It’s been a couple of years since I’ve dropped any Christmas music on you. Prior to Rdio (RIP) and other music services, it was a little more of a chore to source and share decent tunes. It takes work to put these together but I do enjoy it for a few reasons:
I like decent Christmas music
What they play on the radio is good to get you into the Christmas spirit but after a few days it becomes quite repetitive
It’s fun to share with others
Due to work and life, I haven’t had a great deal of time to go actively searching for new stuff this year. But, ironically, due to the fact that we’ve been working crazy-late hours the last couple of weeks, I have been able to listen to hours of random playlists and been able to toss a few tracks I’ve liked to my own Spotify (RIP Rdio + please hurry up Pandora Premium) playlist.
Some of you who have followed along for years might know that there’s a few tracks I think are imperative to a quality, heavy-rotation Christmas playlist. Some of them aren’t available on music services and only exist on the hard drives of folks like you and I; it’s up to us to carry the torch for the next generations. Heavy burden, I know. Those tracks aren’t on the Spotify version of Creepy Santa below; if you want the extra good stuff, you’ll have to download the ZIP folder and play it the old fashioned way (iTunes).
If nothing else, the download might be worth it for the smiles track 20 can induce; it’s a modern day take on the creepiness that is Baby, It’s Cold Outside.
The US Thanksgiving holiday has passed which means it’s time for an updated Christmas playlist. As per the norm, it extends a little further than the standard Andy Williams and Bing Crosby (though those are classics and good in their own right) which you can find on most local, AM/FM Christmas stations.
If you’ve been around for any of the years past, you might notice that the last track is the same one I’ve closed with on multiple occasions… this is on purpose as I’ve convinced myself that it should probably close every Christmas compilation ever made. I’m not ready to call it the greatest Christmas track ever but I think its as solid of a piece of music you can get to finish an album.
New to this game and want to catch up? Hit the archives for past compilations. My apologies for the creepy Santa pictures, I’m not really sure how it all got started.
Track List
1. Owl City (feat. TobyMac) – Light of Christmas
2. Jeremih – You’re Mine
3. Otis Redding – White Christmas
4. Matt Wertz – Snow Globe
5. Kelly Clarkson – Winter Dreams
6. The Maine – Ho Ho Hopefully
7. Newsboys – All I Want for Christmas Is You
8. Leona Lewis – One More Sleep
9. Cee Lo Green (feat. The Muppets) – All I Need Is Love
10. Jeremy Lister – Santa’s Lost His Mojo
11. Callie Moore – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
12. Catherine Feeny – The Christmas Song
13. Clyde Bawden & Jason Barney (feat. Cody Carnes & Ashley Hess) – Christmas with You
14. Train – Shake Up Christmas
15. KT Tunstall – Sleigh Ride
16. Brigthen – Merry Christmas, Baby
17. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – It Feels Like Christmas Time
18. The Ready Set – I Don’t Wanna Spend Another Christmas Without You
19. Kelly Clarkson – 4 Carats
20. Clyde Bawden & Jason Barney (feat. Ashley Hess) – Home for Christmas Eve
21. Neon Trees – Wish List
22. A Rocket To The Moon – I Believe In Us (This Holiday)
23. Troy Andrews – O Holy Night
As much as it pained my office mate, I started the process of organizing the 2012 edition of CreepySanta in October. It’s not the be-all, end-all Christmas album but it should be a good mix for you to keep your Christmas party hoppin’ or help soundtrack your tree decorating festivities.
This ain’t the first Christmas music rodeo around these parts either, feel free to hit the archives for past compilations.
Track List
1. fun – Sleigh Ride
2. Meaghan Smith – Silver Bells
3. Never Shout Never – 30 Days
4. Andy Williams – It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (a shrift remix)
5. The Boy Least Likely To – Happy Christmas Baby
6. Hugh Laurie – Silent Night
7. Colbie Caillat – Christmas in the Sand
8. Fitz & The Tantrums – Santa Stole My Lady
9. Kay Starr – I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (STUHR remix)
10. Vince Guaraldi Trio – Skating
11. Olivia Olson – That Christmas Feeling
12. Pomplamoose – Jingle Bells
13. Gavin DeGraw – The Christmas Song
14. Meiko – Maybe Next Year (X-Mas Song)
15. Black Prairie – (Everybody’s Waitin’ For) The Man With The Bag
16. Grant Dawson – It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
17. Punch Brothers – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
18. Troy Andrews – O Holy Night
Rdio users: I’ve also made a playlist for you but it only has about 75% of the tracks. You can thank the record industry.
I’m a little late in getting this to you but you’ve still got a couple of weeks to hopefully enjoy it before you’re completely tired of Christmas music. If you’re new to these parts, feel free to digbackthrough the archives and find any/all of the previous tracks I’ve posted. Hopefully the links are still working; if not, feel free to ping me and I can do my best to help you out.
I should probably do some explaining for things like Beiber and Train but I’ll just ask you to hold your judgement until you’ve had a chance to check them out once or twice.
Never polled the reading audience to see how many baseball fans there are, but if you’re local (or can get here) I’ve got a pair of decent tickets to see the Texas Rangers take on the NY Mets on Friday, June 24th if you’re interested.
The Rangers are currently in 1st place in the AL West and despite a recent 2-game fail on their part at the hands of the Tigers, they look pretty good.
While I make no guarantees, there’s a 100% chance you’ll catch a home run off the bat of either Ian Kinsler or Adrian Beltre in these seats. Section 8, Row 12 face value at $30 each.
Here’s a picture from the exact seats of your viewing angle that I took the last day I played for the team. You will notice that for nine half innings, you will be getting the glorious backside view of the reigning AL MVP, Josh Hamilton. Your lady-friend will thank me.
I tried to think up a slick contest to make this a little more fun but frankly, my brain is mush and I haven’t the time to keep up with some crazy tweet-this-to-win or keep-your-hand-on-the-car deal to make it more interesting. Fact is, if you win them, you’ll actually be lucky enough just to see the game due to the reality that I might forget to give them to you between now and then.
No-brainer contest
1. Be a Rangers fan. Not a Mets fan. Everybody hates the Mets.
2. Email me or tweet me a photo of your Claw and/or Antlers. Fun pictures preferred. All G-rated please. Feel free to use your kids/pets/props or whatever else you need to win my love.
3. Be available to go to the game. I could easily throw them on StubHub for a few bucks but I wanted to give somebody else the opportunity to enjoy at no cost. There’s nothing stopping you from winning and selling them on your own other than your guilt-stricken conscience will probably eat a hole through your brain until one day where I find you lying on my doorstep grovelling for forgiveness and for me to loose the chains of your soul-crushing pain. At that point, I might consider it but it’d be a whole lot easier for you to pass them on if you end up not being able to go. Up to you.
So, if you’re in the market to see some free baseball, hit me up. Email, Comment or Tweet me your photo, if it’s good enough (or you’re the only entry) they’re yours.
#boomstick
Update: Will add any entries I receive after the click through to see what you’re up against… (more…)
