2012 Christmas playlist: the XX,Blink 182, Dropkick Murphys,The Killers and more
Every Christmas you’re forced to endure another airing of Bing Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’, whatever dreck Micheal Buble has released this year and – if you’re lucky – maybe someone will dig out A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector. This year has seen the record store bargain bins filled with new Christmas albums from practically every failed American Idol contestant, third rate opera warbler and even the horrendous return of John Travolta and Olivia Newton.
FL’s 2012 Christmas playlist has avoided those horrors but, like that cracker joke your uncle will tell at lunch on Christmas Day, this list of songs is still fairly questionable. Check out new Christmas carols from NOFX, Blink 182, Dropkick Murphys, The Killers, CeeLo Green, Kate Nash, Sufjan Stevens, Glassvegas, Tracey Thorn, and even a bizarre John Jarratt carol for Schapelle Corby.
NOFX – ‘Xmas Has Been X’ed’
Probably the only Christmas song to feature a lines about priests and nuns molesting each other, naked evangelicals and the death of St Nick. This NSFFL (Not Safe For Family Lunch) carol appears on the latest NOFX record Self Entitled.
Sir Christopher Lee – ‘Little Drummer Boy’
Sir Christopher Lee has made over 200 films appearing in the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars series, The Wicker Man, The Man with the Golden Gun and a string of Hammer Horror films. He has also released three album including Charlemagne: By the Sword and the Cross. His new album Sir Christopher Lee’s A Heavy Metal Christmas does exactly what it says on the box. You really, really need to hear his version of ‘Little Drummer Boy’.
Blink 182 – ‘Boxing Day’.
This cut from the maturing pop punks isn’t technically a Christmas song; it’s a day after Christmas song. The maudlin track from the band’s new EP Dogs Eating Dogs has Tom DeLonge singing about feeling “empty like the day after Christmas” in a way that makes you long for the days when their songs were just about penises. Hardcore fans can add the “Santa’s Lap” version to their Xmas wishlists – it comes with a t-shirt, limited edition poster, wrapping paper and a Christmas card.
Dropkick Murphys – ‘The Season’s Upon Us’
The band that aspires to be the AC/DC of Celtic punk rock has delivered an anthem we can all bellow after a few too many egg-nogs. “My sisters are wackjobs, I wish I had none/Their husbands are losers and so are their sons/My nephew’s a horrible wise little twit/He once gave me a nice gift wrapped box full of shit”
CeeLo Green – ‘All I Need Is Love (ft. The Muppets)’
According to Statler and Waldorf the Muppets have hit a new low and his first name is Cee. (Ba-doom-ching!) But how can you go wrong with a Christmas video that combines The Muppets’ classic ‘Mahna Mahna’, a shiny red suit that would made the 1980s version of Eddie Murphy jealous and Muppetified version of CeeLo?
The Killers – I Feel It In My Bones ft. Ryan Pardey
It’s a holiday tradition for The Killers to release a Christmas song. The past six years have brought us ‘Don’t Shoot Me Santa’, ‘A Great Big Sled’ and a collaboration with Mariachi El Bronx titled ‘¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe!’. The video for the seventh Killers Xmas tune features a series of Xmas killings as Santa track down and murders the members of the band.
August Burns Red – ‘Jingle Bells’
All I want for Christmas is a metalcore version of ‘Jingle Bells’ – said no one ever.
Tracey Thorn – ‘In the Cold, Cold Night’
The voice of Everything but the Girl has delivered the best Christmas record of the year (not that she was faced with much competition). The album features covers of Low’s ‘Taking Down the Tree’, Dolly Parton’s ‘Hard Candy Christmas’ and this White Stripes classic. Sure, it’s not really a Christmas song, but the album’s called Tinsel and Lights so we’ll let it pass.
Sufjan Stevens – Chopped And Scrooged
Following his five-disc Christmas album, Sufjan Stevens now has a Christmas rap mixtape with the festively punning title Chopped And Scrooged. The mix features guest appearances from ex-Das Racist member Heems, Nicky Da B, Busdriver, and others rapping over music from Silver And Gold, Sufjan’s five EP set of Xmas tunes recorded between 2006 and 2010. Download the Chopped And Scrooged mixtape here
Band Aid – Do They Know It’s Christmas Time?
Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – ‘Christmas Eve Can Kill You’
A typically uplifting cover from old friends and collaborators Dawn McCarthy and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy although it’s not a new song – the Everly Brothers’ recorded this way back in 1971.
She & Him – ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’
Well it’s Zoeey Deschanel who sings the song. So i put the song on the list. 😀
Jimmy Fallon, Mariah Carey & The Roots – ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’
This one’s a special gift for your little sister who loves Mariah but should be listening to the Roots.
A Christmas message from Andrew WK and Lil Bub
Usually Andrew WK only has one word of advice: PARTY. As most of us have no difficulty partying over the holiday period Mr WK has another important message for us about the importance of looking after your animal friends.
Annie Lennox – God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
Randy & Ronnie Brooks – Grandma Got Over Run By A Reindeer
The XX – Last Christmas (Wham Cover)
The Pogues ft. Kirsty Mc Coll – Fairy Tale of New York Christmas
Frank Sinatra – Chestnut Roasting on an Open Fire
agunsux 