Still Jingling
Some more Xmas jams.
Tis the season!
If you’re in town, grab tix for the Friends From New York Holiday Party at Champagne Problems this Saturday (12/20) with tunes by myself, Stretch Armstrong, Roxy Cottontail and Darling Chuck.
No grinches…
But on that note, here’s an excellent oral history of the live action film, which somehow enabled Jim Carrey to join the Flipmode Squad.
Think of this holiday oddity as a perfect amuse-bouche for another batch of new (or simply new to me) festive musical finds as we close out the year.
Relax, indulge, play loud!
Wheatus, “Christmas Dirtbag (Live On The Late Show)” — why not! From their 2013 holiday EP. Watch ‘em make the original version on an MPC in a Suffolk County bedroom here.
Greedies, “Xmas Jingle” — Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Pistols get their medley on with Thin Lizzy’s Phil Lynott (RIP). Recorded version is flames but this Top Of The Pops perf somehow even more so. Per YouTube comments: “last song to be played of the 70’s on telly!”
ASH, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” — he sure is.
Futureheads, Christmas — these lads get unfairly lumped into “landfill indie,” but their Kate Bush cover is an all timer and “Decent Days And Nights” more than deserves a permanent slot in your iPod Nano. “Christmas Was Better In The ‘80s” is somehow just as good (and so is the rest of this album).
Teen Mortgage, “Below The Christmas Tree” — sounding like Reggie & The Full Effect, perhaps the highest praise I could bestow.
Weyes Blood, “Snowqueen Of Texas” — a vibe (and a Mamas & The Papas cover!)
Eric Benét "Death Metal Christmas" jam — unexpectedly delightful.
DJ Harrison, A DJ Harrison Xmas — holiday LP from 2010, just now (?) on vinyl. Bangs from start to finish with a Vince Guaraldi x Jay Dee spirit.
Kesha, “Holiday Road” — also a few years old but who cares! Feel free to bicker over whether or not Lindsay Buckingham’s contribution to the National Lampoon extended universe truly qualifies as xmas music, but someone somewhere is currently making it rain Kohl’s Cash to this cover.
floweroflove, “wishlist” — need to ghostride Target shopping cart ASAP.
The Magic Hours & TUAWKI, Island Holiday 2: Surf Exotica Christmas — does exactly what it says on the tin. Don’t sleep on Vol. 1 either (or Capitol’s Ultra-Lounge comps if you need your leopard-print Esquivel energy direct from the source).
The Sha La Das, “Sha La Da La La (Christmas Time)” — chilled-out Daptone sweetness circa 2018. Bump Sharon Jones’ evergreen It’s A Holiday Soul Party for more (including the only good non-Beck Hannukah song).
Twanguero, Christmas with el Twanguero — quick pickin’ peace on earth.
Busy Signal & Chronic Law, “Lef E Strap” — if we can’t have dancehall “Little Drummer Boy” (rightfully, tbh) at least there is now a gunman “Feliz Navidad” pon streaming services.
IDK, “SCARY MERRi” — interpolating “jingle bells, Batman smells” and Dungeon Family deep cuts over a Conductor Williams beat is nasty work (complimentary).
DJ Vic Mashups — he’s got a whole Cutwater Christmas tape of these. Not mad at the Kelis x Nutcracker TikTok trend either (gotta go with Kermy Crashout’s version). Music is fun!
The Darkness, “Mistletoe And Wine” — guitar commentator Justin Hawkins is already responsible for one of the best xmas rockers of all time, but has blessedly come back for more.
C Stunna, “Stunna Claus” — self explanatory…
Tay Money, Baddie Christmas — ditto (also: put it in a Klarna ad).
Yo Gabba Gabba, A Very Awesome Yo Gabba Gabba! Christmas — yes Virginia, there is a newly remastered MyChem holiday tune. Whole YGG comp is fun!
Kyle M, Winter’s Wish — Kyle Mooney’s recent “I’m serious, no, really” tunes have been hit or miss for me. Still, gotta respect his commitment to a deeply specific bit (and getting Alicia Silverstone to return to music videos is a big flex regardless of context).
The Coral, “Christmas On Coral Island / She Died On Christmas Day” — let’s run their 2002 sadboi banger “Dreaming Of You” (as heard at the end of Scrubs S2E10 until copyright goosesteppers replaced it on streaming) before getting into this pleasantly tweaked new jangler.
“Last Christmas” on calculators — give it to someone special.
That’s it for the next few weeks.
(Regular playlists updated too.)
See u in 2026!