Christmas A Go Go!

Their albums may be a little uneven ( 'Are we human, or are we dancer?' , WTF?!), the annual Killers-Christmas singles NEVER disappoints. Alle seasonal tracks are put on one EP, including this new track: The Killers - The Cowboys' Christmas Ball (sorry, link works now)

All songs by The Hague-based Dutch band F start with an F. So here's First Noel:

Yes, I know the intro text of this blog assured you we'd stay clear of Band Aid, but although the chords and the words are the same, this is not so much a cover as it is a protest. In the words of Fucked Up's singer Damian: There's a kind of cavalier colonialism to the original, like the West has to go in and help this poor Third World country. But the charities that we're trying to help are exactly a product of this colonial history. People who have been subjugated and oppressed for so many years are going missing. So there's an irony to using the song. The lyrics are tasteless enough as it is. One way or the other, this is an interesting rendition. Not only do we hear the gritty but brilliantly layered post-punk we already knew Fucked Up could deliver so well, as a bonus we also get to enjoy crowd pleasers Andrew W.K. , Bob Mould , David Cross , Ezra Koenig , GZA , Kevin Drew , Kyp Malone , Tegan and Sara and Yo La Tengo . Want the mp3? Download via Media...

Crawl up with me on this bear rug baby. I'll poke up the fire. Ohhh, you look soooo good in your new red see-through teddy, red stockings and garters. Sip some of that wine, while I put on some music. Silky smooth, of course, just like your legs, hehehe. Teddy Pendergrass, of course. Teddy never lets me down. This is from his 1998 Christmas album. It always makes me a little sad when I hear him sing. I need to be comforted baby. Real hard. Hehehe. Teddy Pendergrass - I won't have Christmas

Oh, you think this was bad? Read on HERE

Mr Keep Calm wrote a whole album of original, new Christmassongs. We like the Horse with no name-shuffle of 'Christmas shop' a lot. Preview it on his bandcamp page below. The Christmas Album by Mr Keep Calm

Here 's a great Christmas-themed spotify playlist compiled by House of Soul.

Rue Royale (husband and wife Brookln and Ruth) recorded three Christmas classics for a free EP a while ago, that's still up for FREE download! Christmas EP by Rue Royale

"Jesus was born, hallelujah hallo. Jesus was born in a little box full of hay." Flemish comedian Urbanus caused quite a stir when he released this song in 1979. It was considered blasphemy because of lines like " The holy spirit hung shining on the ceiling, in blue jumpsuit and his purple tie. Joseph said 'Look, that's my boy'. Just look at his nose, it's just like mine!" Urbanus - Bakske vol met stro EXTRA: Very pretty coverversion: Nathalie Delcroix - Bakske vol met stro

With a bandname like that, you can't really go wrong. Their Gnarley XXXMas is a hot twangin' surfguitar freakout. And LOUD: E.C / T.M.T Split CD by These Magnificent Tapeworms

The excellent Stubby already wrote about this BRILLIANT take on one of the sexiest Christmas songs ever written . With great hair. But I had to post about it too. First off, the video is great. So's the hair. The lyrics are wonderful: 'Santa Brother, slip a Gucci suit 'neath the tree, for me, so I can get all the girls". And did I mention the hairdo? More Follette on Soundcloud James Follette - Santa Brother

Remember Vanessa ? From A Thousand Miles , and that Counting Crows-duet ? Well, she recorded a Christmas-EP. More like a Holiday or Seasonal EP, 'cause it features an acoustic version of A Thousand Miles, a rerun of Hear the Bells (a song that came out earlier this year) and a rendition of two Christmas-y tracks: John Lennon's Happy X-Mas and Do You Hear What I Hear. That latter version is the best, I think. Vanessa Carlton - Do You Hear What I Hear

'Lindsey Lohan meets Bad Santa? Nah, more like Scrooge with a cute wink!' Christmas Alone by The Black Swans featuring Eve Searls

Very sweet track by honey-voiced Ash Reiter, free download on Bandcamp: Christmas In California by Ash Reiter

Of course, the greatest black Santa of all time is James Brown, who made several terrific funky Christmas songs (compiled on this great album ). This morning, I was randomly searching on 'Black Santa' and a few great songs turned up. The slow, deep and hard track by Melvins , for instance. An even louder track by The Red Chord . An instrumental by Kid Congo Powers, some hiphop tracks, some comedy . And this 2009 released, high-octane rock'n roll song by King Salami & the Cumberland 3 . Who called their single (featuring a cover of Bob Seger's Sock it to me Santa) X-Mas a Go Go. So there. XMAS A Go Go by King Salami and the Cumberland 3

American 'faux-French' band Nous Non Plus made a name with ironic, sexy songs in a French accent. Now they made an unironic, very sweet charity Christmas single. For every CD shipped, Nous Non Plus will donate $1 to Operation Homefront, providing emergency financial and other assistance to the families of US service members. Go HERE

Dutch singer Marike Jager brings us this lovely cover of "Frosty The Snowman" and made the no-budget video that accompanies the song herself with her band. Fooling around with some cardboard, white paint, black paper, glue and cotton wool. Amazing what no money and lots of wine and chorizo can do.

