Alt:Mag Christmas Playlist 2015

For some, Christmas isn't the joyous occasion a lot of people see it as. You see, Christmas can provide stress and annoyance to people for a number of reasons, for example; stress could come in the form of rushing to buy presents for people, or working a customer service job during the Christmas rush, while annoyance most likely comes in the form of hearing the same songs year in and year out. At the age of 22 (soon to be 23) I find Slade's song 'Merry Xmas Everybody' a fun, uplifting Christmas classic, while someone who has heard it every December since its release in 1973 (that's 42 years!) might not like it so much. Nevertheless the 'scrooginess' never seems to get to me, and every year I find myself looking forward more and more to listening to my favourite Christmas tracks, and discovering new ones that could potentially be future classics in years to come. So in true Alt:Mag fashion, I am here with a brand new playlist of Christmas songs that you undoubtedly have not heard before or are fresh for 2015. I hope all you crafty Alt:Mag'ers have a Merry Christmas, and may your new year be even brighter!

Carly Rae Jepsen - Last Christmas

You might have heard before if you read the guilty pleasures playlist I put together, but for those who don't know I am a big Carly Rae Jepsen fan, and I'm not even embarrassed to admit this. This means that I non-ironically love this new version of the Wham! classic, 'Last Christmas' that she put out recently. I am particularly a fan of this new kinda-80s-sounding production style that she's been keeping to since the release of her latest album. If you wanted one of your favourite Christmas classics served up again with an extra coating of sugar, then this is the version for you. I still favour the Jimmy Eat World version, but this one is definitely a strong competitor!

Jarrod Alonge - 12 Days of a Pop Punk Christmas

Guess what you guys! They released a much anticipated (for me anyway) sequel to the Punk Goes Christmas compilation, one of their recent compilations that I actually really enjoyed! Oh no wait, they are just re-releasing it as a  'deluxe' version with only 4 new tracks. Bah humbug. Anyway, here's a comedy spin on a classic Christmas song from very funny YouTube dude Jarrod Alonge where he references many clichés associated with the pop punk genre and its community of fans. It's all in good fun though, after all, it's evidence that you really love and are comfortable loving something when you can truly make fun of it.

The Great Heights Band - Twisted Christmas

I discovered this song -as well as this band- through a four track Christmas EP they did with Carousel Kings. Three of the songs weren't anything mind blowing but I felt that this one really stood above the rest. Who is this band? Maybe it's time to do some research and see what the rest of their discography is like. For now though, I'll just enjoy this catchy pop punk track, complete with lyrical content about Christmas bitterness that doesn't quite match the cheerful bouncy backing track. 

Hawk Nelson - Hark the Herald Angels Sing / O Come All Ye Faithful

This medley isn't a new song for 2015, but perhaps a fresh take on two Christmas classics that you may not have heard done in quite this way before. I don't know too much about Hawk Nelson but they did release a pretty rad (although rather short) Christmas EP back in 2011, with this track as the opener. I chose this medley due to its effective use of contrast. Hark The Herald Angels Sing is ridden with punk angst, before leading into O Come All Ye Faithful which brings the track to a very warm and tender finish.

 
Dropkick Murphys - The Season's Upon Us

I love Boston-based Celtic punk rock band Dropkick Murphys, although my girlfriend thinks they sound like a bunch of drunk guys shouting. Funny part is, she's basically correct. Anyhow here's another Christmas jam (that I totally missed) for all you December cynics that is pretty much relatable to every single one of us who got stuck with a totally crazy/awkward (delete as appropriate) family. 

That's all I can come up with this year! Hopefully there's a few ace tracks here to keep you rocking/bopping all the way until Christmas day! It's also good that I managed to get this article out half way through December as opposed to last year when I threw it together on Christmas Eve, meaning that nobody probably wanted to listen to Christmas songs by that point. Anyway, what are your favourite Christmas songs? Any fresh songs for 2015 that I missed? Sound off in the comment section below or on our Facebook and Twitter pages!