Category: Albums

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Fairy Tales In Yoghourt “High on Christmas” (2022/2025)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp | Bandcamp (full EP)

Mark your calendars for December 10. This date commemorates Otis Redding’s passing — an artist who holds a special place in the Christmas canon thanks to his iconic 1968 performance of “Merry Christmas Baby,” as well as his influence on Will Sheff and Okkervil River’s indie classic “Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas Day.” December 10 is also the release date for Nantes, France’s Fairy Tales in Yoghourt’s upcoming Wish You a E.P. Christmas, which I am very, very intrigued to hear.

The first single from the EP has already been released, currently titled “High on Christmas.” I say currently because the song was originally called “Christmas, Inc.” when it appeared with different orchestration back in 2022. I loved the song/E.P. announcement on Facebook, which provided some of that background:

“The track was discreetly released in a different production a few years ago, the real ones know, and had received a buzz that I would call minimal. This time we hired an orchestra, so it’s going to be profitable.”

That orchestra is worth every penny! It gives the song a classic sheen that contrasts beautifully with the alt-pop, even psych-pop tendencies of the band. I can’t wait to hear the rest.

Of note: since beginning this post last night, Fairy Tales in Yoghourt have put the EP up for preorder, along with another preview track — the short and psychedelic “How Does Jesus Christ Do It? (Angels Reply).”

Bottom Line: This is sounding like a winner so far! Now… do I delay finalizing my Christmas mix simply to hear the rest of the E.P….

LISTEN

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The Memories – Of Christmas (2025)

A painting of a christmas tree and a gift, with red being the dominant color.

Gnar Tapes
Buy: Bandcamp

Would you like some lo-fi indie rock Christmas tunes? Well, have I got a record for you! My buddy Ned hipped me to the impending release of LA-based lo-fi stoner-pop outfit The Memories’ new Christmas record, Of Christmas, and it does not disappoint. From the Velvets-esque “What Do You Want for Christmas” and “Winter’s Joy” to the cheekily sexy “Egg Nog,” I’m finding a lot to like here.

There’s some goofy stuff too, such as the list-of-toys ramble in “Santa Bring Me Some Toys,” performed over some cool, muddy lo-fi beats, as well as some sped-up (and sometimes profane) covers of classics like “Silent Night,” “Joy to the World,” and “Deck the Halls.” This isn’t a record that’s going to make you feel all warm and fuzzy about the upcoming holiday season, but I think Of Christmas might be the record that exudes the most holiday fun — which is quite welcome in this grumpy blogger’s Christmas season.

Bottom Line: A great mix of solid originals and fun takes on classics, all wrapped in some lo-fi silliness. There’s a levity to this record that’s going to make you smile.

LISTEN

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UPCOMING: Sunturns – Live at Parkteatret EP (12/1/2025)

a band standing on stage bathed in red light.

Fika Recordings
Buy: Bandcamp

Ok. How deep do I go in the bio of Sunturns, a classic indie Christmas band? Do I explain how this Voltron of Christmas combines forces nearly every year to bless us with a new track, a vinyl record, or a live show (which, unless I win the lottery and quit my job, I’ll never attend – Dec 12 this year for folks near Oslo)? Well, if you are new here, click this link and read up.

Now that everyone else is reading the old posts, we can finally talk. Sunturns have a new Live EP, Live at Parkteatret, coming out on December 1! You’ve got four tracks off last year’s Christmas III and one from the classic debut, Christmas. Short, but solid. I always love hearing from Sunturns, and this little live postcard from them is a welcome addition to my holiday. It sounds pretty great, too.

Bottom Line: It’s Sunturns! If you know and love them, add this one to the collection – you won’t regret it. If not – dive in!