It's a little early to call the best new Christmas track, but this track by Rotterdam-based, 60s influenced heroes The Kik is certainly in the Top 5 this year. No doubt. It's nostalgic, it R-O-C-K-S, it has a great melody, love those saxes, it's everything you want a happy Christmassong to be. The Kik - A Christmas song for you

I guess it was Nathalie Cole who started the craze of duetting with dead partners (in her case her dad, Nat 'King' Cole). The result is usually godawful, and so is the case with Christmas Duets, a compilation featuring world renowned stars like Mel Torme, Supremes and Nina Simone singing together with an odd bunch of Dutch artists - jazzartists, popsingers and, er, Gerard Joling . Listen to snippets here , don't say I didn't warn you. The sole track that's quite okay is the Wouter Hamel-Nina Simone duet. Nina Simone & Wouter Hamel - I am blessed

FANTASTIC track by Super Furry Animals-singer Gruff Rhys. Love the EP-cover too. Go HERE or HERE

A compilation of English folkpunkhero Frank Turner was just released, featuring a live-rendition ( watch ) of the Wham!-hit Last Christmas. Yes, I know we say in the header 'you won't see Last Christmas on this blog', but this is a great version. A bit far away, but still. Frank Turner - Last Christmas

Great sad-sounding Christmas-track by Leeds-based indie-band Last Night's TV. Is it me, or is this a song about celebrating Christmas between the walking dead? No Tinsel On The Town Hall by Last Night's TV

Nicole Atkins made one of the bestest albums of 2011, her Mondo Amore album is heartwrenching, emotional, soulful, catchy but above all BRILLIANT. Now, the gorgeous Jersey gal released a new Christmas-single. We love her. A lot. Nicole Atkins - Little Drummer Boy

We love fluffy, sweet little Christmas tunes here at Christmas A Go Go!, but when we had our powdersugarfix, we do enjoy a healthy cup of profanity. Here's a mix of 25 old and fairly recent foulmouthed seasonal songs. Remember to wash up afterwards. Download from HERE . A slightly adapted version of this mix is also on Spotify 1. Durwood Douche - The Christmas Gift (Just Another Christmas Blowjob). Released at the end the 90s as part of a fake-40s bigband album, this is probably one of the sexiest x-mas songs ever. 2. Marina V - Christmas is gonna suck without you. Gorgeous flame-haired singer-songwriter keeps it rather decent. Still, I wonder what's going to happen when the 'you' in the song comes home. 3. Denis Leary - Merry Fucking Christmas. American stand-up comedian/actor sings a fingerpoppin' jolly song with lots and lots of profanity. 4. Eazy E - Merry Muthafuckin' Christmas. Former NWA-rapper Eazy-E and his merry band of foulmouthed rappers tell the...

The idea is simple: ask a bunch of people to record a video of them singing just one note and edit all these notes together to form the melody of any given song. Of course a project like that needs a fance name: SuperNote. According to these rules a SuperNote is "a vocal note. It is NOT a growl, grunt, or gargle-ly sound like the girl from Grudge made. That kind of thing might be called a “glottal” sound. A glottal sound isn’t musical in nature, it’s more percussive. If your note flirts with this low grunting sound, you will likely be disqualified." So there you have it, the SuperNote version of Jingle Bells:

Lyle Lovett is one of the few alt.country-stars who succesfully blends irony, melancholy and uncut anger in his songs. Thanks to the mighty Stubby (the best Christmasblog out there), I know now that Lyle recorded a few seasonal songs. Two covers with the lovely Kat Edmondson, one original. In which he sings about an encounter with 'a hooker at the grocery store', the 'girl with the holiday smile.' Stubby also mentioned another Christmas(-y) song Lovett recorded way back in the 90s, the absolutely beautiful (yet unsettling, but hey, it's Lyle) Christmas Morning.

Here's a cover of 1970s close harmony folk-rock bank Beau Dommage's '23 décembre' played by the brother of modern rocker Éric Lapointe (aka 'the brother of') Hugo Lapointe, trying hard to really break into the business. You can click here to hear the original version with lyrics. Typical Québec words to watch out for are: - frette (froid, slang) = cold - tuque = a wool cap - ti-cul = an affectionate name for a small child (= little bum) - sans-dessein, a very 1970s word for 'dumbass'. In the end, the boy in the story wants a new hockey stick for Christmas because he sold his for a picture of a naked girl with her back to the camera hiding her bum with her hands. He calls himself a 'sans-dessein'. Sex and religion, a great Québec tradition. The production added some traditional Québec foot tapping, usually done by the fiddler, sitting down on a chair and basically tap dancing on a slanted board at their feet.

