Christmas A Go Go!

Christmas isn't Christmas without you, Kristian Noel Pedersen. This one is already his sixteenth (!) in a row and the thrilling conclusion to the Saul McCartney Trilogy. It tells this odd story and musically it pushes just the right Christmas baubles without becoming too Christmassy. Basically it's just really good modern alternative indiepop with some retro vibes, packed in a kinda Christmas concept album that should be heard by anyone, not only Christmas adepts. It's also an album that you don't do justice to by just listening to individual tracks. Take it from the start, one by one, in all its glory and enjoy Saul's latest feat, because this is another provisional highlight in KNP's oeuvre. And to think that we already had an eye on him last month too!  And sure, we're certainly not Rolling Stone or Creem Magazine , but we do recognize a darn good Christmas album. And what's in a name after all? So enjoy, here at Christmas A What What , this brand ...

The 14th (!) Christmas release by Kristian Noel Pedersen, and the Canadian singer/songwriter certainly does not disappoint (he never does). This EP features four songs, of which this midtempo gem is a surefire Xmas Mix Fave. Songs About Christmas (AKKCXIII) by Kristian Noel Pedersen

Happy 74th birthday mr Tom Waits, writer of a gorgeous is-it-a-Christmas-song-or-not-who-cares song, 'Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis', arguably the greatest song ever to mention Little Anthony & the Imperials. We posted cover versions earlier , including the rilly cool ones by Neko Case, Magnapop and Kinky Friedman. I think Tom Waits covers are best when sung by women; the lyrics shine, nobody tries to imitate anyone. I've scanned the usual sources and came up with this VERY good cover ( video ), by Carrie Meyers and the Proper Way. Her voice is trained, but she adds that right little gritty edge, love that electric piano: Ain't No Good Thing Ever Dies by Carrie Myers + The Proper Way Also very good, but translated to 'Valentine's Day' in German: In Hebrew: In Italian: The oddest cover version is an instrumental, by our friend Kristian Noel Pedersen: A Kristian Kinda Christmas II - 2010 by Kristian Noel Pedersen Version in...

What we kept from this Bandcamp Friday/major Christmas release day: Of course, the Godzilla vs. Kong of Christmas music, the team up of team ups, Santa vs Claus, The Clash of the Christmas Commonwealth: in the left corner, representing Canada, mr Kristian Noel Pedersen ! SIXTEEN Christmas albums so far, all essential as tinsel. And in the right corner, aka The Sad Bard of Birmingham, it's mr Duncan Baird, the one we call Winterval ! Bullshit & Gift Wrapping by Kristian Noel Pedersen Do listen to the rest of this fabulous, cosy and rockin' album! The only one challenging Kristian as producer of A LOT of Christmas albums is Make Like Monkeys, and yes: he delivered yet another power pop stunner: Make Like Christmas by Make Like Monkeys Indie bedroom pop from Los Angeles, and as wobbly as the guy telling the story in the song, but a solid cracker nonetheless: This Christmas Will Run on Its Own / I Like You, Doug by Country Aldente Turns out we DID need an foul-mo...

Tom Helsen, the Belgian singer-songwriter with probably the most emotional singing voice of the Lowlands, made a Christmas song. It's a duet, and it's just lovely. Tom Helsen & Janne Blommaert sang this duet earlier. On December 9, the new Kristian Noel Pedersen Christmas album comes out. It's a concept album, all songs are about the career of one Saul McCartney. It's 'a Christmas-themed concept album through the eyes of Saul McCartney, an alternate-universe pop star from the late ‘60s, who is boldly venturing out to fashion a new solo career.' This is the first single: Saul McCartney's Magical Holiday Season (AKKCXIV) by Kristian Noel Pedersen A highlight on a so-so compilation with mostly covers, this version of alt Xmas classic Space Christmas by Allo Darlin : Holiday Mix Vol. 12 by Good Mourning From 1980, this year on Bandcamp, this great track from Boston rock band The Stompers. What a gem! All I Want For Christmas Is A Rock N' Roll ...