LISTEN

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Stoylov & Chloé Jara-Buto – biscuit (2024)

Fabrique de Noël
Buy: Bandcamp (NYOP)

In the past 24 hours, I’ve heard about three notable French-language releases. All are worth considering and may very well end up in front of your eyes here on Christmas Underground. However, they all gave me that urge to find out what the heck they were saying. That’s both a good and a bad thing—because when I know what a song is about, it can make me feel more secure in my opinion of it. However… what I love most is when I connect with the music in such a way that I don’t even need a translation.

Montreal’s Stoylov & Chloé Jara-Buto managed to slide into that latter category with their gorgeous 2024 EP, biscuit. I immediately knew I had to share this record with you all—no matter what they’re actually singing about—because this record is about a feeling. It’s loose, warm, and short. They left me wanting more, and honestly, they should always leave you wanting more.

Now, I did do a little translating—not of the lyrics, but of the write-up Stoylov posted on the Bandcamp album page. I found myself oddly emotional reading these two paragraphs, because Stoylov, like many of us here in the alternative Christmassphere, was transformed by the beauty that is Low’s Christmas. However, unlike me, Stoylov wasn’t compelled to start making underground Christmas mixes… he has genuine musical talent, so he found himself with the urge to make some Christmas music of his own. I’ve taken the liberty of posting the translation below:

Recently, while browsing Bandcamp, I stumbled upon Low’s Christmas album. The urge to release some holiday music was simply… irresistible. I decided to work on it, and being quite openly a huge fan of Chloé Jara-Buteau’s music, the idea of ​​joining forces came to me, an idea she enthusiastically shared. So, it was in the hustle and bustle of the famous Rouen studios in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve that we got to work.

I had a couple of demos lying dormant on my hard drive, demos saturated with glockenspiel and sleigh bells. They were useful for getting started. I’m not really used to having company in the embryonic stages of composition: I’m a bit chaotic, sloppy, and capricious. A real little prince. Besides, I’m constantly taking breaks to smoke outside, a really bad habit I’m having a hard time breaking. We still managed pretty well though: three songs and a cover of… Aphex Twin.

Bottom Line: The magic of Low, folks. As if we couldn’t owe them even more—they gave birth to my mix, this blog, and now this beautiful EP. Go forth, listen to biscuit, then pop on Low’s Christmas.

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Ronnie Martin “The Sound of Snowflakes” (2025)

Velvet Blue Music
Buy: Bandcamp

Ronnie Martin has been releasing electropop Christmas music since 2021, all of it featuring truly excellent graphic design. I appreciate that greatly! I’ve been sampling his latest offering, Evergreen Melodie, and find myself compelled to take note of this fantastic song, “The Sound of Snowflakes,” and these New Order/Depeche Mode vibes it is giving me. This pulsating feeling of Christmas nostalgia is truly overwhelming. Turn it up and dance like an idiot.

Bottom Line: Wonderful electropopness!

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UPCOMING: Polish Club – Christmas Stinks! (2025)

Self Released
Buy: Vinyl | Apple Music? | 7Digital (FLAC/MP3)?

Sydney, Australia’s Polish Club put out one of the best — and hardest to get — Christmas 7-inch singles I’ve ever had the pleasure of writing about when they dropped the excellent Xmas Single back in 2017. That thing is amazing! I still don’t have one… Hell, they’ve even got a New Year’s release worth checking out — “Countdown” (which I should really write about) — which was so fantastic that it closed out my 2020 Christmas mix, Christmas Storytelling.

So… when they teased the cover art on their Facebook page the other day, I pretty much freaked out. I found the site, saw the vinyl, tried to buy one, got rejected by geolocation — and here I stand. Not quite sure what to do. But they did respond to my comments… in due time, I’m assured.

Christmas Stinks! is being debuted on Facebook, with a new cover posted each day for 20 days (they’re on day two as of this post), leading up to two shows on December 20 and 21. There was even a write-up in Rolling Stone Australia yesterday — not sure why they didn’t debut it here! This site is massive!

