Well, Christmas time is upon us again and that means that the same old songs to make their way onto the playlists of every DJ or shop PA System. Be it the classic Phil Spector Christmas Album, Slade, Wizard, Mariah Carey, Jona Lewie or Band Aid, these songs are classic for a good reason but you can have too much of a good thing.
Back in December 2020, I posted a compilation of what could be considered the classic Christmas records, and then followed it up in 2021 with what is arguably the complete opposite with some of the worst seasonal records ever committed to vinyl (tape, CD, MP3 etc). I also put together a podcast back in 2013 following a similar theme with my good friend and much missed Darryl Bullock.
What I have never done is take a look at some of the ‘alternative’ artists I have enjoyed down the years (and who this term applied to is up for debate, hence the apostrophes). Many of them have recorded their own Christmas theme records so I thought it was about time to put them on a compilation. What I was looking for were original songs because this shows a bit of effort, instead of just covering a classic from years gone by. I have also tried not to have more than one song from the same artist, even though John Wheeler does appear twice. Once as a solo artist and the second time with his main band, Hayseed Dixie. So much for the rules.
Merry Christmas everyone and on reflection, the alternative might refer to the songs themselves instead of the artists.
Side 1
- I Wish It Christmas Today – Julian Casablancas
- Christmas Without A Kiss – Smoke Fairies
- Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas – Eels
- Father Christmas – Hayseed Dixie
- Christmastime – Smashing Pumpkins
- Little Drummer Machine Boy – Beck
Side 2
- Christmas Night – The Cave Singers
- Xmas Time Is Here Again – My Morning Jacket
- Don’t Shoot Me Santa – The Killers
- Is This Christmas? (Radio Edit) – The Wombats
- Christmas Morning – Lyle Lovett
Side 3
- I Don’t Intend To Spend Christmas Without You – Saint Etienne
- I Want An Alien For Christmas – Fountains Of Wayne
- Christmas Was Better In The 80s – The Futureheads
- When I Get Home For Christmas – Snow Patrol
- Underneath The Christmas Light – Sia
- A Change At Christmas (Say It Isn’t So) – The Flaming Lips
Side 4
- Why I Hate Christmas – White Town
- The Christmas Song – The Raveonettes
- Only At Christmas Time – Sufjan Stevens
- Xmas Light – John Wheeler
- Just Like Christmas – Low
The cover is based on a stock image of a Christmas tree with the Ace Records logo in the top left as I thought this would be the sort of compilation they could release.
2020 Christmas Post – https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/various-artists-its-christmas/
2021 Christmas Post – https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/various-artists-a-squire-christmas/
Podcast – https://www.thesquirepresents.co.uk/episode-14-christmas-bursts-of-the-worst/