Five Christmas Albums I Still Love Each Year

Every artist and record label seem to have their own Christmas or “holiday” album. These often feature the artist on a fake snowy background staring wistfully off into the horizon while wearing a big coat. There is usually a sleigh or cabin in the background.

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These are filled with the same covers of classic Christmas tunes, mixed with a few original works. These range from cute and cringy to insufferably saccharine.

Yet, I get it. I know if you love a particular artist or genre, why not enjoy them singing Christmas tunes? It is just that there are so many of them, and some that are played ad nauseam like Trans-Siberian Orchestra or Mannheim Steamroller (don’t hate me, I own these albums as well).

There are a few albums, however, I just can easily listen to each year, without tiring of. Last week I talked about August Burns Red’s Sleddin’ Hill album for one, but not everyone is in the mood for some metal all the time. In that spirit, I have some more suggestions. A couple are well-known and get some heavy play action on radio, while a couple may be less familiar.

Ether way, here’s my top five albums I can can enjoy start to finish.

Christmas Remixed: Holiday Classics Re-Grooved

I’ll start with a compilation of classic holiday songs from the likes of Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Duke Ellington, but remixed with some electronic flair. It gives these familiar sounds a funky eclectic sound and makes for great party background. If you want something less seasonal, there’s a similar concept with a Verve Remixed series.

Ottmar Liebert: “Christmas + Santa Fe”

We got into Ottmar Liebert’s amazing flamenco talents while living outside of Santa Fe, and he released a couple of holiday albums, Christmas + Santa Fe and Poets & Angels. Both are beautiful, but I enjoy the collection on the former best. This really captures the feel of that Southwest Christmas, but not in a way that can’t be enjoyed by people everywhere.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra: “Boogie Woogie Christmas”

I know, Brian Setzer’s version of “Jingle Bells” gets a ton of airplay, but really is there anyone cooler? The former Stray Cats frontman has taken the holidays by the furry lapels and made it his own. One of my bucket list items is to see his Holiday Tour live (if he is still doing it). I love all his Christmas releases, but this one has some of my favorites.

Loreena McKennitt: “A Midwinter Night’s Dream”

My first exposure to the endlessly talented Lorenna McKennitt’s dreamy, eerie and beautiful Celtic sounds, mixed with other world music influences, was her hit “Mummer’s Dance.” But her wintery and graceful Christmas music feels like entering a time-traveling fantasy novel, filled with magical forests and holiday spirit. Think Middle Earth at Yuletide.

Vince Guaraldi Trio: “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

I hope you weren’t expecting anything more obscure here. I mean, it’s Vince Guaraldi for goodness sakes. It is nearly impossible not to get in the holiday spirit with his jazzy soundtrack to all things Peanuts. Linus and Lucy is by far his most popular, but my personal favorite is his feel-good groove of “O Tannenbaum.”

Whatever your taste, whatever your faith, I hope you all have some seasonal tunes to get you to your happy place this Christmas and holiday season. If not, give these a try. You might find something you like.

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