White Christmas, sung by the stunning talent that's Beatrice Martin aka Coeur de Pirate. With the orchestra of Michel Legrand backing her up. C'est magnifique! Coeur de Pirate + Michel Legrand - Noël blanc

Vancouver-based record label Light Organ released a Christmas compilation featuring all Canadian artists, who play either hitparade-pop (Frederick), folky pop (Johnny Payne) or sultry electronica (Adaline). One of my favourite tracks is by fragile fuzzster (think Beach House, Best Coast) Jody Glenham. Jody Glenham - Christmas list (Fa fa fa)

'Don't be a bitch or you won't get stuff for Christmas'. True that! Punkrockabilly band 7 Shot Screamers put this advice to music. It was released in 2007, but with truths like that, it never goes out of style. Listen on their Bandcamp-page: Don't Be a Bitch (Or You Won't Get Stuff for Christmas) by 7 Shot Screamers Out next week is this death metal rework of Jingle Bells by It's a Death Metal Christmas . This band is 'taking Christ back of out Xmas since 2003'. Listen: Jingle Bells by It's a Death Metal Xmas

If you are among those who believe Christmas tunes are best expressed through folk music, you may want to check out For Folk's Sake It's Christmas 2011 compilation. 'In the bleak midwinter' (by Paper Aeroplanes ) and 'Love in a cold climate' (by Fiona Bevan ) definitely brought me in the right mood. Released on November 28th, but you can already listen to all the songs on For Folk's Sake's Bandcamp page . The album is being sold to raise money for the Integrated Cancer Centre . That's the spirit. (Artwork by Amber Cassidy )

Rotten Xmas is by far the LOUDEST christmasblog out there. Nice Guy Eddie posts screaming guitar classics by bands like Lazy Cowgirls, Shonen Knife, Crass and (below) FEAR. Go here to hear more.

Check out more great songs here .

'This is Christmas' is a festive album Brit singer Emmy the Great wrote with Ash-frontman Tim Wheeler. It's released next week (you can check it on Spotify ), it features mostly original songs. You can pick up Christmas Day (I wish I was surfing) on their Facebook . In 2002, Emmy recorded this 1973 John Prine cover with Lightspeed Champion. Very fragile, very cool.

Every time Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward team up as dynamic popduo She & Him they produce a great album. Their much anticipated third album contains 12 holiday classics. I haven't heard the entire album yet, but the first two songs are really great: She & Him - The Christmas Waltz ( A Very She & Him Christmas ) She & Him - The Christmas Waltz by MergeRecords She & Him - Christmas Day by Double Six

Ah, the Scots. Very few people in the world can say the word 'snow' as charming as they do. So when a Scottish band called The Plimptons contacts this blog about their FREE Christmas songs giveaway, we're all ears. Listen to their Madness/Slade/Phil Spector influenced songs HERE , and download for gratis!

One of the first people to recognise the power of sped-up vocals was Ross Bagdasarian, who in 1957 bought a taperecorder from his last money, and created Witch Doctor , released under the stage name David Seville. A number one hit in 1958. An encounter with a small chipmunk in Yosemite Park launched the idea of singing rodents. To cut a long story short: Alvin & the Chipmunks became a huge success, that started with a Christmas-song ( this one ). Decades later, the Royce Godrich All-stars followed Bagdasarians lead for a funny Christmas song about Santa's little helpers. Or, in their own words: 'Finally - a song that gives some credit to the little guys that do all the dirty work for the big guy.' Royce Godrich All-stars - Elves are people too

Norwegian alt-folk band Sunturns made a very pretty Christmassong. Available December 1st, but you can listen to it on their Bandcamp page already. Christmas I & II by Sunturns Ooooh and this is such a sweet song. Wishes by The Bird And The Bee

This is a great album. Starting with the artwork I had a feeling I was into something good. It's a retro jazz type feel with twist of lounge. All free from Stella Artois. Let's raise a Stella and toast them for their gift. Songs are: Side A Deck The Halls Nutcracker March Winter Wonderland Jingle Bells Side B Snowball Baby It's Cold Outside Let's Call It Quits Auld Lang Syne A few of the songs are limited to the first 500,000 downloads. Don't miss out. Get it here .

