian
"We Three Kings" - Blondie
"Silent Night" - The Briggs
Listen to and download more than 150 additional Christmas and holiday songs - perfect for making your own playlists to play for family and friends this holiday season.
Credits: Thanks to AM, thenFM, BagOSongs.com, KollegeDaily and others for their contributions to this mix.
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs
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Let's get started with a a fresh cover from The Dandy Warhols that the band sent us a couple of days ago, followed up by a new Xmas track from The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas' debut solo LP, 11th Dimension. Also, check out other notable holiday-style songs from The Snowballs, St. Etienne, Richard Hawly, Asobi Seksu and more.
This is the first of a few such playlists that will be posted in the next week, including a special playlist based on a famous Christmas poem. You're not gonna want to miss that one, so check back. Additionally, we're going to do a "best of" holiday songs mix based entirely on which tracks all of you have listened to, and downloaded, the most from Thanksgiving Eve to Christmas Eve.
"Christmas Treat" - Julian Casablancas
"Little Drummer Boy" - The Dandy Warhols
"Song About Christmas" - The Snowballs
"My Christmas Prayer" - St. Etienne
"Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight)" (The Ramones) - Asobi Seksu
"The Christmas Where It Ends" - Soda Fountain Rag
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Parker Lewis and Friends
"Silent Night" - Richard Hawley
Thanks to the blogs BagofSongs.com, PolariodallaRadio.it and SixEyes.com and Indy Music Files for some of these tracks.
Other Posts You Might Enjoy:
Ears to the Music, VIII: Monogold, Old Canes, Slideshow Freak, Japanese Motors, Langhorne Slim and Laura Veirs
Band of the Week: The Genre-Bending Music of Hosta
Today's Best New Releases (12/8): The French Semester, STS9, Avi Buffalo, Smashing Pumpkins, Midnight Masses and More
In Dee Mail Special Edition, Part I: Sean Walsh & The National Reserve, Devries, Jupiter One, Julian Plenti and Parlour Steps
Band of the Week: Austin's Wiretree Release One of the Best Under-the-Radar Albums of 2009, 'Luck'
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs
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There are a total of more than 100 Christmas-theme songs. Check them out and enjoy at the We Wish You a Very Indie Christmas series. As always, if you like an artist or label in particular, go check out their official websites, happily purchase their music for your permanent music collection and see them at shows near you.
Here are a few of the spotlight songs from the series:
"Put The Lights On The Tree" by Sufjan Stevens
"Silent Night" by Low
"Blue Christmas" by Bright Eyes
"Last Christmas" by Jimmy Eat World
Listen to more Christmas songs here.
Note: Some songs linked to indie rock songs website are not working at the moment. We're working on fixing those.
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Alternative Xmas Songs, Indie Christmas Playlists
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Recently we checked to make sure all of the MP3 links in the dozen mixes are working. Don't forget to check IRC's homepage in the coming weeks for dozens of newly discovered, or recorded, holiday songs that were not included in the original series. There is now one page for all of the Christmas and holiday music mixes to make it easier to listen and download tracks to make your own playlist mixes. Enjoy.
In This Home on Ice - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Let Me Sleep (Christmas Time) - Pearl Jam
Frosty The Snowman - Fiona Apple
Last Christmas (George Michael) - The Fire Apes
Plant a Little Fir Tree - Half-Handed Cloud
The Friendly Beasts - Sufjan Stevens
Listen the Snow is Falling - Galaxie 500
Mookie's Last Christmas - Saosin
Anorak Christmas (Club Mix) - Sally Shapiro
A New Hope - The New Royal Family
A Marshmallow World - Los Straightjackets
Buying Pine Cone Scents - His Clancyness
Christmas With Derek - Mertle
Christmas on the Beach - Irene
Goodbye Charles - Over The Rhine
Holiday - The Hopefuls
Santa Stole My Baby - Mistreaters
Sleigh Ride - The Late Greats
Listen to and download all of the Christmas playlist mixes. You can also bookmark and share this page which will not expire or become a broken link.
