Best Indie Rock Songs, Bands, Albums

Trailer Park Fashion Show

I’ve travelled by land across the continential United States at least five times now and have passed many trailer-park communities along the way. Sometimes in life, stereotypes have a tinge of truth in them, huh?

But this next video takes it to a new level by featuring two amateur actors (who do a fairly good job ‘acting’) participating in their own little twisted Trailer Park Fashion Show. It’s not as trashy as you would expect a home-made video to be, but it’s enjoyable nonetheless.

Best Indie and Alternative Songs of 2007, Playlist I

To kick-off the playlist series for ‘best’, or favorite, songs of 2007, I have posted the first list below.

While there are some mainstream artists included in this series, the focus is mainly on independent, or indie, and alternative songs by some of rock, pop and electronica music’s most talent, and in some cases, vastly under-rated artists and music groups.

You can subscribe to get these songs and playlists through any medium you prefer whether it be via your iTunes, email or favorite feed reader.

Here’s the first playlist of songs from 2007:

Brainstorm – Arctic Monkeys from Favourite Worst Nightmare

The Night Starts Here – Stars from In Our Bedroom After The War

Sleeping Lessons (RAC Mix) – The Shins from Wincing The Night Away

Your English is Good – Tokyo Police Club from Your English is Good

My Sword Hand’s Anger – Apostle of Hustle from National Anthem of Nowhere

Hollywood Bass Player – Jose Rouse from Country Mouse City House

For Agent 13 – The Besnard Lakes from The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse

Keep The Car Running – Arcade Fire from Neon Bible

Imaginary Man – Ray Davies from Working Man’s Cafe

Fucked Up Kid -Broken Social Scene from Spirit If…

Bank Holiday Monday – Stereophonics from Pull The Pin

Heretics – Andrew Bird from Armchair Apocrypha

Lake Michigan – Rouge Wave from Asleep at Heaven’s Gate

If I Could Cry – Jens Lekman from Night Falls Over Kortedala

If I Saw The Bright Shines – The Octopus Project from Hello Avalanche

Go to Part II

Various installment of this series will include “lists of lists” for the best music of 2007, including songs, albums, music videos, concerts, artists, festivals, album artwork, MySpace pages and more gathered from dozens of mainstream music websites and established music bloggers.

If you need indie songs year round, subscribe to Feed Me Indie

Best Indie Rock Christmas Songs, Mix XII: Pearl Jam, Half-Handed Cloud, CYHSY, Galaxie 500 and Saosin

The Best Indie Rock Christmas Songs playlist mix series was originally compiled back in 2007 to provide music lovers with a diverse collection of more than 200 indie and alternative Christmas songs that also include many cover versions of traditional Christmas and holiday songs by some of the best musicians and bands ever.  Recently we checked to make sure all of the MP3 links in the dozen mixes are working.  

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.

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“Sleigh Ride“The Late Greats

“In This Home on Ice“Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

“Let Me Sleep (Christmas Time)“ Pearl Jam

“The Friendly Beasts“Sufjan Stevens

“Listen the Snow is Falling“Galaxie 500

“Anorak Christmas“ (Club Mix) – Sally Shapiro

“A Marshmallow World“Los Straightjackets

“Christmas on the Beach“Irene

“Goodbye Charles““Over The Rhine”

“Holiday“The Hopefuls

“Santa Stole My Baby“Mistreaters

“Christmas With Derek“Mertle

Stream all of the Christmas playlist mixes. You can also bookmark and share this page which will not expire or become a broken link.

Best Indie Rock Christmas Songs, Mix XI: Big Star, Galaxie 500, Her Space Holiday, The Fountain, Coldplay, Sufjan Stevens, Saosin, From Mars

Stream a collection of the best indie rock Christmas songs from Freddy Johnston, Coldplay, Galaxie 500, From Mars, Big Star, Sufjan Stevens, Liz Phair, The Long Blondes and Saosin. This playlist series was initially called The 12 Plays of Alternative Indie Christmas Songs, but we upgraded it to Best Indie & Alternative Rock Christmas Songs.

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Jesus ChristBig Star

Listen The Snow is FallingGalaxie 500

Amazing GraceSufjan Stevens

Let It SnowHer Space Holiday

Have Yourself A Merry Little ChristmasFreddy Johnston

You Gotta Get UpFive Iron Frenzy

Shout for Trout At ChristmasThe Fountain

Youre A Mean One Mr. GrinchDeanna Kirk

Mookie’s Last ChristmasSaosin

Winter WonderlandLiz Phair

2000 Miles Coldplay

Christmas is CanceledThe Long Blondes

Last ChristmasFrom Mars

White ChristmasZakk Wylde

Best Indie and Alternative Rock Christmas Songs, Mix X: Gary Glitter, Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Killers and Guster

This mix, the tenth installment of the Christmas playlists series, offers Xmas songs from punk legends Sex Pistols and The Ramones and modern-day popular artists like Arcade Fire, Yo La Tengo, The Killers, Something Corporate and Stars.

