Call me a sucker, but I’ve always had a thing for Christmas and holiday music. It always put me in the mood, despite department stores and their need to start playing it about a week before Thanksgiving. As I’ve grown older, I’ve found it harder and harder to listen to the “classics” of this particular season. Except for a few select tunes, Christmas music just doesn’t feel targeted towards me. In recent years, I’ve had to go outside of those comfort zones to find something new; something more appropriate. In doing so, I thought I’d share a few, really great releases with you.

 

A Very She & Him Christmas by She & Him

At some point, you come to the realization that you just can’t sustain yourself on A Muppet Christmas Carol anymore, and that you just need to move on. Not fully; I play that mother at least once a year! But, admit that as you pass a normal adult on the street, and you will be visually ostracized, more than likely. With She & Him’s holiday album, it’s a bit safer. After coming off the best album in their discography – Volume Two – this group, consisting of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, announced that they were releasing a holiday record. Strange as that may sound, this duo does a great job updating classics like “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Silver Bells,” and even “Blue Christmas.” The album’s strengths are that they don’t try to recreate these songs, instead they put their little trademark on them. Whether it’s M. Ward’s beautiful guitar work, or Zooey’s simple, but dazzling vocals, there is a lot to love about this album. It’s not too long, or overbearing. Just a nice, short, collection of holiday tracks to cherish at this time of year.

 

“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” – Single by Sci-Fi Romance

To say that I’m enamored with this band is a gross understatement. It’s not often that you find this blend of indie and folk so appealing that you can’t go for long without listening to it. That’s what Sci-Fi Romance does to me. On December 18th, the group released a two track single featuring the tracks “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and “Silent Night.” I often think that holiday music is becoming more of a novelty than upholding the season, but with this single, all that changes. This version of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” is a really fresh take on an old classic, with a soaring cello, a great acoustic driving rhythm, and the ever steady drumming of Kurt Bloom; this track takes you on a journey, past, present, and future. It embodies everything that this song has ever expressed in words, this time complete with flourishes of electric guitar. The band’s cover of “Silent Night” is equally as stunning. Stripped back to give it an old time radio effect, the instrumentation is simple and beautiful. The song highlights Vance’s  guitar and vocals, embolden to the ears, while Kurt brings this light, delicate drum to back him up. The way the track is delivered to the listener is rooted in the past, with the ghosts of Woody Guthrie, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams. Sci-Fi Romance are a band that never claimed to live up to that reputation, but do so with stunning simplicity and a focus on elements that relate to the human soul at its greatest depths. That’s why I love this band, and in turn, why you should be listening to them.

 

Silver & Gold by Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens is an innovator, experimenting with sounds that separately work, but when drawn together, make for some of the more interesting music out there. Stevens’ is no strange to the world of holiday music. Back in 2006, he released his first collection of holiday music entitled, Sufjan Stevens Presents Songs for Christmas. This music was originally made for his family, a Christmas gift to them every year. In 2006, he packaged these EP’s together for public consumption. On Silver & Gold, he makes ready another stellar collection, 58 tracks in total, of original and traditional Christmas music. Stevens’ music is starkly original, even on his take of classic holiday songs. The instrumentation is rich, unconventional, but manageable in ways that seem like they shouldn’t work; orchestral at times, while homey and minimalist at others. Some people may be off put at times by religious overtones, or a certain song just may not hit them properly for other reasons, the nice thing is that there are so many tracks that one need only press the “next” button to find something else that appeals to them. Stevens’ originality and wide appeal, make this one of the best holiday releases for everybody to own.

 

Christmas by Michael Bublé

Just about anything Michael Bublé touches is gold, and this Christmas album holds true to that. Christmas is designed to play to his strengths; a big band sort of setting, intimate in many ways with a great focus on the vocal stylings of one of the greatest modern crooners in music today. It never overwhelms the listener, but even more appealing are the versions of some of the songs covered here. Bubleé’s version of “Jingle Bells” can be heard in the background of A Christmas Story. “White Christmas” will stir up memories of Home Alone, you know, the first one and not one of the shitty other ones that wasn’t one or Lost in New York. That track features Shania Twain in one of her worst vocal performances ever, but it’s still a good track despite her! He even has the balls to cover “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” A song from one of the biggest Christmas albums ever. I can see this album surpassing that someday, but until then, enjoy a modern masterpiece of aural holiday pleasure.