Christmas music that doesn’t suck

by Steven Garrity in

I hate Christmas (music). I had intented to put together an Acts of Volition Radio session of Christmas music that doesn’t suck, but I could only turn up a few songs and didn’t quite have time.

So, for those with the means to find the music on their own, here is a quick list of Christmas music that doesn’t suck:

  • The First Noel by The Crash Test Dummies
    This comes from an entire disc of Christmas songs. Though I have only heard this one track, there is a possiblity that the other tracks also do not suck.

  • Christmastime by the Smashing Pumkins
    This song, from the A Very Special Christmas compilation from 1997, is one of the only modern Christmas songs I’ve heard that captures that elusive “Christmas carol” sound, yet manages to not suck.

I’m told there is also a good Barenaked Ladies / Sarah McLachlan Christmas single from a year or two ago – but I am unable to confirm it’s suck/doesn’t-suck status. Also, Jon Hicks points to The Darkest Night of the Year by Over the Rhine. It too doesn’t suck.

Hope your Christmas doesn’t suck. Look for a new session of Acts of Volition Radio in the days after Christmas.

 

12 thoughts on “Christmas music that doesn’t suck”

  1. That’s too bad that you’re not into Christmas music. That may be my favourite part of the holiday.

    Have you heard “Gabriel’s Message” by Sting? I’m guessing you might be into that. And what do you think of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Bandaid? It may be cheesey as hell and culturally prejudiced, but it’s a classic. If not the original, perhaps the version by Barenaked Ladies, Guster and Dido may be to your liking?

    Check ’em out.
    Merry Christmas!

  2. A family member bought They Might Be Giants’ Holidayland EP for me (as part of their Gigantic Winter Bundle), but it’s yet to arrive so I can’t recommed it, as such. But you might want to check it out.

  4. I too have a hatred for shitty overplayed christmas music..However since i have heard a wicked band from Halifax called Wintersleep cover We Three Kings, i have a new appreciation for the music…almost…Download and Enjoy as i certainly have

  7. Good suggestions all around – there’s more Christmas music that doesn’t suck than I thought. Keep ’em coming.

    Oh, and Mike, I too have a weakness for “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Bandaid.

  8. I’m assuming you mean pop Christmas songs. Of the non-poppish variety, I would argue the majority do not suck.

    Anyway, The Dandy Warhols have a fun ‘cover’ of Little Drummer Boy. I like that one. It even got a video.

  9. Well, of course there’s the Beatles classics.

    Honourable mentions:
    -Skydiggers’ version of Good King Wenceslas
    -Fats Domino doing Silver Bells

    And call it ‘Seasonal’ music…..Auld Lang Syne has a pretty special place in our musical lexicon.

    Looking forward to another year of Acts of Volition. Merry Christmas everyone.

  10. I made a pretty good compilation of Christmas music that doesn’t suck. The Barenaked Ladies & Sarah Mclaughlan track is among them, but here’s a few of the others.

    Run D.M.C. – Christmas In Hollis
    Goldfinger – White Christmas
    Blues Traveler – Christmas <- very good! The Odds - Kings of Orient Wesley Willis - Merry Christmas <- I couldn't resist... I've also got two great Sting Christmas songs, and Oi to the World by No Doubt, which doesn't sound a whole lot like a Christmas song, but is still alright. There's also the South Park Christmas album, which, while quite offensive at times, always gets me in the Christmas spirit.

  12. ok… The BareNaked Ladies/ Sarah McLaughlin Track definitely doesn’t suck…. BNL also did Green Christmas (for the Grinch)which is noticably absent of suckiness… however… the all time king for best Christmas Tune has to go to Ray Charles (ahhh how we miss you) for his version of The Spirit of Christmas… Good enough to make Clark W. Griswald cry

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