HAPPY XMAS: sia - santa's coming for us

sia - santa's coming for us
with 10 new xmas songs to get us in the festive spirit, sia kicks off her 'everyday is christmas' album with this jolly 1st single and celeb-studded affair featuring kristen bell, her husband dax shepard, j.b. smooth (curb your enthusiasm) as santa, henry winkler & susan lucci as the parents, plus sophia lillis (it), wyatt oleff (it), and caleb mclaughlin (stranger things) as the children. don't fight it people... xmas is around the corner!

LIVE PERFORMANCE: jennifer nettles & idina menzel - let it go (live @ cma country christmas special)

jennifer nettles & idina menzel - let it go (live @ cma country christmas special)
what happens when you get two vocal powerhouses together to sing one of the biggest disney songs of the decade, surprisingly pure harmony!

XMAS MIX 2013: boyzone - the hour before christmas

boyzone - the hour before christmas
so um... downer christmas thanks to the 20th anniversary reunion of this boyband.. cue the sound of no one caring (though ronan keating sure has aged well).

XMAS MIX 2013: kate nash - i hate you this christmas

kate nash - i hate you this christmas
[UPDATE: now with a brand spanking new video!] the rocked out indie gal kate nash releases an EP of christmas tunes and it's definitely not a collection of xmas cheer. feel like an antithesis to the holiday spirit, this is your anthem!

XMAS MIX 2013: lily allen - somewhere only we know

lily allen - somewhere only we know
chosen as this years official theme song to the john lewis xmas campaign, lily allen covers the classic keane song and gets a wonderful visual accompaniment from this animated storyline. le sigh...

XMAS MIX 2013: sharon jones & the dap kings - ain't no chimneys in the projects

sharon jones & the dap kings - ain't no chimneys in the projects
nothing like bringing some serious reality to the xmas spirit retro soul style!

XMAS MIX 2013: all time low - fools holiday

all time low - fools holiday
for a punk pop outfit, these boys have actually crafted a pretty decent xmas tune for the season! taken off the punk goes christmas compilation, this is one festive track that i wouldn't mind coming back to this season.

XMAS MIX 2013: rizzle kicks - happy that you're here (christmas song)

rizzle kicks - happy that you're here (christmas song)
trying to take a shot at the UK xmas #1, hip hop duo vie for the top spot with this drunken jazzy hip hop number. not sure if it has the chops, but it's a wacky alternative to your usual fare.

XMAS MIX 2013: kelly clarkson, trisha yearwood & reba mcentire - silent night

kelly clarkson, trisha yearwood & reba mcentire - silent night
taken off her wonderful 'cautionary christmas music tale' special last week, this lovely performance was a definite highlight from the evening (especially when they do an acapella three part harmony that just kicks it). awesome!

XMAS MIX 2013: robbie williams - dream a little dream

robbie williams - dream a little dream
what a cheeseball!

XMAS MIX 2013: carly rae jepson - mittens ('rewind' / 'not in love' by nanalew - short film)

carly rae jepson - mittens ('rewind' / 'not in love' by nanalew - short film)
a fan of the canadian filmmaker shawna howson (aka nanalew) has mashed together two of her shorts with the carly rae jepson song as it's soundtrack. the end result works wonderfully and really should be released officially this way. hey in the xmas spirit, everyone wins!

XMAS MIX 2013: the killers feat dawes - christmas in la

the killers feat dawes - christmas in la
welcome to your downer LA xmas song of the season. with the help of owen wilson and harry dean stanton, they show us that it sucks to be there this time of year!

XMAS MIX 2013: leona lewis - one more sleep

leona lewis - one more sleep
oh the cheese!

XMAS MIX 2013: ariana grande - last christmas

ariana grande - last christmas
making some inoffensive changes to the wham! classic xmas song, ariana taps into the christmas market with this new release. can she do no wrong these days?

XMAS MIX 2013: marina and the diamonds - have yourself a merry little christmas

marina and the diamonds - have yourself a merry little christmas
what a lovely wistful version by marina. technically this was released last year, but barely anyone saw it, so i suggest a reboot and claim it for the 2013 mix instead!

XMAS MIX 2013: kelly clarkson - underneath the tree (live)

kelly clarkson - underneath the tree (live)
with thanksgiving out of the way, lets get right into the xmas spirit! been holding off on posting this catchy number for a few weeks and now it's the perfect weekend to do so! [UPDATE: check out this live performance of the lovely song from kelly's upcoming xmas special]

LETS GO VIRAL(XMAS STYLE!): jimmy fallon, mariah carey & the roots - all i want for christmas is you

jimmy fallon, mariah carey & the roots - all i want for christmas is you
yeah... kind of awesome... happy pre xmas yo!

HAPPY XMAS YOU A$$: dragonette - merry xmas (says your text message)

dragonette - merry xmas (says your text message)
you gotta give it up to dragonette for offering the best breakup f**k you song of the xmas season! love these guys!

MERRY SOMBER XMAS: tracey thorn - joy / in the cold cold night

offering a more somber approach to the holiday period, tracey thorn takes on the xmas album by doing cover versions and writing 2 new tracks for her latest collectoin 'tinsel and lights'. fans of tracey will be pleased to know that everything but the girl partner ben watt performs on 2 tracks (one of which is 'joy'). so sit back and go to that quiet place with tracey as she gives you a taste of a more somber xmas.

tracey thorn - joy


tracey thorn - in the cold cold night (jack white cover)

want more? check out the making of this album below:

WONGIE XMAS: the raveonettes - the christmas song

the raveonettes - the christmas song
[though the raveonettes recorded this xmas track back in 2001, they are finally officially releasing the song this year. loving the wall of sound!]