Wakefield, England’s Skinny Living are doing something here that many bands have done before: taking one of their own songs, “Smoke,” tweaking it, and turning it into a Christmas track — much like Wheatus did with “Christmas Dirtbag” back in 2023. However, Skinny Living has the benefit of not having absolutely everyone know the original song by heart before hearing the new version… so this one hits differently.
Everything shifts beautifully into feeling like “Smoke” is a Christmas song — the gratefulness, the love, the fighting, the dancing — all packed into “tonight,” which can easily be assumed to be Christmas Eve. And, if you want to get real technical, they haven’t even released the original “Smoke” as a studio single; it only exists as a live cut.
So I hereby plant the Christmas flag in this song. “Smoke” is now a Christmas song, Skinny Living. No backsies.
Bottom Line: Is this a reworked song? Or was it allllways a Christmas song? Always!
There are some assumptions that one can simply assume. One of these assumptions is that I’m going to write about Elliot Maginot when he releases his yearly Christmas song. There is no mistaking a Maginot Christmas tune – it’s going to be lush, it’s going to be emotional, it’s going to feel both extremely present but of another time. Elliot’s 2025 release, “Holy,” is yet another wonderful addition to this top-tier Christmas talent. Elliot absolutely loves Christmas, as he notes in his introduction on Facebook: “This might not be THE Holy night, but HOLY, my new Christmas ditty is out at midnight. I keep writing these Christmas songs year after year, cause this shit really matters to me. Christmas doesn’t solve anything and it doesn’t miraculously make us better humans but it seems to be the only time of the year when are collectively giving a shot at kindness and togetherness so let’s take this shit seriously yah? Love you guys merry christmas”
That mix of hopefulness and reality Elliot expresses above, well, that is the essence of the song. This is best displayed as the song enters its last verse:
And I know you did not come here for a lesson But sometimes I wonder if you’re even here at all But come on don’t you know tis the season The most wonderful season of all
I’m not waiting on no miracle The bells will ring/the snow will fall But It’s gotten talking about it If you want a life you gotta live it now
I don’t believe no angels would ever come this way But I don’t have an answer Especially not today No sacred book gonna sway me I may be lost but I’m not crazy Now I’m not quite sure what else to do Well very merry christmas to you
Really great stuff, once again. Oddly, this is the first time I’ve ever listened to Elliot and felt a connection to Conor Oberst. Though “Holy’s” orchestration feels quite outside of Conor Oberst’s wheelhouse, there is a quality to their voices, an emotion that comes through, that I can’t believe I haven’t heard before…
Bottom Line: Another fantastic, unmistakably Elliot Maginot Christmas song.
I remember listening to Todd Snider back in high school, hearing “My Generation (Part 2)” and loving his thoughtful, clever, funny songwriting. I believe my art teacher Kate hipped me to him. That was probably most folks’ introduction to Todd — the song, not my teacher Kate, of course! It is an incredibly clever, catchy song. I dipped in and out of his career over the years, owned a few records, and always truly enjoyed his work.
Over the weekend, I saw that Todd had passed. Lord, he was only 59. An undiagnosed case of walking pneumonia was what took him. I hadn’t realized how deadly pneumonia can be — a 30-day mortality rate of 15%, which is wild. Of course… it got me thinking: with Todd’s huge catalog, there has to be a Christmas song. Turns out the only real Christmas track (beyond the odd live cover) that Todd had a hand in was Billy Joe Shaver’s “Merry Christmas to You,” which he performed on (and perhaps helped write?). It was a bonus track on Shaver’s 2002 album Freedom’s Child, and isn’t easily available to buy as a download.
However, Todd does have a spectacular talking-blues tune called “Happy New Year.” Classic Todd Snider — a perfect piece of storytelling with clever lyrics, social commentary, and a big old dose of humanity. There are two versions: the initial release from 2006’s The Devil You Know and the “Purple Version,” a re-recorded version Todd generously offered as a free download on his website. It’s a spooky listen, folks — the song has a good dose of mortality, and now it hits perhaps a bit too close to home.
Now Christians don’t walk out on me just yet You know whose name I’m yelling as I’m clutching my chest The one my dad told me to and his told him to And I probably pray as much or more than you do Believe? shit, every word I sing
That bit is something for sure, but there’s also a moment in the spoken introduction to the Purple Version where he says, “and then there was that late day in November when it all ended.” Spooky.
The song also ends differently:
Father forgive us for what we might do You forgive us and we’ll forgive you. And we’ll forgive each other ’til we both turn blue. And we’ll whistle and go fishing… in heaven.
