Christmas all year long: 10+ alternative takes on holiday music

· Dec. 10, 2014, 9:39 pm

Photo: Sufjan Stevens — Sufjan Steven's heroic "Mr. Frosty Man"

While I’m no Grinch, this over-eager attempt at spreading Christmas joy is lost on me.

I want to savor Halloween and Thanksgiving and regular life without having to look forward to one particular date weeks or months away. But while I won’t be caught humming “Dashing Through the Snow" in November, some songs that are supposedly for Christmas time wind up in my regular playlists all year long.

The themes in these songs deal with family stress, disappointment or simple joys; matters that seem amplified over the holidays, but are always relatable.

Whether you’re looking for a Christmas playlist that avoids the over-played or over-sappy, or are looking for some great music you may have cast aside as just for the holidays, this is my gift to you.

Sour Boy Bitter Girl - "Tradition"

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://music.actsobigforest.com/album/asbf-christmas-forest-vol-7-verde-rouge-noir&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://music.actsobigforest.com/album/asbf-christmas-forest-vol-7-verde-rouge-noir&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;ASBF Christmas Forest Vol. 7: Verde Rouge Noir by Act So Big Forest Family&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Galaxies - "Did I Make You Cry On Christmas"

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://galaxies.bandcamp.com/album/galaxies-christmas-2011&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://galaxies.bandcamp.com/album/galaxies-christmas-2011&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Galaxies Christmas 2011 by Aaron Brown&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Kevin Costner Suicide Pact - "Ave Maria"

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a data-cke-saved-href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://thekcsp.com/track/ave-maria&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://thekcsp.com/track/ave-maria&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Ave Maria by The Kevin Costner Suicide Pact&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Sufjan Stevens - "Mr. Frosty Man"

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - "Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects"

Candy Claws - "Alp Shades"

Clarence Carter - "Back Door Santa"

Deep Sea Diver - "It’s Christmas Time (And I’m Still Alive)"

Dr. Dog - "Rejoice"

Eyes Lips Eyes - "I Slept in Through Christmas"

Beyond the tracks above (and supplying a good amount of them) is a cache of treasures to be found in the "Act So Big Forest Christmas Forest" compilation series. They have seven volumes all available for free download. "Volume 8: Feast of Dedication" is coming soon!

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