Making a list is SO Christmas, that's why I round up of all the bestest tracks every season (according to me). I left out the covers, I tried to pick only songs that were released this year. There is a Spotify playlist HERE with over 35 songs. No trend really stood out this year, apart from the Sad Girl Xmas songs that just kept on coming. There were French tracks, punk anthems, alt rock gems, Dutchies getting involved, covers, electronics, reworks, KNP released an album, so did THE TOOTH. In fact, A LOT to enjoy, really. Here are some of the highlights of 2025: * The bestest of the best is King Hüsky's December95 . Already wrote a post about that song, that Jim/Christmas Underground posted first . And every time I played it, it just got better. It's the melody, it's the structure, it's the solo (very much the solo), the nostalgia in the lyrics, the voices, the sped up ending. It just stays interesting, ticks all the right boxes. It's good. Very goo...

Our Canadian Christmas cannon, Kristian Noel Pedersen , just released two song off of his Kenny & Dolly-Christmas album tribute. He writes: "While the album of originals is still in progress, I wanted to put this little thing out in the world. Last fall, I teamed up with my bandmates, Michael McDonnell and Rob and Andrew Currie (The Currie Brothers) to record a cover album of my wife Mel's favourite Christmas album, Once Upon a Christmas by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton. I've always been a bit turned off by the 80s production, and wanted to reimagine the album as a fast paced, country album. Admittedly, it gets a little wild at times, but all in all, I'm so happy with how it turned out. This one won't be available on streaming. However, I'm hoping to do a small physical release run. I hope y'all enjoy!” If the spirit of this duet is an indication of the rest of the album, 't is gonna be a must-have: Once Upon a Christmas by Kristian Noel Ped...

(illustration by Petr Valek ) There are anti-Christmas songs, with lyrics that absolutely trash the trees & the tinsel. And there are songs that are named 'I Hate Christmas', but are about broken hearts or bad luck. And for this post, on Christmas Day, we focus on the latter. Trigger was a remark by The Heck-singer Henri, during a radio interview last Saturday , that got me thinking. When asked why The Heck made a (very LOUD) song called Bad Christmas , Henri said that it was his deep desire to make an anti-Christmas song. Laughter ensued. But he specified it: 'Sometimes, you just need a break on the 24th. Our song takes just over a minute, and it will get you through the day'. It's loosely translated, but this is the message. Henri's most favorite Christmas song is Reigning Sounds divorce drama If Christmas Can't Bring You Home , which tells you everything. So: Are anti-Christmas songs at heart pro-Christmas songs? They're protesting agaist ...

'Doesn't Feel Like Christmas' is very sweet, sad song by Lily Williams , released a few days ago. When I heard it (thanks to Hip Christmas ) I thought: I KNOW this! Heard this one before. Turned out, I did, because I spotted it on Soundcloud earlier on. Anyhoo, before that sank in, I was furiously googlin' the title, and a lotta songs came up. Here's a pick of old & new(er) songs that DO feel like Christmas, but claim they don't. Because you/he/she isn't here/there. Most songs are tender, have a pop feel and draw inspiration from folk and Americana. This is just a selection, there are a lot more songs with this title (there's only one that DOES feel like Christmas , btw). Left out Rob Thomas, Stephanie Mills and Claire Bea (tho that last one is beauty) Toad the Wet Sprocket, 90s indie'ish rock darlings, released this solid song ten years ago: It Doesn't Feel Like Christmas by Toad the Wet Sprocket Also charming & sweet, this C...

Short notes on songs of note: Christmas = compilation time! From 'Lost Nog', a comp from Seattle label Small Batch, this fantastic power pop stormer by Graham Winchester (from 2024, but still): Lost Nog: A Small Batch Holiday Compilation Volume 6 by Graham Winchester From the yearly Polaroid Memory compilation, this LOUD rock song that namechecks some big stars, but is about 'the anarchist conspiracy theory that Pyotr Kropotkin might be related to Santa Claus': A polaroid for Christmas 2025 by e.p. nap feat. melody almroth Polaroid Memory features a strong song by our friend Kristian Noel Pedersen , and so does this Canadian comp. Also on there, probably the first xmas song about the 6-7 hype. Highly charming, by Robots! Everywhere!! and his daughter: Home for the Holidazed: An Eternal Bummer Christmas Volume 6 by Robots! Everywhere!! Dutch comedian Roel C. Verburg wrote a song (two years ago) from the perspective of Joseph, feeling superfluous on the day...

