25 Cool Alternative & Rock Christmas Albums
Beach Boys
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album
1964
(click image to buy)
What can we say about the Beach Boys’ Christmas album that hasn't already been said?
It’s a quintessential Beach Boys album, with melodic choruses, catchy harmonies, and the best of all: swell Christmas songs that include some holiday originals by the very same dynamic duo of Brian Wilson and Mike Love as well as a few of everyone’s beloved Christmas anthems.
A really cool one to crank up and just chill out with some eggnog (or similar beverage, if you know what I mean 😂 ).
Recommended tracks: “Little Saint Nick” and “Frosty the Snowman”
Check it out here:
The Ventures
The Ventures' Christmas Album
1965
(click to buy)
Oh man, this one is a great album! These are some Christmas songs with style.
The atmospheric surf rock sound of The Ventures that’s vintage but relevant at the same time provides your holidays with a redefined sound. It’s crazy that this album from 1965 (55 years ago in 2020) still sounds this fresh. The opener "Sleigh Ride" sounds more like "Thruster Ride" and the subsequent tracks sometimes throw you off a little, but they always land on the traditional Christmas sound that we all know.
Give it a go here:
Saint Etienne
Xmas 93
1993
(click to buy)
From the pioneering 60s we now jump into the 90s, my beloved 90s, when everything seemed so perfect, chill, and cool (mostly in my teenage eyes). The pop-influenced alternative dance music of the Londoners Saint Ettienne was no different, even though in a time when I was more into rock bands exclusively, there was a guilty pleasure in listening to this ultra-pop female lead band. In an era where Britpop was rising to prominence, the guys of Saint Etienne had a big presence on the radio and the international scene in general.
Vandals
Oi To The World!
1996
(click to buy)
The Vandals provide us with a, ehm, well, Vandals record, a Christmas one that is!.
With their wit-funny lyrics and their unmistakable sound, it's the right album to enjoy while preparing dinner or wrapping gifts.
Even though Josh Freese (their drummer) was absent for this record due to other musical obligations, the album actually was benefited from having various other drummers filling in for Josh, among them Brooks Wackerman (Avenged Sevenfold, Bad Religion, Suicidal Tendencies) and Erik Sandin of NOFX.
If you want a Punk Rock record that will put you in the right mood this Christmas, then this is for you. Recommended if you have to run any errands last minute, this might provide you with a good dose of energy, that at least in my case would be very much needed.
Check it out here:
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket Does Xmas Fiasco Style
2000
(click to buy)
With their slow-paced, deep rock folky sound this Christmas album is just right to sit down, pour a nice drink over an iced glass and sip away while looking out that frosted window into the glittering snow.
Definitely relaxing and warm these are songs to contemplate.
This Christmas EP contains original songs by the band as well as two covers, "New Morning" by Nick Cave and "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" by the legendary Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
Check it out right here:
They Might Be Giants In
They Might Be Giants In... Holidayland
2001
TMBG's Christmas compilation of songs that they have put out there over the years. They're always inventive and resourceful for a duo. This is a nice one to play and have in the background, in a gathering (well you know it's 2020, sorry about that).
It's certainly not their best effort, but its a good Christmas rock/alternative album, so here it is 😅
Enjoy!
Coldplay
Mince Spies
2001
Mince Spies is a Christmas EP that contains a cover of the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine in 1944, performed by no other than Judy Garland, the album also features a version of "Yellow" called "The Alpha Remix", that you can listen here.
Mince Spies was limited to 1000 copies and therefore it's a rare edition very coveted by Coldplay fans and collectors in general, it goes for a pretty penny on Discogs and eBay.
Even though it's just one themed song, I thought I might include it in this list since it is very hard to find and because I think the cover has a very Christmassy feeling, Coldplay style. Check it out below:
Sufjan Stevens
Songs For Christmas
2001 to 2006
(click to buy)
If your idea of Christmas resembles family and friends gathered by the fireplace, in warm clothes having a hot drink, and chilling then this is the album you're looking for.
Compiled from a series of 5 EPs that Stevens recorded as tokens for family and friends, the album has this atmospheric sound that transports you to a cabin in the mountains, in legit hipster holiday fashion.
I do like it quite a lot it is actually relaxing.
PS: You can listen to it while enjoying a nice craft beer 🍻
Here are the 5 EPs:
Crash Test Dummies
Jingle All the Way
2002
(click to buy)
This is a great Christmas album! I love the jazzy-bluesy and even country like sounds in it. The low-frequency vocals of Brad Roberts and the beautiful universal voice of Ellen Reid result in a great combination. A peculiar but well-produced set of songs.
I'd get this one on vinyl one of these days since it's not available for streaming (at least on Spotify and Qobuz)
However here's the YouTube version, as a preview:
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked for the Holidays
2004
(click to buy)
Oh well, I got to confess I'm not a huge follower of Barenaked Ladies, don't get me wrong I like their music, but I did not know they had quite a few productions, that is just my lack of information, but I guess this is why I'm starting this blog, to do research and learn along the way.
Anyway, this album it's a fun listen, it contains a variety of Holiday songs, traditional and others a little less popular but all in all pretty good.
Features collaborations with Sarah McLachlan and Michael Bublé as well as a few covers from "Deck the Halls" with the lyrics Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young to "Wonderful Christmastime" by the very same Paul McCartney.
Ok, enough said I guess, so just go ahead and listen for yourself:
Harvey Danger
Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)
2004
(click to buy)
This 5 song EP is one of those hidden gems that make you say: "Dang, why I haven't heard of this one before!"
The title song is a sad toned alternative ballad that really evokes that nostalgic feeling of the holidays when they are not as picture-perfect as one would like, very 90s vibe even though it was released in 2004.
Seems like this is one of those hard-to-come-by albums, I could not find one on the regular market but you may see one popping up on Discogs or eBay every now and then, I guess it's just a matter of being patient if you really want it.
According to Discogs, the original release albums came with a signed Christmas, which now are probably much more desirable.
Here the title song:
Aimee Mann
One More Drifter in the Snow
2006
(click to buy)
Aimee Mann gives us an all-around wonderful album to put in the background and relax with a glass of your favorite beverage.
In her own words, the album is "...mysterious, quiet, moody. And classy" and I could not agree more.
If you're in the mood for something more contemporary and on the 90s alternative side this may not sound like it right off the bat, but just let it grow on you and you'll understand what I mean.
Please listen here:
Nerf Herder
Hi-Voltage Christmas Rock
2007
(click to buy)
On a different note than the previous entry, the Nerdcore pioneers of Nerf Herder delight us with a straight forward no bells and whistles puck rock set of Christmas songs, eight minutes of pure geek punk bliss... here you go:
Weezer
Christmas with Weezer
2008
(click to buy)
Rivers Cuomo and company released this compilation of Christmas classics in 2008, I might be biased because I like Weezer a lot but this one is actually one of my favorite albums to play during the holidays. The songs can be at moments be really confused with original Weezer songs, for example, "Oh Holy Night" seems like it was a B-Side of Pinkerton 😂😂
Well, if you like Weezer you'll like this one!
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