Defend the Indefensible - indie bands singing Christmas carols

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Bright Eyes singing The First Noel. Stuart Murdoch singing the word 'hosannah'. And probably a million other abominations I've blotted out of my memory.

Are there any instances of this that aren't absolutely fucking dreadful?

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Saturday, 17 December 2005 12:07 (twenty years ago)

lows christmas ep

― zappi (joni), Saturday, 17 December 2005 12:16 (twenty years ago)

one of the ones low did was ok.

i was listening to Xmas with Korla Pandit at the magnificent pipe organ, yesterday. although its not indie, i think the question could be thrown open, to other genres...

― calderdale in the 70s (gareth), Saturday, 17 December 2005 12:20 (twenty years ago)

Countless bad examples come to mind, true, but I like these:

Cocteau Twins "Frosty the Snowman"
Low "Just Like Christmas"
The Pogues "Fairytale of New York"
The Pretenders "2000 Miles"
The Ramones "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)"
The Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping"

Although "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!" is further evidence for the consistent overapplication of critical adulation to Sufjan Stevens, in my opinion.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Saturday, 17 December 2005 12:48 (twenty years ago)

Haven't heard it in years, but I recall that Tom's Electric Tombstone's "Must Be Santa" was pretty good...doubt anyone outside the reach of New Jersey's college stations in the 80's (early 90's?)knows it.

― dlp9001, Saturday, 17 December 2005 12:49 (twenty years ago)

i like the sufjanstevens version of "oh holy night" esp. that bit where the drums come in... but yeah elf dance sounds awful...

― dave k, Saturday, 17 December 2005 14:58 (twenty years ago)

Not Christmas carols per se, but the Tralala Christmas EP is cute.

― telephone thing, Saturday, 17 December 2005 15:02 (twenty years ago)

They don't exactly count as indie, I guess, but The Fall's version of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is good.

― mte22 (mte22), Saturday, 17 December 2005 15:14 (twenty years ago)

Not indie but I enjoyed this:

http://www.projekt.com/projekt/assets/product_images/PRO00062.jpg

as a wee goth.

― adam (adam), Saturday, 17 December 2005 15:23 (twenty years ago)

NECESSARY: Mojo Nixon's version of "Good King Wenceslas" or however it's spelled.

― nklshs still ilxes every once in awhile, Saturday, 17 December 2005 16:29 (twenty years ago)

B-b-but, none of these are carols!

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Saturday, 17 December 2005 16:49 (twenty years ago)

flaming lips to thread

― Stephen C (ihope), Saturday, 17 December 2005 17:23 (twenty years ago)

Super classic when it's the Squirrels. As was enjoyed last night.

― Ned at dali's place (donut), Saturday, 17 December 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago)

Belle and Sebastian's O Come Emmanuel is beautiful. I think the worst recent indie carols I've heard suffer from self-conscious lack of irony(and no emotion to take its place), where they just idly sing and play as if we need to hear one more bland version of the songs.

― tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 17 December 2005 20:04 (twenty years ago)

B-b-but, none of these are carols!

I take it on evidence that the original poster only cited Stuart Murdoch's use of the word "hosannah" that he was not referring specifically to carols. Besides, it's a useful broadening of the basic question of crap holiday songs.

― Myke Weiskopf (Myke Weiskopf), Saturday, 17 December 2005 21:20 (twenty years ago)

"frosty the snowman" isn't a carol?

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 17 December 2005 21:40 (twenty years ago)

I love "Elf Dance."

It's the only good song I could find for free with "Away in a Manger" lyrics.

― Tape Store (Tape Store), Saturday, 17 December 2005 21:43 (twenty years ago)

The first song on the Falalalala with Tralala EP is pretty fucking fantastic. It made me go back and listen to the LP a couple of more times, and nothing sounds as poppy or cute as this song.

― Dan Floss (Dan Floss), Sunday, 18 December 2005 04:41 (twenty years ago)

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