Lets face it, most Christmas songs suck! Here on Alternative Christmas Songs however we guarantee that all our Christmas songs Rock!

Our alternative Christmas playlists are all killer, no filler from bands and artists you may know and some you are maybe being introduced to for the first time. Once thing you can be sure of is that if it’s Punk, Rock, Indie, Alternative or just about anything that isn’t the mainstream sentimental Xmas songs, we’ll be bringing it to the attention to your ears this festive season.

So get ready to pogo to the best punk Christmas songs, dance to the coolest Indie Christmas songs and generally booze and loose yourself in the best alternative Christmas songs and have your self a very merry and loud Xmas.

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The Bird and the Bee -- Carol of the Bells.

The layered vocals accompanying the sublime chord structure on this track are just so beautiful.

The Academy -- Winter Passing

WMG 2008.

Weezer -- The First Noel -- Christmas With Weezer

Sadly Michael Edward “Mikey” Welsh passed away unexpectedly on October 8, 2011. He was an American artist and musician, best known as the former bassist of Weezer.

Blink 182 -- I Won’t Be Home for Christmas

Taken from the American college rockers -- I Won’t Be Home for Christmas -- EP.

Fall Out Boy -- Yule Shoot Your Eye Out

(Believers Never Die -- Greatest Hits)

The Dandy Warhols -- Little Drummer Boy

Taken from Alternative Rock X-mas. The Dandy Warhols‘ cover the classic Little Drummer Boy, featuring the fellow Portlander Jefferey Wonderful a friend of the Dandy Warhols. They made the video as a spoof and asked Jeffrey to dance around and adlib and he did it… for no fee. He was 19 in 1994 when the video was produced.

Download the song for free from the Dandy Warhols website. Beat The World Records http://dandywarhols.com

Death Cab for Cutie -- Christmas Baby Please Come Home

(Maybe This Christmas Tree)

Mxpx -- Christmas Night of the Living Dead

(Punk Rawk Christmas) This is a featured song in Call of Duty Black Ops zombie gameplay,

Sufjan Stevens -- Get Behind Me Santa

(Songs for Christmas) Sufjan Stevens -- Peace: Songs for Christmas, Vol. V. Recorded June 2006 OK with so many alternative Christmas songs from Sufjan Stevens we had to pick at least one for this Christmas playlist. Let us know your favorite for future playlists.

The Killers -- Don’t Shoot Me Santa

A pretty funny music video by The Killers performing Don’t Shoot Me Santa. (C) 2007  The Island Def Jam Music Group. The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers wears a horrible Christmas sweater, plays the maracas, has a pokerface and still looks completely cool.

Bush – Good King Somethingorother

We are big fans of Bush here at Alternative Christmas Songs so with the band’s recent reunion and new album release ‘Sea of Memories‘ we thought we dust of this rare recording of ‘Good King Wenceslas‘ but as you probably already know Bush used the title ‘Good King Somethingorother‘ when they covered it for the ‘O? Come All Ye Faithful: Rock 4 Choice‘ Album.

Click here to visit our Alternative Christmas Song Store to download all your favorite Alternative Christmas Rock Songs.

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It’s that time of year when we start thinking about another year that’s past by and heading of to spend quality time with the people we haven’t seen since the same time last year. Yes as Noddy Holder would hola ‘It’s Christmas!’

We’ve rounded up the 10 best rock Christmas songs that you wont hear on the radio this year. It includes Corey Taylor, The Vandals, From First to Last and many more (well 7 more to be precise)

Turn it up and enjoy, after all it’s not Christmas everyday, thank god!

Corey Taylor -- X-M@$

The proceeds from the sales of the Slipknots singers Christmas song go to the Teenage Cancer Trust http://www.teenagecancertrust.org/

Motionless in White -- Santas Pissed

The Kinks  -- Father Christmas

August Burns Red -- Carol of the Bells

Ramones -- Merry Christmas/I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight

Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight with
Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight
Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight
Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight with you

Where is Santa? At his sleigh?
Tell me why is it always this way?
Where is Rudolph? Where is Blitzen, baby?
Merry Christmas, merry merry merry Christmas

All the children are tucked in their beds
Sugar-plum fairies dancing in their heads
Snowball fighting, it’s so exciting baby

I love you and you love me
And that’s the way it’s got to be
I loved you from the start
‘Cause Christmas ain’t the time for breaking each other’s heart

Where is Santa? At his sleigh?
Tell me why is it always this way?
Where is Rudolph? Where is Blitzen, baby?
Merry Christmas, merry merry merry Christmas

All the children are tucked in their beds
Sugar-plum fairies dancing in their heads
Snowball fighting, it’s so exciting baby

Yeah, yeah, yeah

I love you and you love me
And that’s the way it’s got to be
I loved you from the start
‘Cause Christmas ain’t the time for breaking each other’s heart

Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight with
Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight with
Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight with you

The Vandals -- Oi to the world

The Almost -- Little Drummer Boy

Relient K – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Let It Snow, Baby… Let It Reindeer is the second Christmas album by Christian rock band Relient K. The album is a re-release of the band’s first Christmas album, Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand, but with seven new songs and some other changes, such as track listing and a new ending to one song.  “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” played during the December episode of Ghost Whisperer. A re-issue of the album was released on iTunes late in 2008. It includes renditions of “Silver Bells,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” and “O Holy Night,” as well as a music video for their version of “Sleigh Ride.”

