Christmas Mixtape 2012

‘Tis the season everyone! With Christmas just around the corner, we’ve programmed a very special playlist of some new holiday jams including The xx and Los Campesinos as well as some older cuts  from The Flaming Lips and Daniel Johnston. Topped off with some absolute festive classics from the ’60s, this is the perfect holiday playlist to get you ready for that very special time of year. Enjoy and season’s greetings!

The xx – Last Christmas (Wham! cover)
The British three-piece performed this cover of Wham!’s classic Christmas tune earlier in the week and already it’s bound to become a modern classic. The threesome who are known for their moody, sentimental tracks, bring a darker edge to this pop tune.  With Jamie xx and Romy Madley Croft sharing vocals, the live duet is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Los Campesinos! – Trigger A Flame In Her Heart
The indie-pop seven-piece released a brand new track for the 2012 festive season and while it’s not exactly a classic Christmas ditty, it’s still one that deserves a place in this special holiday mix.

Daniel Johnston – Rock Around The Christmas Tree
The king (or perhaps more appropriately, sweet prince) of true sentiment released a Christmas record in 1988 which featured one of his most famous hits ‘Casper The Friendly Ghost’. While this particular jangle didn’t make the cut, it’s still a great reminder of what the holidays are all about.

Flaming Lips – A Change At Christmas (Say It Isn’t So)
Like the band themselves, this tune is anything but conventional, but like most of their catalogue, bound to be a modern classic.

Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
It just couldn’t be Christmas without a Phil Spector tune! Taken from the seminal album A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector, the track tell the story of longing during the colder months of the year. Employing Spector’s classic Wall Of Sound, the track just reeks of holiday misery.

She & Him – The Christmas Waltz
Taken from the duo’s adorably twee 2011 Christmas record, this classic holiday song made famous by Frank Sinatra, is given a great  spin with the help of clumsy pianos, Zooey Deschanel’s retro vocals  and M.Ward’s analogue production.

Woods – Christmas Time Is Here
The New York-based band bring some much needed psychedelic- folk to December’s festivities.The group are touring the country in  mid-January and maybe if we ask nicely enough they’ll oblige and give us a post-festive-season live rendition.

The Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick
Not much makes for happier holiday times than some amazing vocal harmonies, a dash of nostalgia, and a unique interpretation of ol’ Kris Kringle. Taken from one of the group’s many Christas records, the iconic band are still known to play this ditty live.

Sufjan Stevens  – That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!
Nothing says Christmastime quite like a misery and a banjo. Stevens has a great affinity for the holidays having released more Christmas LPs than studio ones. With airy vocals and some very pretty harmonies, this track has the power to both uplift and depress.