The Holiday season can be a stressful time.
While it's meant to be the one time in the whole year that everyone is a little bit nicer and a little bit happier, certain things can make you just the opposite. If you're anything like me, you've procrastinated all year long and now you've only got a few days left to get your shopping done. And that means one thing - dealing with the savages at the mall. The parking, the lines, the gift wrapping can make even the most patient of people go a little crazy. But one thing that always helps me through is Christmas music.
You could turn your radio to one of the radio stations in town who only play holiday music this time of year, but listening to the same songs year after year does get a bit old after a while. Fortunately, hipsters celebrate Christmas too and often times take their indie buzz bands and make some sweet Holiday music.
So if you're looking for some ideas for good indie rock songs to play during your Christmas party or maybe some music that you can load up on your mp3 player to drown out Grandpa Gene at your family Christmas dinner here are some good ones from Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and more.
Sufjan Stevens - "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance"
Back in 2006, Sufjan Stevens put out a 5 disc, 42 song collection of Christmas music entitled Songs for Christmas. So there was a pretty good amount of music to include from Sufjan. But of all the songs in the collection - and there are some really good ones - this one is arguably the best.
02 - Sufjan Stevens - Come On Let's Boogey to the Elf Danc by user6526141
Arcade Fire - "Jingle Bell Rock"
No holiday party is complete without "Jingle Bell Rock." But if you're going to get somebody to perform this classic, who better than Arcade Fire?
Beach House - "I Do Not Care for the Winter Sun"
It's nice to know that some bands out there can still create an original Christmas song. Beach House made this song available as a free download on their website earlier this month and it is bound to become a classic.
I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun by [Prof. Oak]
Neko Case - "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis"
Just in case you prefer to spend your Christmas time alone with a bottle of whiskey this song is for you. Quite possibly one of the best sad-bastard songs ever made, Neko Case puts a nice touch on this Tom Waits classic.
Julian Casablancas - "I Wish It Was Christmas Today"
Saturday Night Live has managed to create some very memorable Christmas moments over its long run. One of those happened to be a skit featuring Horation Sanz, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Chris Kattan where they performed this song. While the cover version of this by The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas isn't quite as funny it's still pretty good.
Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Was Christmas Today by Marsz
Best Coast & Wavves - "Got Something For You"
Here is a nice song from indie rock power couple Nathan Williams of Wavves and Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast. The two groups came together this year to offer up a song for a Christmas compilation released by Target. Well, at least it wasn't for WalMart.
Best Coast & Wavves - Got Something For You by thediscoverialist
Blitzen Trapper - "Christmas is Coming Soon"
This song definitely earns the band a spot on Santa's nice list. Hopefully the jolly 'ol fat man will bring the band some sweet beard and mustache trimmers.
Florence and the Machine - "Last Christmas"
Wham! didn't really leave the world much of a musical legacy but to their credit they did record this song. Sadly, just about every cover version I've ever heard is better than the original.
Florence The Machine - Last Christmas Wham Cover by AudioThursdays
Mayer Hawthorne - "Christmas Time Is Here"
Mayer Hawthorne has a voice that is practically made for Christmas music. Don't believe me? Just listen to this take on a Christmas classic.
Mayer Hawthorne - Christmas Time Is Here by Mayer Hawthorne
Dent May - "Holiday Face"
What is a indie playlist without a little synth? It's also another holiday original song from Mississippi's Dent May.
Holiday Face Dent May by justmusicandtech
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "All I Want For Christmas"
While it's not all I want for Christmas, a new album from the YYYs wouldn't be a bad place to start.