One of the bestest Christmasalbums of recent date was 2008's Des pas dans la neige by Canadian songstress Maryse Letarte . Only original tracks, very atmospherical, solid songs. Her album is re-released with a French bonus track, a translation of Boom Boom (originally sung in English) (it's a Christmassong, trust me). Maryse Letarte - Boom Boom (French version)

Bluesguitarist Keb'Mo made a Christmas-EP. Like his take on blues, it's friendly, easy-going and, well, a tad boring. But this original track, with NOLA-flavours, is very, very pleasant. Keb'Mo - Jingle Bell Jamboree

One of the weirdest, yet funniest Christmassongs ever is Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, by Elmo & Patsy . For the Rock by the Sea-album, Dirty Shannon did a very good cover. Check out the full album here . A Rock By The Sea Christmas :: Volume Two by Dirty Shannon

Actor, comedian and R&B musician Rudy Ray Moore is responsible for the funniest line in a christmas song EVER. "You know, if the pilgrims, when they landed on Plymouth Rock, would have shot a wildcat instead of a turkey, baby, we would be eatin' pussy on Thanksgiving." Cracks me up everytime! Even when it doesn't have anything to do with Christmas. That's Rudy Ray Moore for you, any excuse to make a sexual remark is good enough. 'This ain't no white Christmas' is by no means a good album, but it is your typical Rudy Ray Moore record, sub-par R&B with funny sexual lyrics and a tacky, really tacky, album cover. Rudy Ray Moore - Eatin' Pussy

'Tired of holiday hype? Gritting your teeth until New Year's Eve? Erin McKeown is too. Filled with profanity, irreverance, and just plain bad behavior, "F*ck That!" is the antidote to all that annoying holiday spirit. It's the world's first anti-capitalist, pro-queer, suspicious of christmas-as-patriotism, sex-positive, not safe for work, multi-ethnic, radical leftist Anti-Holiday record. There is nothing redeeming about christmas in any of these 10 songs. Please note this album contains adult language and themes completely inappropriate for children. On purpose.'More? HERE Erin Mckeown - Santa is an asshole

Whenever Frank Sinatra sings, you see snowflakes falling, fireplaces burning and instant x-mas atmospheres. But the X-mas feeling is something universal, so I decided to bring you something completely different this time. X-mas is beautiful and dark at the same time. The one who can bring you both is the Romanian composer Tudor Gheorghe. Here are two wintersongs to celebrate the winter and especially x-mas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubzedkF_A3I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pASnNXApXzU I hope you all have a great time!

A wig, a white high hat and a KrraAAaaZeeeeee party. Seems like everybody's having a bit too much fun in this one. I especially like the chase that starts on 1:50 and ends with someone flying out the window. Dylan sure knows how to celebrate christmas.

If you're a punkrock-aficionado, you'll recognise the pun in 'Angry Snowmans', for it's a reference to Angry Samoans. This band of 'displaced, disgruntled Elves of the North Pole' play VERY LOUD seasonal reworks of punkrock classics. In 2009 they released an album with the brilliantly titled 'Somebody's gonna get their halls decked in'. This time , the titles aren't as funny, but the music sure is snotty. Take for instance their twist on FEAR's Living in the city : I Love Christmas In The City by Angry Snowmans

Ah yes, it's good to be back. And what better way to start the holiday season than with the sultry sounds of Polish singer Edyta Górniak. Edyta who, you may ask? Well, back in 1994 Edyta was the first Polish artist to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. Here's a few pics for you to watch while you listen to her rendition of Jingle Bells.

'How to throw a Christmas party' was by far the most original seasonal album released in Holland. The band Brown Feather Sparrow and friends teamed up again this year for an EP. Listen/buy/download here The Gospel According To A Sheep by How To Throw A Christmas Party

AAAAAAAAaaaaand we're back! With a bunch of new contributors, you'll get to know them in the next couple of weeks. A whole lot of new Christmas albums and tracks are released already, or about to be released. We're picking the cream from the crop, starting with a fantastic rumbling coverversion of Let it Snow by Dutch rockmeisters De Staat . This is from an album called So this is Christmas!, featuring only Dutch artists either covering Christmas-classics or doing original tracks. Find it here on Spotify. De Staat - Let it snow

No, this is NOT an ode to the Wham! song, it's a Christmas story submitted by Dan Hart to get you in the mood for the holidays. Enjoy! -- I was woken up at four thirty in the morning by a gleefully shrieking six year old. I wasn't even aware that there was a four thirty in the morning, until the drumstick bounced off my cranium and I was deafened by squeals of 'Preeeeeeeseeeeeeeeeeents!' I growled at my little sister through clenched teeth, telling her that if she didn't get back to bed, no, not in a minute, right now, I'd call Santa Claus back here and all of her 'preeeeeeeseeeeeeeeeeents' would be burning in a bin by breakfast. As dictated by Sod's law, I couldn't sleep after that, despite her positively statueseque display of feigned sleep. Resisting the urge to grab my lighter and make good on my sleepy threats, I hauled myself out of bed and went downstairs to make coffee. I opened the door to the kitchen and was promptly kicked in the crot...