From Black Friday to December 26th Christmas music is everywhere. You cannot go grocery shopping without hearing “Deck the Halls” 46 times. While the classics are good in moderation and get you in the spirit, frankly, they can be really annoying. When you’re sick of the falalalalalala’s turn on these tunes instead:
1. I Wish It Was Christmas Every Day - Chris Farren ft Sean Bonnette, Allison Weiss and Jeff Rosenstock
Chris Farren brought all the best of folk-punk together last year for his holiday album titled Like a Gift From God or Whatever. This last song on the record encompasses the spirit of the Christmas season while stating what we are all thinking. The chorus holds a beautiful harmony between Farren, Weiss, and Bonnette.
2. Merry X-Mas - Fetty Wap Ft Monty
If only Farren and Fetty Wap were closer. In the chorus the "Trap Queen" artist says "And if you like it, it can be Christmas all year”. Besides the promises the song holds it provides listeners with the classic "All I Want For Christmas Is You" with a new twist.
3. Christmas Tipsy - honeyhoney
Suzanne Santo, the lead singer of of honeyhoney, could sing the phone book and I would buy the album. That being said her raspy vocals are perfect for a Christmas song about whiskey. If this doesn’t make you want to grab some eggnog and dance by the fireplace, nothing will.
4. This Christmas - Skinny Lister & Beans on Toast
“This Christmas I will hold you, like the way I told you I would last Christmas”. There is no better song to show the importance of family during the Christmas season than this one. They basically just spend the entire time naming their favorite things about Christmas at home and that’s just fantastic.
5. Christmas Wrapping - The Front Bottoms
Originally by The Waitresses, I chose the Front Bottoms version because of the music video. It certainly delivers. The song itself is about how they just want to have Christmas alone. “It’s Christmas Eve, gonna relax / turned down all my invites.”
6. Christmas in Hollis - Run-DMC
This song is not only great because co-founder of Run DMC, Darryl McDaniels, is a St. John's alum. That's just a Christmas bonus. With a classic early 2000's rap sound, "Christmas in Hollis" can't help but make you smile. My favorite verse holds the tale of how Santa gave the rapper one million dollars.
7. West Coast Christmas - Anarbor
The other coast handles Christmas a bit differently. Pop-punk band Anarbor talks about how they celebrate the holidays the California way. “We don’t need no Christmas trees cause we got cactus right here.”
8. I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day - The Civil Wars
There is no band better than The Civil Wars to calm you down on Christmas Eve as you fall asleep. That’s why I chose this version of the song, which is originally by Casting Crowns. The melody of “peace on earth and good will to all men” will surely give you dreams of faeries and sugar plums.
9. Someday at Christmas - Jack Johnson
If you don’t fall asleep during the previous song, turn on this one. While the original Stevie Wonder version is played on TV 24/7 this version remains somber and untouched.
10. Father Christmas - The Kinks
There is definitely a lack of punk Christmas songs out there. This one makes up for it. The Kinks sing about a man being mugged while dressed up as Santa. While this sounds odd, in the end it encompasses the meaning of Christmas better than any song about eggnog. “Have yourself a good time, but remember the kids who got nothin’ while you're drinkin' down your wine”