From First to Last -- X12 days of XXXMAS

Simple Plan -- My Christmas List (Jingle Ball Rock)

“Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.”

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Oh come all ye faithful, why, oh why, oh why, oh why are The Beach Boys on an Alternative Christmas Songs site I hear you cry.

Well, The Beach Boys are synonymous with the sound of summer so by releasing a Christmas Album they instantly rank highly as alternative sound of Christmas with their harmonious yuletide fare.

Brian Wilson pop sensibilities are sweet as a fat man in a red suit on Christmas standards such as ‘White Christmas’ and ‘Frosty the Snowman’ as well as contemporary tunes like ‘Blue Christmas’ and ‘The Man with all the Toys.’

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Originally released in 1964, the Capitol reissue includes four bonus tracks, including ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ and the single version of ‘Little Saint Nick.’

The full listing of the The Beach Boys Christmas Album is:

1. Little Saint Nick
2. The Man With All The Toys
3. Santa’s Beard
4. Merry Christmas, Baby
5. Christmas Day
6. Frosty The Snowman
7. We Three Kings Of Orient are (more…)

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Yep you heard it right Bob Dylan has released a Christmas album, his first and only Christmas album in a 45+ year career.

‘Christmas in the Heart’ (Columbia) follows ‘Together Through Life’ making it the second Dylan album in the same year, so maybe everyday is Christmas for Dylan’s fans.  Christmas in the Heart is a collection of 15 songs none of which are original Dylan compositions.

The Christmas album comes in at 42 minutes long and includes standards such as Winter Wonderland, The First Noel and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

The album cover depicts a 19^th century two horse and open sleigh theme. Dylan generally divides and this Christmas album will be loved or hated by Dylan fans in equal measure. Only time will tell if it will make it to a more mainstream Christmas album rotations alongside Dean Martin, Bing Crosby and Elvis by a wider audience or will be listened to be those with a more alternative and eclectic tastes.

It’s Christmas and a time of charity so it’s worth noting that all present and future sales of Christmas in the Heart will be shared equally by three charities that seek to feed the hungry.

The full track listing for Christmas in the Heat is:

Here Comes Santa Claus
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Winter Wonderland
Hark The Herald Angels Sing
I’ll Be Home For Christmas
Little Drummer Boy
The Christmas Blues
O’ Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles)
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Must Be Santa
Silver Bells
The First Noel
Christmas Island
The Christmas Song
O’ Little Town Of Bethlehem

More reviews of Bob Dylan ‘Christmas in the Heart’ online

Christmas in the Heart Review

Bob Dylan Christmas Album Review

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We had some much fun researching alternative Christmas songs for Elvis Presley v Jonny Cash we thought we would post the alternative, alternative mashup and hence The King v Cash is here.

Their are a couple of little gems in here. One of Elvis looking slightly worse for wear (maybe he indulged in the Christmas spirits a little to early. What is in his tea cup?) and some unsure musicians in the background are worth noting.

Meanwhile Jonny Cash endorses Coca-Cola, the soft drinks company who put Santa Claus in a big red suit and marketed their sugary soft drink to the world.

So whether you are drinking hard liqor, soda pop or a cup of tea this Christmas, we raise a glass to you -- have yourself a very merry alternative Christmas!

Elvis Presley -- Merry Christmas Baby

Jonny Cash -- Christmas As I knew It

Elvis Presley -- If Every Day Was Like Christmas Time

Jonny Cash -- Daddy Sang Bass

Elvis Presley -- I’ll Be Home On Christmas Day

Jonny Cash -- 12 Days Of Christmas

Elvis Presley -- I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Jonny Cash -- Amazing Grace

Elvis Presley -- It Wont Seem Like Christmas Without You

Jonny Cash & June Carter Cash -- Darlin Companion

Elvis Prsley -- The First Noel

Jonny Cash -- Coca-Cola Christmas Commercial -- Thing Called Love

>> Find your favourite alternative Christmas songs in the store <<

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A shameless plug for Alternative Christmas Songs on Youtube, enjoy!

Music: Branch in the Spokes by Matter Scumaci

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Collecting the videos and listening to the songs for an alternative Christmas with Jonny Cash v Elvis Presley got me thinking about how the world has changed in just a few short years.

Watching these videos and listening to these songs reminds me of what is important in life, not just Christmas -- family, friends and those less fortunate then ourselves.