I did love one quote from Novak that really sums up what they’re doing:

“I used to be somewhat of an edge-lord holiday hater, but I’ve grown to really appreciate how the holiday period affords us a sleep-in, a big belly, and some genuine quality time with people you perhaps should spend more time with,” Novak admits. “I’ve also learned that if you’re sick of Christmas carols and holiday tunes, the best way to get over that is to record your own rock’n’roll versions and embrace the Christmas chaos.”

I’m game, folks. I’ll be listening — hoping that one of these covers makes it onto my next mix — and that I can figure out a way for myself (and everyone else outside of Australia) to exchange money for goods and services.

Bottom Line: I’m listening…

LISTEN

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UPCOMING: Slow Xmas 5 (2025)

Bone Sound Inc Worldwide/Blank Check Podcast/Mutant
Buy: Vinyl | Bandcamp

Coming soon to a Bandcamp feed near you… Slow Xmas 5. The lead single by Death Valley Girls, “Season of Dreaming,” has dropped and is making the rounds on the bigger (normal) blogs, such as Stereogum and Under the Radar. But what do you know… it is getting pressed on vinyl this year, 500 copies on ice blue wax. So, if very slow Christmas music is your jam, here you go!

From the website:

Available on vinyl for the first time as a Mutant exclusive featuring holiday standards and originals from Meridian Brothers, Shannon Lay, Zach Cooper of Grammy award winning King Garbage, Eric Slick of Dr. Dog, and Dave Hartley of The War on Drugs (Nightlands) among others.

Pressed on 140gm and iced out in a translucent ice blue variant (Limited to 500 copies). Offered in 45 RPM so you have the option to play regular slow or EXTRA SLOW at 33 1/3 RPM!!

And for the analog hogs, the majority of the album artwork is practical with an original sculpture by Matthew Rosenquist and studio photography by Robin Takami.

Bottom Line: Got me – only heard one track so far! Frankly, I’m usually grasping for songs to speed up my mix…

LISTEN

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Sharon Van Etten and The Attachment Theory “2000 Miles” (2025)

Sony Masterworks/Mutant
Buy: 7Digital (MP3/FLAC) | Apple Music | Amazon MP3 | CD/Vinyl | Amazon (CD/Vinyl/Exclusive Vinyl)

I love Sharon Van Etten. I saw her with her new band, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory about a month ago, and it was absolutely incredible. I was a huge fan, and am now a massive fan. I’ll be excited to hear from her with anything she does. Thus, she dropped a cover of The Pretenders’ “2000 Miles” for the Oh. What. Fun. soundtrack, and I was pumped. I’m going to float down from my initial heights though. This is a good cover, though it does not reinvent the song. Would I have preferred something a bit more interesting than adding the shimmering synths to the arrangement? Yes. But I do love her voice, and I’m sure some of you are going to be all over this.

There are some heavy hitters on this soundtrack. Interestingly, Sharon appears to be the first single off it (Gwen Stefani was first – exclusive to Amazon), surprising when you’ve got this lineup:

1. Shake the Snow Globe – Gwen Stefani (2:53)
2. The Things We Do for Love – The Bird and the Bee (3:20)
3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – St. Vincent (2:33)
4. 2000 Miles – Sharon Van Etten & The Attachement Theory (3:09)
5. Angel in the Snow – Fleet Foxes (2:44)
6. Step Into Christmas – Uwade (3:35)
7. Silent Night – The Wang Family (1:00)
8. Hot Cocoa – Gwen Stefani (3:38)
9. Snowqueen of Texas – Weyes Blood (3:21)
10. Christmas Eve Can Kill You – Andy Shauf & Madi Diaz (3:18)
11. It’s My Life – The Bird and the Bee (3:43)
12. Christmas Must Be Tonight – Jeff Tweedy (3:27)
13. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – Lorely Rodriguez (Empress Of) (1:39)
14. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – The Wang Family (1:01)
15. The 12 Days of Christmas – Dominic Sessa (1:36)

Of note – Michael Showalter, whom I have loved since The State, is the director! I’m genuinely excited for this movie…

Bottom Line: Sharon Van Etten is pretty flawless. Also – she could pretty much play Chrissie Hynde in a biopic. Just sayin’…

LISTEN

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HBM Presents: Sleigh the Holidays, Volume 2 (2025)

A cartoon of a woman in a mrs claus outfit laying down with "Sleigh the Holidays" in script above her.