Personal favorite track on this playlist is Guster‘s “Donde Esta Santa Claus.” It’s different, upbeat and infectious.

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Donde Esta Santa ClausGuster

Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)The Ramones

Jinglebell RockArcade Fire

It’s Christmas TimeYo La Tengo

I Took Some Time For Christmas (Live)Belle and Sebastian

Another Rock and Roll Christmas Gary Glitter

HallelujahJeff Buckley

Silent Night (Live)Belle and Sebastian

Punk Rock ChristmasSex Pistols

Christmas PigletThe Presidents of the United States

Christmas Time Is HereGatsby’s American Dream

December ClichéBeneath Her Parachute

December Slow Aerospace

Blue ChristmasBanjo or Freakout

Festive Friends (Forever)Parenthetical Girls

Forget DecemberSomething Corporate

Have a Punky Christmas EveryoneThe Mangkuks

It’s Christmas So We’ll StopFrightened Rabbit

All I Want For Christmas is YouCountdown

Anorak Christmas (Club Mix)Sally Shapiro

Last Christmas (Part Two)Parenthetical Girls

Santa ClausWild Billy Childish and The Musicians

Santa Claus (Live)Belle and Sebastian

Santa Claus is Coming to TownBobby Baby

Santa Claus is Coming…To Get YouDas Wanderlust

Silent NightNullsleep

The WoodsStars

Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)Joey Ramone

Best Indie & Alternative Rock Christmas Songs, Mix IX: Mazzy Star, The Used, The Walkmen, Manic Street Preachers, Sufjan Stevens

Almost there! The 12 playlists of alternative-indie Christmas songs are riding through the snow on the way to gramma’s house. (She better have lots of egg nog!) Here is Mix Nine. Mix Ten will be delivered soon, and later tonight – when I actually have a few minutes away from festivities – Mix Eleven will be posted.

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9 Flowers in DecemberMazzy Star

All I Want For Christmas is YouThe Trekky Yuletide Orchestra

Alone This HolidayThe Used

Black ChristmasThe International Karate Plus

Carol of the BellsThe Bird and The Bee

Carol of the SeasonParenthetical Girls

Christmas At HomeCrawling With Kings

Christmas PartyThe Walkmen

De Ushuaia Ala QuiacaGustavo Santaolalla

Ghost of ChristmasManic Street Preachers

I Won’t Be Home For ChristmasBlink 182

Amazing GraceJeff Buckley

Joy to the WorldSufjan Stevens

Here Without You BabyNickelback

Silver BellsThe Pines

Sleigh Ride to ChristmasFlowman

Song About ChristmasThe Snowballs

Space ChristmasShonen Knife

The Mods of ChristmastownZumpano

Xmas SongFireflies

Listen to and download free all of the Indie/Alt-Rock Christmas playlist mixes

Best Indie Rock Christmas Songs, Mix VIII: Bright Eyes, Mojave 3, Okkervil River, XTC, Louis XIV, Sufjan Stevens

Some people just can’t get enough of indie and alternative rock Christmas songs. Many of the songs from these playlists are just as much of a discovery for me as I hope they are for you.

You’re not going to find any of the old AM radio Christmas songs from decades ago (not that there’s anything wrong with that) on these 12 playlists. There are many cover versions of traditional Christmas songs. The vast majority of these covers are from artists that most people have never heard of, including many music enthusiasts.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Bright Eyes

Little Drummer BoyMink

Breaking The IceMojave 3

Thanks For ChristmasXTC

The Christmas SongWeezer

Carol of the BellsThe Bird and the Bee

ChristmasNieznany Wykonawca

Drinking Up Christmas Dwarves

Fallen SnowAu Revoir Simone

Happy ChristmasThe Maytals

This Christmas MixLouis XIV

HolidayGlo-Worm

I Hate DecemberIvy

I’ll Be Snowgazing For ChristmasPostcode

In All The Christmas TreesLe Man Avec Les Lunettes

Joy! Joy! Joy!Sufjan Stevens

Listening to Otis Redding at HomeOkkervil River

Mele KalikimakaAsylum Street Spankers

Plastic Christmas TreesSummer Cats

Silver BellsThe Pines

All I Ever Get For Christmas is BlueOver The Rhine

Space ChristmasShonen Knife

The Mods of ChristmastownZumpano

Wake Me Up When Christmas Is OverListen 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 200 working Xmas MP3s.

Best Indie Rock Christmas Songs, Mix III – Sufjan, Belle & Sebastian, Low, My Chemical Romance, Jens Lekman

The third installment of IRC’s special Christmas music series of The 12 Plays of Alternative-Indie Christmas Songs includes some more mainstream rock artists such as My Chemical Romance, Slade and Belle and Sebastian, as well as popular indie artists like Low, Sufjan Stevens, Jens Lekman and many more.

