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Writer/Journalist - check out my film review blog @ www.moviemandan.com
"Christmas time, mistletoe and wine....." If the age-old dulcet tones of good old Sir Cliff don't fill you with musical Christmas cheer and you're now fed up of Band Aid's worthy 'Feed the World' message, then fear not. Check out our guide to the top alternative Christmas songs of recent years and feast on a jiggy pudding or two. 'Christmas at the Zoo' - Flaming Lips Wayne Coyne's Oklahoma crew are the perfect choice for an alternative Christmas, so their take on a yuletide tale of freeing animals from a zoo (perhaps they were confusing Noah with Noel) is every Indie-lovers dream. 'That Was the Worst Christmas Ever' - Sufjan Stevens A perennial alternative Christmas favourite, Steven's EP's are a highlight for many. Don't expect much cheer though as this quietly sad tale of bad Crimbo memories shows. Perhaps one for a silent moment on a silent night. 'Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer' - Elmo and Patsy Maybe not one to play the kids as the sound of Rudolph's snowy hooves hit the roof this Christmas Eve, the late 70's tale of an unfortunate encounter with Father Christmas at least ends happily. Grandma lives! 'Christmas at Ground Zero' - Weird Al Yankovic No, not a bad taste song about 9/11 - actually a kind of four-minute warning anti-war and anti-bomb song that would have certainly not pleased Dr Strangelove. Watch the video though - good old Al survives too! 'Don't Shoot Me Santa' - The Killers Brandon Flower's oddball tale of a psychotic, murdering Santa sounds like a Reservoir Dogs moment. In fact, if you think about it, it's much much worse. At least their previous festive tale had them rolling around in the snow on a sled. Santa, like some hardy killjoy parent, obviously wasn't that impressed! 'It's Christmas So We'll Stop' - Frightened Rabbit Actually a call-to-arms that, much like the famous footballing soldiers in the trenches, asks us to stop fighting, stop hating and start loving for one day. Much like the sentiment, it's a shame it all has to come to an end really. 'Maybe This Christmas' - Ron Sexmsith Critically adored but commercially ignored, Canadian Sexsmith's ode to a great Christmas is an acute acoustic tale that pack more punch than the most dizzyingly-laced alcoholic mixer. Maybe this Christmas more people will ditch the packaged Starbucks CDs and find a better soundtrack to the holiday season. Maybe. |
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Comments
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soundbunny on Sat 11 Dec 2010 @ 13:19 said:
My favourite alt-Christmas odes would be:
'Just Like Christmas' - Low
'Christmas Duel' - Cyndi Lauper and The Hives
'I Wish It Was Christmas Today' - Julian Casablancas
'The Blizzard' - Camera Obscura
'Listen, the Snow is Falling' - Thea Gilmore
This is a fun game!
brownstone27 on Sat 11 Dec 2010 @ 14:44 said:
Let's have a think...
'Just like Christmas' Low (best xmas album ever)
'Christmas is just another day' Johnny Dowd
'Listen, the snow is falling' Galaxie 500
'Please come back home' Glasvegas
'We're all going to die' Malcolm Middleton
'Step into christmas' The Wedding Present
They're good...the Flaming Lips tune's great too!!!
brownstone27 on Sat 11 Dec 2010 @ 15:01 said:
Oh and 'Little fat baby' Sparklehorse is bloody lovely in a Christmassy way too!
brownstone27 on Mon 13 Dec 2010 @ 14:56 said:
'Christmas 1979' by Billy Childish & the MBEs is a good, miserable Xmas tune, full of lots of festive swearing!
Emma_Tiger on Fri 17 Dec 2010 @ 07:33 said:
The Cherryade records Very Cherry Christmas compilations are always worth a listen, usually a few misses but a few classic 'hits' as well.