Ten holiday albums for rockin' around the Christmas Tree
Ten holiday albums for rockin' around the Christmas Tree
Christmas, with all its inherent nostalgia, lends itself spectacularly to the vinyl format. As folks gather to celebrate the season, here are a few selections that are guaranteed to fuel your festivities running the gamut from modern heavy psych and classic surf guitar to funky soul and innovative jazz - and beyond! Warm up your turntable and toss a yule log on the fire, it's time for rockin' around the Christmas Tree!
Various Artists - Psych-Out Christmas
A compilation of holiday standards and original material reinterpreted by a murders' row of indie and psychedelic rock's brightest shining stars. From the Halloween-themed opening skit to Iggy Pop's phenomenally droll take on "White Christmas," this comp manages to channel the spirit of the season through a wall of fuzzed out amplifiers and kaleidoscopic compositions without losing an iota of festive intent.
JD McPherson - "Socks"
Roots rocker JD McPherson crafted an immaculately conceived holiday album with "Socks," a collection of all-original material that celebrates the fun and wonder of the holiday season with an infinitely relatable sense of scruffy irreverence - especially for bad, bad kids! An absolute classic!
The Raveonettes - Wishing You A Rave Christmas
Dynamic Danish duo The Raveonettes are known for a discography that leans heavily into pulpy, cinematic shoegaze stylings tinged with edgy darkness. On their holiday EP, Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo swap shadows for sparkles, terror for tinsel, and present a release that buzzes with the wooly comfort of a favorite sweater and the slow coziness of watching thick snowflakes descend upon a frosted winter wonderland from the crackling fireside warmth of a secluded cabin.
Los Straightjackets - Complete Christmas Songbook
Los Straightjackets applied their infectiously bouncy combination of surf guitars and south-of-the-border retro rock to a tracklist of holiday standards to impressive effect. Crunchy riffs packed with spicy flair set this comp up as an underrated holiday spin.
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The Ventures - The Ventures' Christmas Album
A rollicking collection of riffs and rhythms, the kings of surf guitar upend classic holiday compositions with deftly designed arrangements bursting with beachside brilliance and a guitar-forward mix perfect for rockin' around the Christmas tree.
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Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - It's A Holiday Soul Party
The late, great Ms. Sharon Jones produced a modern holiday classic with her backing band The Dap-Kings. Channeling vintage funk and brassy soul into an album of tracks both traditional and original, Sharon Jones' timeless approach to seasonal songcraft is a showcase for her boundless energy and winking sense of humor.
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James Brown - A Soulful Christmas
The Godfather himself couldn't resist donning a Santa suit and getting in the sprit in a way that only he knew how to deliver. A Soulful Christmas blends proto-funk, jazz, and soul together into a heavy bouillabaisse of holiday jams to get any party rockin in short order. Remember, James Brown loves you!
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Duke Ellington and his Orchestra - The Nutcracker Suite
Don't let the thrift-store bargain bin cover deceive you, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn completely reimagine Tchaikovsky's timeless holiday suite into a mesmerizing mid-century jazz extravaganza that defies expectations without foregoing tradition. Highly recommended!
The Incredible Jimmy Smith - Christmas '64 (aka Christmas Cookin')
Organ wizard Jimmy Smith lives up to his "incredible" title with Christmas Cookin' (originally released as Christmas '64), a funky, upbeat jazz album that juxtaposes bombastic orchestral elements with Smith's undeniable knack for scaled down, toe-tapping arrangements. Surprising, energetic, and wholly original!
Dean Martin - A Winter Romance
When it comes to holiday records, Dino is regularly eclipsed by releases from his crooner contemporaries such as Perry Como, Bing Crosby, and his 'boss' Frank Sinatra. But A Winter Romance is a standout album that shouldn't be overlooked, imbued with The King Of Cool's undeniable rakish charm and perpetually semi-soused disposition. Truth be told, it's not a true Christmas album, but the wintry themes will have anybody sipping cocktails and getting cozy in no time!
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