IT'S HERE! It gives us great pleasure to present the sixth edition of Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada, our seasonal compilation, which, as ever is given in the hope that it will provide an antidote to hearing the same old Christmas songs year after year, while at the same time celebrating some of our favourite Canadian artists. ( LINK ) Favourites (so far): Michael Feuerstack, Kristian Noel Pedersen, Jim Guthrie, Chic Gamine, Machu Picchu, Kim Gray

Reindeer Tribe is a staple in the wonderful world of damn fine Christmas music. Up there with greats like Kristian Noel Pedersen , Make Like Monkeys , Non-Traditionals , Vista Blue . The ones you can count on, safe bets. This Californian bunch of friends & musicians just released their 13th (!) seasonal offering. Most of those albums had an Americana influence: country, blues, bluegrass, soul. They write their own songs, and sprinkle some albums with covers. This year, they have a new, quite unexpected (for me, that is) approach: new wave. The basslines in the appropriatly titled 'Cold' are straight from a Martin Hannett-produced album on Factory Records: Cheer Up Darlin', It's Christmas by Reindeer Tribe The first track seems influenced by the soundtrack for John Hughes' 80s highschool movies (16 Candles, Pretty in Pink, etc): Cheer Up Darlin', It's Christmas by Reindeer Tribe The RT explain themselves: Each year we have a theme of sorts, and th...

An update of memorable, mentionable and/or magnificent Christmas releases: The Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada compilation is usually a highlight this Xmas music season, and 'tis so this year. It's got (usually) Kristian Noel Pederson on it, who was in darn fine form this year, it has The Burning Hell (sounds like black metal, is in fact a indie rock band in darn fine form too) and this short, sublime song. It's Name Your Price on Bandcamp. Read more HERE . Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada XIV by Michael C Duguay Seattle's Ben Zaidi isn't particularly joyous about the season: Christmas tree, why did they take you out the woods/And put you here, dying in front of us , he sings, hushed, with hushed music too. If your Xmas Mix still needs that extra depressed push (it's a good song!): I Don’t Feel Like Going Home for Christmas. by Ben Zaidi Reindeer Tribe is a staple on this blog. Last year's album had a northern soul-ish feeling, this year the 16 songs have a distinct country to...

Duncan Baird , the mastermind behind the Christmas music force that is Winterval , wrote a guestblog on Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime. Because CAGG asked him to. Let's settle this once and for all: Every Christmas I see people on social media excitedly proclaiming that Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" is the WORST CHRISTMAS SONG EVER . I'm here to tell you that they're wrong . It's not even the worst Christmas song on the original 7" single - that accolade goes to the b-side " Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reggae " which is perhaps not as bad as you're imagining but still pretty awful. In a world where Michael Bublé and " Cheeky Christma s" exist, why does "Wonderful Christmastime" get singled out as the worst example of holiday music? Is it the lyrics? Yeah, they're dumb. I love interesting Christmas songs, unusual Christmas songs, sad Christmas songs... but when I'm in the pub on C...

As you know, we're keeping a list ( HERE , and HERE ) of songs that underline that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Or are just about the movie, the characters, or just a line. Another modern day classic Christmas movie, is the Home Alone series (well, #1 and #2 are). McAuley Culkin, Joe Pesci, Donald Trump even, the 'Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal'-line, you've seen 'm. Probably more than once. This week I bumped into this track, from a nice Australian Christmas EP. Basically the story of the first movie, retold as a folksong: SLEIGH 2 by Alana Jagt So, I looked for, and found of course, more songs with a Home Alone-theme. Here are some notable examples. If you know more, please holler in the comments. Let's stay with the Kevin MacAllister-character. From Austin, Texas, the Basketball Shorts, punking up the story of a guy being 'home alone' and fighting 'them' on his own: Hot and Ready by Basketball Shorts Kevin McAllister looking ...

The compilation we wait for every year, The Line of Best Fit's Ho! Ho! Ho! Canada . Northern artists who get in the Xmas spirit, and record (mostly) exclusive songs for a free downloadable comp. A few artists we know, like Kristian Noel Pedersen, Girlfriend Material and PIQSIQ, but most of the artists are new to us (me, to be more precise). This track by Nick Faye and Meghan Nash struck me as brilliant: About this song: "Two Saskatchewan favourites get together for a seasonal tale of life on the road. Both Faye and Nash have had busy years, with Faye fitting in some festival shows as well as a visit to Zandari festival in South Korea and Nash, off the back of a Juno nomination for Contemporary Roots album of the year for Seeker, toured across Canada and Europe. The two even played together in Tallinn, Estonia, quite some way from there Prairie home.. Both have now returned home to work on new records. As for the song itself, Faye explains: “The song explores a sad sense...