Head Bitch Music
Buy: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Spotify

If you’re a casual reader of my blog, you probably have a sense of what my values are. I’ll admit that some topics have more gray areas than others, and I can entertain good-faith arguments from folks on many issues. However, when it comes to racism, sexism, or homophobia, I don’t have time for it. There’s a basic human decency that should be the bare minimum—our shared humanity. The pendulum has been swinging the wrong way on this most fundamental principle, so when I see something that pushes back, I’m going to give it a listen.

Head Bitch Music, a full-service music production house based in LA, dropped HBM Presents: Sleight the Holidays, Volume 2 today, partnering with Jack Antonoff’s charity, The Ally Coalition, to raise funds for LGBTQIA+ youth by supporting organizations dedicated to improving their lives. The record is full of excellently produced, modern pop Christmas songs. There are classic covers (e.woolf’s “A Marshmallow World”), modern covers (Niki DeMar & Julianne Hope covering girl in red’s “Two Queens in a King Sized Bed”), a solid number of originals, and even something in between a cover and an original (Olivia Reid’s “Singing in the Snow”).

There’s a lot here to check out. The record does skew quite pop—very well-done pop, the kind you could easily hear out and about this Christmas season—but pop isn’t the language I’m best suited for. Still, I’m going to highlight two tracks for you to check out that I feel come closest to the Christmas Underground vibe.

The Blah Blah Blahs’ “retro glamwave” take on “Jingle Bells” had me thinking about The Waitresses ripping through this classic Thanksgiving (yes, THANKSGIVING) song. It’s not a tune I normally find particularly enjoyable, but they’ve infused it with a level of fun that should require a photo ID.


LA’s Skyler Cocco‘s “snowglobe” is an indiepop ode to a Los Angeles Christmas. Skyler is originally from NYC, so I can imagine the balmy LA Christmas making you feel out-of-sorts… and this song captures that beautifully.

Can we pretend we’re in a snowglobe?
Shake up this city Christmas Eve
Stick out your tongue
And taste the falling snow
Like silver glitter on the beach

This is on my mix shortlist now, as it is giving me strong girlhouse vibes, who released one of my absolute favorite Christmas tunes a few years ago (“Ugly Xmas Sweater Party“).

Bottom Line: Absolutely essential for those pop music Christmas fans, and even has a few treats for weirdos like me.

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Alela Diane & The Hackles – It’s Always Christmas Somewhere (2023)

Rusted Blue Records
Buy: Bandcamp | CD/Vinyl

I know I write about a lot of grubby little songs. I love grubby little songs. I love weirdo Christmas—it nearly became the title of this entire site. However, every so often you come across a Christmas record that’s just good. I’m talking about the kind of record you might put on while opening presents with Grandma and Grandpa.

Alela Diane & The Hackles’ It’s Always Christmas Somewhere is exactly that kind of record. The album is filled with expected classics (“Christmas Time Is Here,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” etc.), some lesser-known covers (“One Little Christmas Tree,” “Pretty Snowflakes”), and a solid original (“The Santa’s Gospel”).

However, I’m here specifically to talk about her cover of Joni Mitchell’s classic “River.” If there’s a standout on an already lovely record, this is most certainly it. The gorgeous woodwind lines, the contemplative guitar, the delicate harmonium—each contributes small melodic variations that sneak up and make you smile. Perhaps my favorite cover of this song ever—it might be yours too.

Bottom Line: What a lovely Christmas record. Recommended for the alternativo folks, as well as for those who just love classic, non-cheesy Christmas records.

LISTEN