Tag: Christmas Music
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The Pogues ‘If I Should Fall from Grace with God’ (1988)
Blending traditional Irish folk instrumentation with the snarling energy of punk, The Pogues breakthrough album If I Should Fall from Grace with God was both a rebellious anthem and a love letter to their Celtic roots. The album’s lead single “Fairytale of New York” became an instant holiday classic the moment it was released. With…
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Relient K ‘Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer’ (2007)
My love for pop punk isn’t a well-kept secret (it’s basically the genre that shaped my musical tastes in middle school as I’ve described in great detail over the past two years) and Relient K is one of those bands that have always held a special place in my heart. Their 2004 magnum opus Mmhmm…
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Various Artists ‘A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector’ (1963)
A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector is one of the most enduring holiday albums of all time, showcasing Phil Spector’s pioneering “Wall of Sound” production. Recorded at the height of Spector’s illustrious career, the album was a dazzling collaboration with his roster of talented artists, including Darlene Love, The Ronettes, The Crystals, and…
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The Jackson 5 ‘Christmas Album’ (1970)
Fronted by a precocious 11-year-old Michael Jackson, whose voice carried a blend of innocence and soul far beyond his years, The Jackson 5 quickly became a pop phenomenon in the early 70’s with hits like “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” and “I’ll Be There” showcasing their boundless talent that made eventually make Michael pop music’s…
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Twisted Sister ‘A Twisted Christmas’ (2006)
A Twisted Christmas is the ultimate holiday mashup of glam metal excess and yuletide cheer, proving that even the wildest rockers can embrace the Christmas spirit—on their own terms. Released in 2006, the album reimagines holiday classics like “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Deck the Halls” with the band’s signature blend of roaring guitars,…
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August Burns Red ‘Sleddin’ Hill’ (2012)
Sleddin’ Hill has fast become one of my favorite Christmas albums for a variety of reasons– for starters, the whole thing is instrumental which makes it pretty accessible for everyone in your family around the holidays. And even though it’s on the heavier side of the coin, blending the uplifting nature of Christmas music with…
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Kermit Ruffins ‘Have A Crazy Cool Christmas’ (2009)
Kermit Ruffins embodies New Orleans’ joyous spirit– with his swinging trumpet, warm voice, and infectious charisma, Ruffins has become a beloved fixture in the city, carrying on the legacy of jazz greats like Louis Armstrong while adding his own modern flair. From the streets of the Treme neighborhood to packed local bars and legendary festivals,…
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Carpenters ‘Christmas Portrait’ (1978)
When I was a kid my mom would play Christmas music starting Halloween night after we were done trick or treating (yes, this is a true story). Her love for the holidays was infectious, filling our home with the smells of fresh-baked cookies, aromas of mulled wine slowly boiled over the stovetop, the sights of…
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Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers ‘Once Upon A Christmas’ (1984)
It’s hard to imagine a more iconic match in the mid-1980’s than Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers teaming up to do a Christmas album together, but the world managed to grace us with its presence for one winter in 1984 when they released Once Upon A Christmas. It’s a terrific soft-listening experience filled with all…
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Frank Sinatra ‘A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra’ (1957)
Christmas has changed a lot in America since 1957’s A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra was released. The holiday has certainly become a much more consumeristic affair, filled with month-long advertisements and shopping sprees, and by and large the holiday has effectively become a secular celebration. There’s no hiding the fact that religion’s popularity is…
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Hanson ‘Snowed In’ (1997)
If you grew up in the 90’s there’s an absolute guarantee that you know exactly who Hanson is. Their smash single “MMMBop” off their debut album Middle of Nowhere was an absolute cultural revelation at the time, dominating the commercial airwaves and sending the three brothers on to worldwide fame. Part of that was due…
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Brett Eldredge ‘Mr. Christmas’ (2021)
Brett Eldredge has one of the finest and rich country voices in the industry today and is a consistent go-to for me when I’m in the need of an old-fashioned emotional pick me up. The title track off his 2020 album Sunday Drive has made me well up with tears on numerous occasions (a story…
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Vince Guaraldi Trio ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ (1965)
A Charlie Brown Christmas was an absolute staple this time of year during my childhood, dutifully airing on PBS and ABC each season during the holidays like Linus’ warm safety blanket. For kids like me who didn’t have cable growing up (my parents didn’t get cable until I was 18 which is sort of insane…
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Bad Religion ‘Christmas Songs’ (2013)
Earlier this year I spoke about the impact Bad Religion had on the punk rock music I grew up on in my write-up on their 1988 album Suffer. A brief refresher in case you missed it: It’s hard to overstate just how influential Bad Religion was on the punk rock I grew up on during…
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Ray Charles ‘The Spirit of Christmas’ (1985)
By the time 1985 rolled along Ray Charles was well past the commercial success and utter brilliance of his work in the late 50’s and 60’s (1962’s Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music being his seminal work) and had become somewhat of an afterthought in American pop culture. In other words, 1985’s The Spirit…
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Butch Walker ‘Over the Holidays and Under the Influence’ (2017)
Butch Walker is one of America’s best songwriters and producers that you’ve likely never heard of. His personal catalog is extensive and filled with his unique blend of grimy rock bangers sandwiched in between saccharine sweet love songs (The Rise and Fall of…Butch Walker and The Let’s-Go-Out-Tonites being his definitive solo album in my book)…
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra ‘Christmas Eve and Other Stories’ (1996)
I grew up in Cupertino and saw its rise from a relatively docile South Bay city to the tech epicenter of the world during Apple’s meteoric rise as the largest company on Planet Earth. Every year around Christmas my family would take a quick five minute drive from our house to Oak Meadow Court where…
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