I’m a bit speechless.
Bottom line: Todd Snider was a treasure. The world is a bit less bright.
EDIT: I received a note from a reader (hi Stu!), and he has provided me with an MP3 of Todd Snider performing an alternate version of “Go Tell it On the Mountain” than I am accustomed to. So there is an official release of a Todd Snider performing a Christmas song.
OK. So we know where it is from now. The song is on a 1995 release called The Sounds Of Starry Nights, a CD/cassette, “presented by MIFA and Union Planters as a musical reflection of the season at the holiday light show Starry Nights.” Starry Nights is a Christmas light show held at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis and is the largest annual fundraiser for Shelby Farms Park and Shelby Farms Greenline. Shelby Farms is one of the largest urban parks in the country – one might call it Memphis’ Central Park or Golden Gate Park, I’d imagine. Pretty damn cool….
Now, if you head out there looking for this release, pay special attention to the track list on the back. There are multiple issues of this Starry Nights release, each from a different year, and with no noticeable change of title. However, the cover art varies slightly, which helps. I have yet to see a cassette edition with Todd’s track on it, though I assume it does exist.
I’m apparently back in 2022, when I was in my “somehow writing exclusively about French-language Christmas songs” phase. To be stereotypically American, I don’t speak other languages, and French just sounds so damn nice to the ear. I suppose that’s why the one language I do have some experience with—German—doesn’t often appear here on Christmas Underground… it just doesn’t have the same musical quality. I know, I know… how obvious. Well, buckle up while I do my best to share a song and not embarrass myself once again.
I’ll check out pretty much anything on Secret City Records. When something new drops, I explore. Thus, I’ve found myself over the past year picking up all of Klô Pelgag’s (aka Chloé Pelletier-Gagnon’s) records, and I’m only about one away from having them allllll. Again, I largely have no clue what the heck she’s singing… but I absolutely love the music. And to make it even better—she has Christmas songs.
Looking at Klô Pelgag’s holiday catalogue, they all share one quality: a more spare, classic production, rather than the upbeat alt-pop found on many of her records. So while the vibe is more straightforward, the result is no less spectacular.
Klô Pelgag began her holiday releases with 2019’s “Toute seule pour Noël,” which I believe to be the only original she’s released so far (unless she has another hidden on a proper record). Should you wish to translate it, you’ll find it’s quite a sad song—as the title “All Alone for Christmas” suggests. Her voice begins accompanied only by piano, but then the cello slips in and the emotion builds. It’s beautiful if you can get over the sadness, and sad Christmas songs are largely what I peddle here at CU.
She added to her holiday catalogue again with a cover of “Le sentier de neige,” or “The Snowy Path,” once again using a sparse piano arrangement. Originally released in 1964 by Les Classels, this Christmas waltz is about a couple in love who shared a kiss on a snowy path in the woods. Getting mushy in the mush!
Her most recent holiday track is a beautiful cover of “Marie-Noël,” first released by Robert Charlebois in 1967. You may recognize this song from Elliot Maginot’s 2023′ cover, which I obviously also recommend. Judging by the sheer number of covers, it seems to be a true Québécois Christmas classic. Klô Pelgag continues her sparse, piano-driven approach here, once again singing with an emotion that transcends language barriers.
Bottom Line: I think we all can agree that Klô Pelgag should release an entire solo piano Christmas record… right?
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.
Christmas Underground, as badass as I obviously am — I eat glass for breakfast — is not exactly overflowing with punk rock Christmas songs. I’m probably more likely to write about some twee band from Antwerp than a punk outfit from Washington, D.C.
Often, punk rock Christmas songs fall into the Blink-182 lane — and while I know that’s many folks’ jam, it just isn’t mine. I like punk rock that leans toward its cousin, garage rock — the kind with lo-fi production and fuzzy guitars, like Idaho Green or Stephan and Johnny.
Well, add a new name to that list, because this new song by Washington, D.C.’s Teen Mortgage is fucking fantastic. “Below the Christmas Tree” piles angular guitar riffs over a driving, fuzzy bassline — straight to the heart of this lowly Christmas blogger.
The music will hook you, but the lyrics will reel you in. A satirical anti-war song, it leaves you sitting in the simple decadence of a Christmas at the end of the world. World War III is upon us, and we’re moments away from destruction — so I got you a pair of turtle doves.
Well, open up your gifts now Before they get turned into dust Just forget all of those mushroom clouds Becoming proper humongous.