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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Jesus Christ - Big Star
Mookie's Last Christmas - Saosin
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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Punk Rock Christmas – Sex Pistols
Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) – The Ramones
Another Rock and Roll Christmas – Gary Glitter
Blue Christmas – Banjo or Freakout
Christmas Piglet – The Presidents of the United States
Christmas Time Is Here – Gatsby's American Dream
December Cliché – Beneath Her Parachute
December Slow – Aerospace
Don't Shoot Me Santa – The Killers
Donde Esta Santa Claus – Guster
Festive Friends (Forever) – Parenthetical Girls
Forget December – Something Corporate
Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
Have a Punky Christmas Everyone – The Mangkuks
I Took Some Time For Christmas (Live) – Belle and Sebastian
It's Christmas So We'll Stop – Frightened Rabbit
It's Christmas Time – Yo La Tengo
Jinglebell Rock – Arcade Fire
All I Want For Christmas is You – Countdown
Anorak Christmas (Club Mix) – Sally Shapiro
Last Christmas (Part Two) – Parenthetical Girls
Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) – Joey Ramone
Santa Claus – Wild Billy Childish and The Musicians
Santa Claus (Live) – Belle and Sebastian
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Bobby Baby
Santa Claus is Coming...To Get You – Das Wanderlust
Silent Night – Nullsleep
Silent Night (Live) – Belle and Sebastian
The Woods – Stars
You Are My Joy – The Reindeer Section
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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9 Flowers in December - Mazzy Star
All I Want For Christmas is You – The Trekky Yuletide Orchestra
Alone This Holiday – The Used
Black Christmas – The International Karate Plus
Carol of the Bells – The Bird and The Bee
Carol of the Season – Parenthetical Girls
Christmas At Home – Crawling With Kings
Christmas Party – The Walkmen
De Ushuaia Ala Quiaca – Gustavo Santaolalla
Ghost of Christmas – Manic Street Preachers
I Won't Be Home For Christmas – Blink 182
Amazing Grace – Jeff Buckley
Joy to the World – Sufjan Stevens
Here Without You Baby – Nickelback
Silver Bells – The Pines
Sleigh Ride to Christmas – Flowman
Song About Christmas – The Snowballs
Space Christmas – Shonen Knife
The Mods of Christmastown – Zumpano
Xmas Song – Fireflies
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Bright Eyes
Little Drummer Boy – Mink
Breaking The Ice – Mojave 3
Thanks For Christmas – XTC
The Christmas Song – Weezer
Carol of the Bells – The Bird and the Bee
Christmas – Nieznany Wykonawca
Drinking Up Christmas – Dwarves
Fallen Snow – Au Revoir Simone
Happy Christmas – The Maytals
This Christmas Mix – Louis XIV
Here Without You Baby – Nickleback
Holiday – Glo-Worm
I Hate December – Ivy
I'll Be Snowgazing For Christmas – Postcode
In All The Christmas Trees – Le Man Avec Les Lunettes
Joy! Joy! Joy! - Sufjan Stevens
Listening to Otis Redding at Home – Okkervil River
Mele Kalikimaka – Asylum Street Spankers
Plastic Christmas Trees – Summer Cats
Silver Bells – The Pines
All I Ever Get For Christmas is Blue – Over The Rhine
Space Christmas – Shonen Knife
The Mods of Christmastown – Zumpano
Wake Me Up When Christmas Is Over – Listen Lisse
Winter Paradise (I Miss You This Christmas) – Liam and Me
Here Comes Christmas - Unknown (help?)
Go back to the alternative and indie rock Christmas songs mixes main page containing links to more than 150 working Xmas MP3s.
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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O Little Town of Bethlehem - Bright Eyes
A Very White Christmas - Le Man Avec Les Lunettes
All That I Want - The Weepies
Christmas Time is Here - Vince Guaraldi
Do They Know It's Xmas (Feed The World) - Band Aid
Christmas Cake - Rilo Kiley
Holiday - Green Day
Ghost of Christmas - Manic Street Preachers
I Feel Like Going Home - Yo La Tengo
Jingle Bell Rock - Thick Pigeon
Last Christmas - Le Sport, Montt Mardie and Mr. Suitcase
Not Christmas At Home - Crawling With Kings
Not Giving In - Rediscover
Silent Night - Monster Bobby
So This is Christmas - Acceptance
Santa Claus is Smoking Reefer - Squirrel Nut Zippers
The Christmas Sound - 44.1K
X12 Days of XMas - From First to Last
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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Here is Mix Six in the 12 Plays series. This playlist includes a diverse collection of Christmas and wintry songs, just in case you are somewhere in the world where it is not going to be a white Christmas. Indie giants like Yo La Tengo, Comet Gain, Chris Letcher and Belle and Sebastian, plus relatively new bands like Band of Horses, Great Lake Swimmers and Phantom Planet contribute to this newest Christmas songs playlist.
