The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)

The Darkness are absolutely one of my top five favorite bands of the last 10 years.  There is a large group of people that thought The Darkness was a joke band because their video for "I Believe In A Thing Called Love" focused around a frisky Justin Hawkins in a spandex leotard and a cuddly purple alien.  They were DEAD serious.  Dead serious.  And they killed it with their only two albums, Permission to Land and One Way Ticket To Hell... And Back.  Like a typhoon full of AC/DC, Queen, and GnR, the band hit hard and fizzled fast due to alcohol and heroin.  In between albums they were smart enough to record a smashing rock Christmas hit that peaked at #2 on the UK charts. 

Exohxo - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Exohxo, an offshoot of the band Speaker Speaker, whips out a steaming version of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" complete with violins, glockenspiels, and a bassline that carries the song all the way through.  It's upbeat and positive without being too saccharine.  Make sure you're passing these songs on to your friends or posting them on your facebook feed.  These are for EVERYONE!  Not just you, you selfish animal. 

Free Download Here

Bella Ruse

Bella Ruse, a self-described minimalist folk duo, did work (as in "do work, son") putting together this 4 song EP to send out as a Christmas card/gift.  It was such a hit that they offered it up to us, the plebeians.  Recorded in their living room, this album hits all the right places with me.  It's soulful, elegant, and unobtrusive.  They didn't fudge with the original songs too much either.  Great versions of Christmas classics.  I might even buy their Stocking Stuffer Download cards for friends and family.  

Eux Autres

Eux Autres is a fantastic sibling band with quite the indie sound.  (I don't speak French.  What does Eux Autres mean?)  Their homestyle singin' and strummin' is well suited for fun, Christmas music.  I'd never heard of these guys before I heard their Christmas tunes so I'm not sure how this compares to their other music, but you best bet I'll be checking it out soon.  Please leave a comment if you enjoy Eux Autres too and don't be too shy about supporting artists.  Buy the track if you dare!  I definitely will.  In fact I think I'm going to buy their red vinyl single.

Scotty - Christmas in the Caribbean (Splash Bootleg Mix)

Ah yes, just what we all think of when the Holidays come up in conversation: Club Music!  Scotty here mixed up some classic Christmas songs into a mini-mix that could only satiate Boy George.  Seriously, only him.  This is a perfect track for when all the ladies are belly full o' booze and want to start tamping up your bamboo floor with their fresh high heels.  The louder the better.

Disco Noël (Mirror Image) - Jingle Bells

Oh my, this could not be more disco if we strapped on some rollerskates and all wore sequin cocktail dresses.  Mirror Image released a fabulous disco Christmas album in 1979 titled Disco Noël, but they hid their band name in tiny, tiny print on the bottom of the album in tiny print.  And the umlaut. (ALT + 0235 in case you're wondering)  Was it really necessary?  Only if it were post-WWII Nazi propaganda!  Thanks a lot, Pickwick Records.

Smart move!  This album reeks of glitter, Bartles & James, and cocaine, but I did pick it up used at a garage sale so who knows!  If your Christmas party will have one, or even all three of those things, you gotta add it to your Christmas playlist.  This album PROOVES that 1979 was the nadir of American music.


Visit Here to Download:
Jingle Bells and Silver Bells

Tenacious D & Sum 41 - Things I Want

Everyone and their ugly stepmother loves Tenacious D and no one loves Sum 41 anymore.  Who cares!  This song is rockin' and I think it was made purely for random giveaway Christmas compilation CDs (one of which is called Swallow My Eggnog, how fitting), but I stumbled upon in the vault of a now-deceased radio station.  Listen to the list of things he wants and try not to laugh at the absurdity.  Best at high volumes.

Download here:
Tenacious D & Sum 41 - Things I Want 

The Salsoul Orchestra - There's Someone Who's Knocking

Welcome to Spiked Eggnog!  Here's the deal: I'm sick and tired of hearing the same Mariah Carey versions of our favorite holiday music.  Does she even know what month it is?  She's certifiably batshit crazy!  Remember when Eminem had that diss track about her and it was all gross and detailed about his performance issues?

Anyway, here's the first song I'd like to introduce to you.  LOOK AT THE ALBUM COVER!!!111

I bet that chick was in a bikini and then the Salsoul Record Company in Philly was all like, "Dat's too sexy for 1976.  Let's paint a green and white onesie on dis broad and write DANCE YOUR ASS OFF on the back, but don't proofreads it or nothin'.  Yeah, Iggles colors!  Let's celebrate hittin' the 50 album sales mark down at Tony Luke's or Jim's, but DEFINITELY not Pat's or Gino's cuz that craps fa tourists and shit." 

The Salsoul Orchestra's "There's Someone Who's Knocking" sounds like it belongs on some pseudo-Disney singalong video, but you've never heard it and it's from the Golden Age of music: The 1970's!  I bet one of these guys in the and ended up doing something very, very successful.  I never win bets though.