Ok, I’ll admit it: I am a Grinch. Christmas is my least favorite holiday. Why do I despise Christmas? Well, one reason is the music. Most Christmas music is cheesy commercial schlock that gets stuck in your head and torments you for days on end. Worst of all, starting on Black Friday, it is virtually inescapable every time you step into a store or public place. Having worked in retail for 4+ years, I know how soul-killing it can be to hear the monotonous strains of “The Little Drummer Boy” for the fifth time in an hour. Thankfully, I have also discovered some Christmas albums that don’t make me want to plug my ears with wax until January 1st. Check ‘em out, fellow Grinches!
A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector. Hands down the best collection of rockin’ Xmas tunes ever recorded. Darlene Love’s heartfelt version of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” never fails to give me chills.
A John Waters Christmas. From the King of Trash Cinema comes a compilation of kitschy holiday songs unlike any you’ve ever heard. Highlights include: “Fat Daddy,” “Sleigh Bells, Reindeer and Snow,” and my personal favorite, “Here Comes Fatty Claus,” which should be the national anthem for Grinches everywhere (WARNING: this song may not be appropriate for all audiences. But hey, it’s John Waters, what do you expect?).
Three Suites by Duke Ellington. Ellington’s delightfully jazzy adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” breathes new life into a seasonal standard.
Gling-Gló by Björk. Ok, I know that this record is technically not a holiday album, but at my old bookstore, it was always in heavy rotation during the Christmas season. Besides, I’m pretty sure that Björk is secretly an elf. And here she sings jazz standards in Icelandic. If that doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, nothing will.
Go Tell It on the Mountain by The Blind Boys of Alabama. Rollicking blues-tinged and gospel-inflected versions of traditional Christmas carols and popular holiday songs make this album a fun listen.
Handel’s Messiah. I can’t really hear the “Hallelujah” chorus anymore, thanks to it being so overplayed, but I always get a kick out of “All we like sheep” (who doesn’t?) and “He was despised.” Hearing this work live can be an incredible experience; the Seattle Symphony will be performing it from December 16th through December 19th.
All you Grinches and non-Grinches out there, it’s your turn now. Leave a comment and tell us about your favorite holiday album(s)!
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