You need to listen to these deep cuts for Christmas

It’s the holiday season, and Christmas music is absolutely inevitable. Look, I love Mariah Carey and WAM! As much as the next guy. But at some point, you get truly Tired of hearing the same set of Christmas songs over and over again. So, here are 10 suggestions you can add to your holiday playlist that will hopefully be less obvious.

Tom Waits – Christmas card from a prostitute in Minneapolis

There’s a long history of humble Christmas songs, from Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” to The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.” But there’s no holiday song more guaranteed to bring down the party than “A Christmas Card From a Whore in Minneapolis.” The reveal at the end is the thing that will have everyone putting the gifts back under the tree because they’re too depressed to open anything.

Lindstrom – the little drummer boy

I love the classic Bing Crosby and David Bowie version of this song, but I’ve heard it millions of times. Lindstrøm embraces the harshness of the marching drum pattern, evoking the melody in a hypnotic slow burn that gradually morphs into space disco. There are different edits of this track, ranging from under five minutes to the 20-minute one included above (which is probably the perfect version for your holiday playlist). However, I am partial to complete 42 minute show.

Axel Baumann – Extreme Vacation

This is the quiet counterpoint to the Lindstrøm path above. All gently bouncing, meditative riffs, sleigh bells, and chill vibes. If all you want for Christmas is a zen-like state of trance, then put this song on your waiting list.

Fucked – David Christmas

There aren’t enough hardcore holiday songs if you ask me. The titular David of “David Christmas” eventually becomes the central character in the brilliant rock opera of Fucked Up David comes to life. “David Christmas” contains sleigh bells, references to the Grinch, and the first Noel. It’s the rare Christmas song that will have you trying to make a hole around the tree.

They Might Be Giants – Santa’s Beard

There are a strange number of Christmas songs about infidelity. (See Clarence Carter’s bookSanta tailgate(and, at least from a child’s perspective, “I saw my mother kissing Santa Claus.”) But their Santa Bears They Might Be Giants is a lesser-known film that combines the duo’s trademark irreverence with the story of a woman who flaunts her extramarital affair to her husband’s face. Oh, and her side is dressed as Santa.

I’ll just say it – American holiday folklore is just that boring. Germany and Central Europe have Krampus, the Welsh have Mary Lloyd, and Iceland has Jólakötturinn, or the Christmas Cat. Jólakötturinn is a huge cat that stalks the countryside, eating people who don’t receive new clothes for Christmas. Apparently, it’s supposed to encourage hard work and preparation. In 1988, Björk, Iceland’s best export, recorded a song about the creature that included celebratory lines like:

His hair is sharp like needles

His back was high and swollen

And the claws on his hairy paw

It wasn’t a pretty sight

Low – Just like Christmas

Slowcore pioneers Low released a full-length Christmas album in 1999, appropriately titled Christmas. “Just Like Christmas” is probably the most well-received song of all time, and it moves faster than most of the band’s material. It still showcases the band’s ear for the delicate melodies and soulful vocals of the late Mimi Parker, though, before fading away as a torrent of drums crash around.

Magnetic fields – everything is like a big Christmas tree

An upbeat song about telling someone to relax and have some fun.

Stop mumbling and cheer up

Put down the book, pick up a beer

Why are you sitting in your dark and lonely room?

Does every word have to be honest?

Also, just casually referring to Santa Claus as “Sandy” is perfect.

Sharon Jones and the Dab Kings – There are no chimneys in the projects

A modern entry into the temple of the Christmas spirit that can stand toe-to-toe with James Brown’s “Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto.” “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects” has an extra groove, killer strings, and one of the best horn sections in the business. It’s a very short song about how the magic of Christmas is provided by hardworking parents, not some weirdo in a red suit.

100 Geeks – Empathy 4 Grinch

We’ve all had disappointing holidays when we didn’t get the gifts we wanted. 100 Gecs embrace the fantasy of getting revenge on Santa and taking what you want in this super goofy song. It’s an absolute blast with the “la-la-la” chant after the chorus. I might not play this game for your ungrateful kids, though.