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Star of Wonder Sufjan Stevens

Have Yourself a Merry Little XmasDaphne Loves Derby

Maybe This ChristmasRon Sexsmith

Silent NightLow

All I Want For Christmas Is YouMy Chemical Romance

The Opposite of HallelujahJens Lekman

The Same Thing Goes for ChristmasSciflyer

My First SantaTen Thousand Dollar Tattoo

Bittersweet EveBalasana

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 Indie Rock Christmas songs mixes

Best Indie & Alternative Rock Christmas Songs, Mix VII: Bright Eyes, Green Day, Manic Street Preachers, Yo La Tengo

indie-christmas Today’s alternative and indie rock Christmas playlist mix includes songs from artists such as Bright Eyes, The Weepies, Vince Guaraldi, Green Day, Manic Street Preachers, Thick Pigeon, Monster Bobby, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Rilo Kiley and dozens of others.

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O Little Town of BethlehemBright Eyes

A Very White ChristmasLe Man Avec Les Lunettes

All That I WantThe Weepies

Christmas Time is HereVince Guaraldi

Christmas CakeRilo Kiley

HolidayGreen Day

Ghost of ChristmasManic Street Preachers

I Feel Like Going HomeYo La Tengo

Jingle Bell RockThick Pigeon

Last ChristmasLe Sport, Montt Mardie and Mr. Suitcase

Not Christmas At HomeCrawling With Kings

Not Giving InRediscover

Silent NightMonster Bobby

So This is ChristmasAcceptance

Santa Claus is Smoking ReeferSquirrel Nut Zippers

The Christmas Sound44.1K

X12 Days of XMasFrom First to Last

Browse, listen to and download dozens, actually hundreds, of more indie and alternative rock Xmas songs.

Best Indie Rock Christmas Songs, Mix VI: Yo La Tengo, Comet Gain, Chris Letcher, Great Lake Swimmers, Belle & Sebastian

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.

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(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 ChristmasThe Hooves

I Love ChristmasParenthetical Girls

All I Want For ChristmasDave Melilo

Asleep On The SnowComet Gain

Christmas on the CoastA Change of Pace

Deep FriezeChris Letcher

Here Come ChristmasRemington Super 60

It’s Christmas TimeYo La Tengo

Light The MenorahPhofo

My First Christmas as a WomanThe Vandals

Santa ClausBelle and Sebastian

Sleigh Bells and WineJason Gleason

SnowfallThe Halo Brothers

Song For The AngelesGreat Lake Swimmers

The First SongBand of Horses

Winter WonderlandPhantom Planet

You Are My JoyThe Reindeer Section

Best Indie & Alternative Rock Christmas Songs, Mix V: Belle & Sebastian, Sufjan Stevens, Love & Rockets, The Used, Reliant K

This Christmas playlist features a great mix of indie and alt Christmas songs from Reliant K, The Fine Lines, The National Splits, Milton DeLugg & The Little Eskimos and The Used. There are also xmas tunes from Alien Sex Friend, Sandry Mooy, Gatsby’s America, Arcade Fire, Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues.

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O Little Town of BethlehemBelle & Sebastian

Get Behind Me, Santa Sufjan Stevens

Holiday on the MoonLove and Rockets

Alone This HolidayThe Used

Angels We Have Heard on HighReliant K

Christmas TimeGatsby’s America


Hooray for Santy ClausMilton DeLugg & The Little Eskimos

Star of WonderSufjan Stevens

Let’s Wrap Each OtherThe National Splits

Holy NightSandra Mooy

Check out more indie and alternative rock Christmas songs.

Best Indie and Alternative Rock Christmas Songs, Mix IV: The Kinks, Andrew Dost, The Format, The Matches, Dandy Warhols

christmassongsplaylists Do you have egg nog-tummy, Christmas-time fatigue, coffee-infused insomnia or instant vertigo every time you hear Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas”? We’ve got an antidote: Our collection of the Best Indie Alternative Rock Christmas Songs – the largest, longest-running, regularly updated collection of indie/alt rock Christmas songs on the web since 2007.

This the original Mix IV from 2007. All MP3s work. You can click the little player below and it will stream all of the tracks in the playlist uninterrupted and with no commercials!!!

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”.

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Father ChristmasThe Kinks*

The Most Wonderful Time of the YearIn Memory

The Chestnut TimesEx-Otago

Christmas ReindeerThe Knife

Yeah, I Know, It’s Christmas TimeAndrew Dost

Happy Xmas (War is Over)The Fray

Noel SongAnimaniacs

It’s Christmas TimeA Band Called Quinn

Saving Up Her Wishes (For Another Christmas) Celestial

Holly Jolly ChristmasThe Format

Santa, Bring My Baby Back To MeBelle and Sebastian

It’s Christmas, Let’s Be GladSufjan Stevens

I’ll Be Home for ChristmasMatchbook Romance

Come On Let’s Boogey to the Elf DanceSufjan Stevens

Bonus Tracks

Every Day Should Be a Holiday Dandy Warhols

Jonathan David Belle and Sebastian

December Is For CynicsThe Matches

  • In the UK, Europe and Australia Santa Claus is commonly referred to as “Father Christmas.”