(Above: The note Santa is reading in the cartoon reads: "Dear Santa, If you leave a new bike under the tree, I will give you the antidote to the poison I put in the milk - Tommy.")
A Change of Pace offers up the introspective "Christmas on the Coast" and the Parenthetical Girls present indie cheer with "I Love Christmas", plus holiday season songs by Dave Melilo, The Halo Brothers, The Reindeer Section, Phofo and Jason Gleason.
A Hooves Christmas - The Hooves
I Love Christmas - Parenthetical Girls
All I Want For Christmas - Dave Melilo
Asleep On The Snow - Comet Gain
Christmas on the Coast - A Change of Pace
Deep Frieze - Chris Letcher
Here Come Christmas - Remington Super 60
It's Christmas Time - Yo La Tengo
Light The Menorah - Phofo
My First Christmas as a Woman - The Vandals
Santa Claus - Belle and Sebastian
Sleigh Bells and Wine - Jason Gleason
Snowfall - The Halo Brothers
Song For The Angeles - Great Lake Swimmers
The First Song - Band of Horses
Winter Wonderland - Phantom Planet
You Are My Joy - The Reindeer Section
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Songs
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Alone This Holiday - The Used
Angels We Have Heard on High - Reliant K
Christmas Time - Gatsby's America
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Belle & Sebastian
Get Behind Me, Santa - Sufjan Stevens
Holiday on the Moon - Love and Rockets
Hooray for Santy Claus - Milton DeLugg & The Little Eskimos
Star of Wonder - Sufjan Stevens
Let's Wrap Each Other - The National Splits
Holy Night - Sandra Mooy
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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This Christmas playlist kicks off with the first-ever original and popular true punk rock (now more commonly referred to as alternative) Christmas song by who else but The Kinks.
Simply titled "Father Christmas" (1977), the song lashes out at the commercialism of Christmas and yet ironically encourages disenfranchised youth to beat up Santa Claus if he doesn't give them "some money," and declares: "give all the toys to the little rich boys."
On a lighter note, Beulah, Michigan indie pop musician Andrew Dost delivers an original and cynical view of the season in "Yeah, I Know, It's Christmas Time." The Matches serve up their own brand of bitter cynicism about Christmas, "December is For Cynics".
Father Christmas - The Kinks*
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - In Memory
The Chestnut Times - Ex-Otago
Christmas Reindeer - The Knife
Yeah, I Know, It's Christmas Time - Andrew Dost
Happy Xmas (War is Over) - The Fray
Noel Song - Animaniacs
It's Christmas Time - A Band Called Quinn
Saving Up Her Wishes (For Another Christmas) - Celestial
Holly Jolly Christmas - The Format
Santa, Bring My Baby Back To Me - Belle and Sebastian
It's Christmas, Let's Be Glad - Sufjan Stevens
Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin Stevens
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Matchbook Romance
Come On Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance - Sufjan Stevens
Bonus Tracks
Every Day Should Be a Holiday - Dandy Warhols
Jonathan David - Belle and Sebastian
December Is For Cynics - The Matches
* In the UK, Europe and Australia Santa Claus is commonly referred to as "Father Christmas."
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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Star of Wonder - Sufjan Stevens
Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas - Daphne Loves Derby
Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith
Silent Night - Low
All I Want For Christmas Is You - My Chemical Romance
The Opposite of Hallelujah - Jens Lekman
The Same Thing Goes for Christmas - Sciflyer
My First Santa - Ten Thousand Dollar Tattoo
Bittersweet Eve - Balasana
Bonus Tracks - Belle and Sebastian live on the historic Peel Sessions, Dec. 18, 2002:
The 12 Days of Christmas (Live) - Belle & Sebastian
Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto (Live) - Belle & Sebastian
View all of the Alternative and Indie Christmas songs mixes
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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Have you heard enough of the old Christmas songs that make you want to pull your hair out yet? Well, hopefully the playlist below will help alleviate the stress. We hope to alleviate some of that by offering you the best collection of alternative and indie Christmas tunes available anywhere on the Internet.
