Madisons Top 5 For December
Posted: by The Alt Editing Staff
1. The Almost – “Yule Be Sorry” (Happy Christmas: A Tooth And Nail Christmas)
Personally, I am a huge fan of angsty emo Christmas music, which sounds like an oxymoron. Leave it to The Almost to write a Christmas song for all those who find it hard to find holiday cheer. Throughout most of this track, you almost cannot tell it is seasonal as it lacks the bells, Santa’s laughter, and whatever other sounds society like to associate with the holidays. Instead, you get a burning pop-punk song that will ignite a different kind of spirit.
2. For The Foxes – “The Only Thing That Glistens” (Hopeless For The Holidays)
For those looking to get real sad for the holidays, For the Foxes takes a different spin on the emo Christmas tune. The bell introduction and soft vocals over pianos is reminiscent of nearly any Christmas song, until you listen to the lyrics and realize it is actually a note to an ex. It includes all the necessary references: chestnuts, mistletoe, bright lights. Yet, as vocalist Nicholas Francis so aptly mentions, this track is spot on for times “when red and green turn black and blue.”
3. Anthony Green and Mindy White – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”
For those looking for new spins on old favorites, Anthony Green and Mindy White deliver a beautiful rendition to the 1944 classic. Although there might not be anything extremely innovative about this version of the song, both vocal pairing makes it a special version of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”
4. Allison Weiss – “Sounds Like No Snow” (No Sleep Till The Holidays 2)
Speaking of incredible covers, Allison Weiss’s cover of Be Still’s “Sounds like Snow” is one of the more underrated Christmas songs. Released in the second volume of No Sleep Record’s No Sleep Till The Holidays, Weiss’s version ditches some of the more elaborate elements of the original, giving it an organic, warm feel.
5. Chris Farren – Like A Gift From God Or Whatever
If there is one full-length to make it on this short list, you know it has to be a spectacular one. Last year, Chris Farren released Like a Gift From God or Whatever, a compilation of original Christmas songs featuring a bunch of friends (Laura Stevenson, Jeff Rosenstock, and Lee Corey Oswald – just to name a few). With fun titles such as “Chris Farren’s Disney’s Frozen” and “Emo Revival Christmas 2014,” you need to listen at least once through this season.