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9 Christmas Albums to Add A Kick to Your Holiday Gathering

What’s the next most important thing at any holiday gathering, besides food? Music. This holiday season, whether it’s a friend’s party, a work shindig, or your family’s celebration, music will be played. There are the classics, like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” but hearing the same tracks day after day can get boring, and Christmas should be anything but! Below, we list for you nine albums to spice up your music selections this holiday season. We’ve also rated them on their relevance to Christmas (Christmasness), their uniqueness, and if your family will approve (or will Grandma shut it off?).

The Ventures Christmas Album - The Ventures - 1965

You’ve probably heard your fair share of The Beach Boys' Christmas Album this holiday season, so why not switch it up and try The Ventures. This surf rock instrumental band has put out hundreds of tracks, including versions of holiday standards like “Sleigh Ride” and “Frosty the Snowman” in their 1965 Christmas album. I truly believe you could listen to The Ventures Christmas Album on infinite loop and never get bored of it, because their music is just that smooth. But, if you do, just pop in their 2002 release Christmas Joy. Forget the “endless summer”, let your winter be the endless Christmas of surf rock!

Christmasness: 4

Uniqueness: 4

Will Grandma Shut It Off? She shouldn’t! This is the music of her youth!

 

Jackson 5 Christmas Album - Jackson 5 - 1970

The Jackson 5 Christmas Album holds so many gems to get your in the spirit of Christmas: “Little Drummer Boy,” “Christmas Won’t Be The Same Without You,” and of course “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael sing the standards to perfection in this 1970 album. What more can I say? It’s the Jackson 5. You know it’s amazing.

Christmasness: 5

Uniqueness: 4

Will Grandma Shut It Off? Again, she shouldn’t since this is the music of her youth!

A Very Special Christmas - Various Artists - 1987

U2. Madonna. Run DMC. Bryan Adams. The Pointer Sisters. Eurythmics. Whitney Houston. Bruce Springsteen. The Pretenders. John Cougar Mellencamp. Sting. Bon Jovi. Stevie Nicks. Do I need to say anything more to convince you to play this record this Christmastime? The power players of late 80s popular music got together to produce this compilation of Christmas song standards to benefit Special Olympics, raising millions of dollars. Also, with cover art by Keith Haring, you know it’s the coolest thing you’ll play this holiday season.

Christmasness: 5

Uniqueness: 3

Will Grandma Shut It Off? No, the older generations will love the throwbacks!

Christmas Rap - Various Artists - 1987

A Christmas album’s list would not be complete without some hip-hop. This 1987 compilation features Run DMC, Sweet Tee, King Sun and other old school hip-hop that is sure to get you off your butt and dancing, or at the very least bumping your head to the beat. Tracks like “Let The Jingle Bells Rock” and “Christmas in Hollis” maintain the spirit of your favorite Christmas tracks while adding a hip-hop flare. Do yourself a favor and throw some syncopated beats, vinyl scratches, and sampled horns into your holiday music rotation: put this album on your list.

Christmasness: 4

Uniqueness: 4

Will Grandma Shut It Off? Probably, unless she’s the coolest Grandma ever.

James Brown’s Funky Christmas - James Brown - 1995

The Godfather of Soul has a album and it is perfect for funk, soul, and R&B lovers. Although released in 1995, it’s compiled with tracks recorded in the 60s and 70s, including “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto” and “Go Power at Christmas Time.” The album is great for spicing things up in your Christmas music mix. Play liberally to get family and friends out of their chairs and into the dancing mood!

Christmasness: 4

Uniqueness: 5

Will Grandma Shut It Off? Only if Grandma’s not into getting down.

 

At the beginning of the 2000s, nothing was as amazing as the music mixes from the television melodrama The O.C. The tracks on Mix 3: have a Very Merry Chrismukkah is no exception. Named for the portmanteau popularized by show character Seth Cohen who celebrated both Christmas and Hanukkah, this album’s songs are as quirky and creative as Chrismukkah itself. Featuring a mix of standards reimagined by popular indie artists (e.g. “Last Christmas” by Jimmy Eat World) and originals (“The Christmas Song” by The Ravonettes), this album is perfect for putting a little more millennial flavor to your holiday mix.

Christmasness: 4

Uniqueness: 4

Will Grandma Shut It Off? Probably, but only because she’s not hip enough (even if she recently got a new hip!)

A Very She & Him Christmas - She & Him - 2011

In their Christmas album, She & Him’s Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward faithfully play holiday standards like “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with their beautiful signature voices and guitars. The result is a sound that is classic while retaining the vibrant energy of the 21st century. It should definitely be in your rotation this holiday season! And after listening to A Very She & Him Christmas, why not pop the Elf DVD in your Blu-Ray player and watch Zooey Deschanel help Will Ferrell’s Buddy navigate Christmas in New York City!

Christmasness: 5

Uniqueness: 3

Will Grandma Shut It Off? No, unless she hates music.

Christmas in Reno - Cassie Ramone - 2015

Former Vivian Girls guitarist Cassie Ramone paints a picture with her album Christmas in Reno. Ethereal vocals and dreamy guitars turn beloved Christmas standards into a soundtrack to Christmas in the vast open stretches of the American Southwest. With tracks like “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and “Blue Christmas,” the album on a whole feels fairly sad and depressing, but hey, sometimes you need that to balance out all the “joy.”

Christmasness: 4

Uniqueness: 5

Will Grandma Shut It Off? Probably. Recommended for when you can plug in your headphones and decompress away from the stress of family for a moment.

A Pentatonix Christmas - Pentatonix - 2016

Who doesn’t love acapella? It’s arguably one of the most enjoyed genres on the globe, from remote rural communities in other countries, to college campuses, to blockbuster movies. Thankfully, this Christmas season you’ve got a plethora of acapella holiday music to put you in the spirit of the season, courtesy of Pentatonix. A Pentatonix Christmas is their THIRD holiday album, so if you want even more check out That’s Christmas to Me (2015) or PTXmas (2012).  

Christmasness: 5

Uniqueness: 5

Will Grandma Shut It Off? Only if she’s a scrooge.

While not the definitive list, this list of awesomely interesting Christmas albums can diversify your holiday season. We hope this list has given you the tools you need to have a sonically superb Christmas. Surprise your friends and family with these fresh albums and have a splendid holiday!

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