Blue Christmas - Bright Eyes
Christmas is Going to The Dogs - The Eels
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Death Cab For Cutie
We Three Kings - Fuel
Christmas Night of Zombies - MXPX
This Time of Year - Mighty Mighty Bosstones
When I Get Home For Christmas - Snow Patrol
Put the Lights On the Tree - Sufjan Stevens
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Sugarcult
The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes
Stream and download all of the alternative Christmas song mixes.
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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Happy Christmas (War is Over) - The Polyphonic Spree
25th December - Everything But The Girl
Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World
First Noel - My American Heart (pictured on the right)
Hey Parker, It's Christmas - Ryan Adams
Miracle Of Christmas - Funeral For A Friend
Just Like Christmas - Low
Born on Christmas Day/Annunciation Day - Ted Leo and Pharmacists
Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? - Sufjan Stevens
You can buy Sufjan Stevens' amazing Christmas Songs box-set - it is really a must have for any music lover, or Christmas enthusiastic, and a must-have for Sufjan Stevens' fans. The box set is packaged box, including lyrics, notes from Sufjan and other exclusive goodies.
The Other Xmas Playlists:
Mix Two - Featuring Sugarcult, MXPX, DCFC, Fuel, Bright Eyes, Snow Patrol, The Raveonettes and Sufjan Stevens.
Mix Three - Ron Sexsmith, Daphne Loves Derby, Low, My Chemical Romance, Jens Lekman, Sciflyer, Slade, Balasana and Ten Thousand Dollar Tattoo.
Mix Four - The Kinks, The Fray, In Memory, Belle and Sebastian, Celestial, Ex-Otago, The Knife, A Band Called Quinn, The Format and Matchbook Romance.
Mix Five - Reliant K, The Fine Lines, The National Splits, Milton DeLugg & The Little Eskimos and The Used, Alien Sex Friend, Sandry Mooy, Gatsby's America, Arcade Fire, Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues.
Mix Six - Band of Horses, Great Lake Swimmers, Phantom Planet, Yo La Tengo, Comet Gain, The Reindeer Section, Phofo, Jason Gleason, Chris Letcher and Belle and Sebastian.
Mix Seven - The Weepies, Yo La Tengo, Manic Street Preachers, Green Day, Le Man Avec Les Lunettes, Monster Bobby, Bright Eyes, Ladybug Transistor, The Flaming Lips, From First To Last, Acceptance, Crawling with Kings, Thick Pigeon and Rilo Kiley.
Want More? Check out the uber Christmas songs launch page - All 12 playlist mixes and more from one place.
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Music, Indie Christmas Playlists, Indie Christmas Songs
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Taking Back Sunday skyrocketed from indie to "commercial indie" in just the past year or so. They also recorded one of the best indie CDs of the new century, Where You Want To Be. The album was a huge success ore leaving Victory Records before moving on to Warner.
So whether or not TBS is indie doesn’t matter because the group offers this playful, alternative version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” in video animation. Just click play to watch it now (no download required):
Labels: Alternative Christmas Songs, Indie Christmas Songs, Taking Back Sunday
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At some point, just about everyone has had enough of the traditional Christmas songs, so let's try out something else.
Fiona Apple sings "Frosty the Snowman"; Travis offers his own Christmas ballad "River"; Death Cab for Cutie play "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", The Flaming Lips perform "Christmas at the Zoo" and and Tim Sweeney presents "DFA Holiday Mix"
Other choices for an indie Christmas holidays include the Do You Hear What I Hear?, compilation, featuring fresh covers of traditional Christmas songs, like "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" by Hem, "Holly Jolly Christmas" by The Format, and non-traditional songs like "Welcome Christmas" by The Clumsy Lovers.
There have been a good number of indie-themed Christmas albums and compliations released over the years by indie labels, most notably perhaps is Sufjan Stevens' simply titled and magnificent four EP box set Christmas Songs.The boxset feature offers sound quality tested music stream of all 4 EPs, plus information on what the box set contains, including writings from Sufjan himself.
You can also get exclusive MP3s from IRC.
Sample or buy the album's tracks at Emusic.
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