I don’t want to preach but, these innocent times depicted in these videos were not that long ago but seem an age away from the rampant consumerism, me me me culture we live in today. No wonder the world is the mess it is.

Enjoy the songs and have a beautiful Christmas.

Elvis Presley -- Merry Christmas Baby / Blue Christmas -- The King looking the best he ever did and havin’ a whole lotta fun doing what he did best TCOB.

Jonny Cash -- Christmas Guest

Elvis Prseley -- It Wont seem Like Christmas Without You

Jonny Cash -- Silent Night / Little Drummer Boy

Elvis Presley -- Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees

Jonny Cash -- Christmas As I Knew It

Elvis  Presley -- Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me

Jonny Cash - I Believe

Elvis Presley and Martina McBride -- Blue Christmas  from the album Blue Christmas 2008

Jonny Cash - 12 Days Of Christmas

Find you favourite alternative Christmas songs to download here .

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The clocks are winding back, the leaves are turning brown and there’s a cold bite to the air. Yep, Christmas is just around the corner. I for one like to enjoy Christmas as far away from home (London) as possible, somewhere were the sun shines brightly and the sea is blue, I’ve seen it on Youtube, now let’s see if it’s true.

To get me into the holiday mood this Christmas I thought I’d compile a alternative surf Christmas songs list. Surfs up!

It’s Gonna be a Surfer’s Christmas  -- Morning Glass

Surf Rock Christmas Song -- Ventures

Christmas Time in Bagdad

Captain Santa Clause -- Bobby Helms

Lord’s Prayer -- Beach Boys

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree -- Brenda Lee

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer -- Gene Autry

We Three Kings of Orient Are -- Marvin Gaye & the BeachBoys

A holly Jolly Christmas -- Burl Ives

Our Christmas Wish to  You -- Malibooz

It’s Just Not Christmas Without You -- Malibooz

Find alternative Christmas songs in our store.

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We’ve had a festive trawl around Youtube and put a collection of alternative Christmas videos together to keep your eyeball busy this Xmas.

Here is our Top Ten 10 Alternative Christmas Videos and a few surprise songs are in the too.

Here is the Boss, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform Santa Claus is Coming to Town. What a Christmas party!

Gabba Hey! The Ramones -- Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) Pure punk pop genius.

The Killers recorded A Great Big Sled for the Red Charity. Well it’s a very charitable time of year!

St Etienne featuring Tim Burgess of Charlatans fame perform I was Born on Christmas Day on Channel 4’s The Word.

Sujan Stevens -- That Was the Worst Christmas Ever. Where to start with Stevens? He’s made so many indie rock alternative Christmas albums of late picking one track is bound to cause debate. He could have a whole Top Ten of his own!

The Kinks -- Father Christmas. Londons finest Ray Davies and The Kinks get into the festive spirit on the Old Grey Whistle Test

Malcolm Middleton featuring Kim Noble -- We are All Going to Die. The amiable Scot forgot to mention paying taxes!

U2 -- Baby Please Come Home -- Bono give The Edge a run for his money in the hat stakes in this video.

St. Etienne -- My Christmas Prayer. The second video by St. Etienne to feature in our alternative Christmas videos. Sarah come and sing to us on Christmas day!! The track is from the 1993 Lovers Unite Christmas single

Black Box Recorder

Black Box Recorder and Art Brut - Christmas Number One. A sideways swipe at all those cliched Christmas videos!

More alternative Christmas Lists on the web…

Q the Music

The Guardian Music

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You can now start building you Alternative Christmas Song playlist on Spotify.

Log into your free Spotify account and search by song title or artist and simply drag and drop each track into your new Alternate Xmas Song Playlist.

By the time Christmas arrives and the inlaws and outlaws arrive you’ll have playlists to cover all tastes with you family and friends locked down and good to go.

They will be amazed (or appauled) with your Christmas musical knowledge. You will be the life and soul of the party! I hope the garish sweater your nan knitts, fits you well!

Bah Humbug! Alternatively you can annoy the hell out of everyone who enters your domain this Christmas bearing festive greetings…

Find a popular Christmas song on Spotify that has been covered by just about everyone and save the whole playlist.

See how long you can get away with playing the same song by different artists until:

A) Every body leaves you the hell alone

B) Everyone is driven insane

C) You are to drunk to care

Silent Night Video by Sixpence None the Richer featuring Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay

Here is my Top Ten Alternative Christmas Spotify Playlist to drive you, your family and friends insane this holiday season!

1. Silent Night (2837 covers)

2. White Christmas (1909 covers)

3. Jingle Bells (1544 covers)

4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (823 covers)

5. Little Drummer Boy (798 covers)

6. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree 255

7. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (238 covers)

8. Merry Christmas Everybody (163 covers)

9. 12 Days of Christmas (76 covers)

10. Santa Claus is coming to Town (21 covers)

More alternative Christmas song lists on the web…

BBC Goes Alternative

Amazon Alternative Christmas Collection

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