Holiday Listening Guide

Hi Hello

How is it already December???? I feel like I was just celebrating the Fourth of July and now I'm searching online for deals on Christmas gifts. Anyone else feel like this?

With the Holiday season upon us, so are the Christmas songs on the radio (and on my iPod playlist). But with only so many songs in the Christmas songbook, I can only listen to "Let It Snow" so many times until I get sick of it, and if you're anything like me...you'll need new artists and arrangements as well as original songs to listen to this season.

Here is my Holiday Listening Guide for most genres of music. Now, I say "most" because I do not have a Holiday album for all genres or age groups.

Christian

Simple Little Christmas by Anthem Lights is the perfect Pop Christian album to listen to this holiday season. Anthem Lights is a Christian Pop Boyband that are mainly known for their amazing covers on YouTube. This album not only has song Christmas classics like "O Holy Night" and "All I Want For Christmas" but they also have original songs on the track-list like my personal favorite and album title, "Simple Little Christmas."

Alternative

...And A Happy New Year by The Maine throws it back to 2008 with a fun and catchy Christmas Album. This album contains all original songs with one cover by the 80s band Wham! John O'Callaghan's voice is very unique and when you hear a song by The Maine you know exactly who it is. The Maine teamed up with Brighten on the song "Ho Ho Hopefully" where they did a fun little music video for on YouTube.

Another great album to listen to that falls into the Alternative category would be A Green River Ordinance Christmas by Green River Ordinance . This album adds a more orchestrated rock feel to song of the classics. The arrangements of these classics like "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night" really show case the band's abilities instrumentally as well as vocally. There are some shinning vocal harmonizing in both of these songs that just make your jaw drop.

Oldies

A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra by Frank Sinatra if you are looking for some classic songs with a nostalgic feeling of sitting by the fireplace sipping on some hot cocoa, this is the album for you. Everybody loves a little Sinatra, right? This album features some of Frank's best Christmas songs recorded with traditional classics as well as song songs you have forgotten about, like "Mistletoe and Holly" and "Adeste Fideles." If you're going to listen to any classic Christmas album this season, this one should be one of those at the top.

Rock

Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer by Relient K even though most people will classify Relient K as Alternative, I get a more rock feel from them than anything else. But, not only is the title of this album clever, the songs and arrangements on the album are hilarious to listen to. And their cleverness sarcasim doesn't end with the title, it goes on to their songs with titles like "I'm Getting Nuttin For Christmas" and "Santa Clause is Thumbing To Town" these songs are fun to just sing along with the hilariously recorded "Good King Wenceslas" which, if you're going to listen to any song off this album, it better be that one.

Country

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Other Christmas Classics by Gene Autry if you are going to listen to any country Christmas album I hope you listen to this one. I am not a huge country fan, and by "not a huge fan" I mean I don't listen to it at all really...with the exception of Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton and some Alan Jackson. But this album I have on my iPod and I listen to it every Holiday season without fail. Yes, this album is full of classics, but just like the Frank Sinatra album, you need the classics in your life but the classics that are sung by a classic artist makes them more nostalgic and easier to listen to peacefully.

That is all I have! If you have any other albums that are in a different genre of music or that you feel are a great fit for these genres of music, please leave it in the comments below! All of these albums are my opinion (obviously) and they could not be the right fit for you, but give them a listen because they are all unique and they are my go-to albums for this time of year!

Until next time my misfits,
Stefanie