Fucking hell. This song better remain satirical and not literal. I like the groove either way I guess…
Bottom Line: Absolutely stellar punk rock Christmas. If all punk rock songs were like this, I would run a punk rock Christmas music blog.
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’…
I am going to have to take a break from writing about Exnovios (those rascals apparently have ANOTHER Christmas song). This post is really for my friends over at Under the Radar (subscribe!), who I know are in love with LA’s Magdalena Bay. I happened to sniff out this cover of “Last Christmas” that they dropped on their Facebook page back in 2016, the year that the band first got together! It has been scientifically proven that nobody needs another cover of “Last Christmas,” thus, when you put this on your mix, you may get an initial sideeye from your snobby friends. But when Magdalena Bay works Daft Punk and Julian Casablancas’ “Instant Crush” seamlessly into the song, your friend’s face will scrunch up, and they’ll ask, “Who is singing this?” Followed by a, “Fuck, that was fun.” Enjoy!
Bottom Line: A fun nugget from the past with a band of the future!
It turns out my friends Exnovios — whose absolutely stellar new track “Ya Es Navidad” I reviewed yesterday — do indeed have another Christmas song in their back catalogue. In fact, you have to go back ten years, to 2015 and their first release, Demo.
The “sister song” to their new one, “Ya casi es Navidad,” follows a very different musical path. With its fuzzy tones, thumping drums, and spacey vocals — while the new track rocks you in your head, this one rocks you in your chest. The lyrics are once again something to embrace, carrying all the mystical hopefulness that only a perfect psych-rock Christmas song can provide.
Here’s a translation for us English-speaking folks:
If you want to fly, you can think of something enchanting — it’s almost Christmas.
AND FLY…
If you want to fly, you can think of something enchanting — crystal toys.
AND FLY OVER THE SEA AND REACH ALMOST, ALMOST, THE END.
(EDIT: It turns out that the lyrics are built with phrases from the following scene in Peter Pan! Amazing!)
I think the Exnovios crew has carved out a wholly unique place in the alternative Christmas canon. They’ve found this beautiful backdoor into Christmas that I didn’t know existed — one of pure hope and beauty, while still sounding like one of the coolest bands on the planet.
Bottom Line: I could have been listening to this song for ten years! As could you have. Well, our lives begin anew today, and all your dreams will come true. This is a pretty great song 🙂
We live in incredible times, as I continue to find Artificial Intelligence more amazing and terrifying as each day passes. I’m desperately trying to avoid ever featuring an AI Christmas song here – but I fear it is just a matter of time. Why the hell am I talking about AI?? Well, because I find myself cherishing folks whom I’ve come to know and love. You see… I know they are human… and I love their music. A wonderful example is Pamplona’s Exnovios, and while they may not have released a Christmas song before (to my knowledge! – THERE IS ANOTHER!), one of their members, Tamu, has released several songs which I have had the pleasure of writing about here on Christmas Underground. So, when Exnovios drops a new record, and I get that Bandcamp email, I’m checking that shit out. They dropped their latest album, Fin, a little over a week ago, and I immediately clocked that tenth track, “Ya Es Navidad” (It’s Christmas!). I know this wasn’t a present specifically for me, but it certainly felt like one. Two chords gently rock back and forth through a song that is so fucking hopeful that you’re going to think you’re in an alternate reality. Who saw that one coming? Everything is so fucked, I was expecting a deluge of grim Christmas tunes.
I needed this song.
Remember me talking about AI? Well, I stripped the vocals, got a transcription, then a translation… all with AI… in about 5 minutes. Wild. I’ve pasted it below, and please excuse the formatting. In addition, if you are either 1) in Exnovios, or 2) fluent in Spanish, please excuse any translation mistakes. I took German in high school… and I can’t vouch for these robots. (EDIT – the robot made some mistakes, and my friend over at Popcasting fixed it!)
Year after year, it happens again, lights and the cold fill my city. I make promises, I ask for peace, and all my dreams will come true. They will come true, they will come true. Another year is here, yet none of my dreams came true, But you’re heare, and nothing can go wrong. The good stuff is yet to come, so much to do, so much to achieve. It’s Christmas already, it’s Christmas already. One year is over and a new one begins. It’s Christmas already. Ha. It’s Christmas.
Bottom Line: One of my favorites of the season so far, from some of my favorite people to boot. Go buy their record, Fin, as I am currently listening to it.. and wow this thing is great.
Christmas Underground 