After releasing an album of traditional Christmas carols last year, Bad Religion returns with a Christmas single that's more in keeping with their...reputation. Bad Religion's cover of the Kinks' "Father Christmas" is available as a 7" vinyl single from the band's web store. They say it's limited, but they don't say to what. And, of course, its available from all your online digital outlets, including Amazon. 20% of the proceeds from sale of the single will go to the SNAP network--Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
UPDATE: The Swear & Shake Christmas single is now available on Bandcamp! Take that, Apple. And the band informs me it should reach the online retailers within the week.
Whomever they are, they do a great cover of "Last Christmas", making it sound vaguely like a song from a James Bond movie. It's not Linedance Fever great, mind you. But it's close. And the instrumental break in the middle is great retro Pop. Definitely worth adding to the library. Sorry, no embed options; you're just going to have to trust me on this one. There is a video of the group's take on "Last Christmas" from a 2009 performance that may give you an idea, but fan recorded live videos rarely do a song justice, so I'll not post it here. Anyway, pick it up at Amazon.
The reigning king of Christmas Nerd Rock, Brett Domino, is back with a new one. I'm not going to go over all the old ones (but it would be a fun project for you to undertake some lazy July afternoon). This year's single from Brett is "Everybody Needs To Know Its Christmas". This year, Brett goes the extra mile and offers a tutorial on writing a surefire hit Christmas single. You'll be amazed at how easy it really is. So have a Festal Christmas and a Convivial New Year and get the latest Christmas single from Brett Domino from Amazon or (if you really like guessing what today's conversion rate might be) Bandcamp.
I think I also want to skip "Spend Christmas With You" from Ayla Brown, former American Idol contestant and Senator Scott Brown's daughter.
Here's a Blues single, though, that I will point you do. Jimmy D. Scott is a Michigan Blues/R&B artist and he absolutely rips it up on the Rufus Thomas classic, "I'll Be Your Santa Baby".
It was some time ago we told you about the Christmas single from Roots Rock artist Carly Jamison. Well, "It Feels Like Christmas Every Single Day" was just the first of three...so far. Since we told y'all about that one, Carly has released the funky "Oh No Santa Claus" and the spritely Uke Pop single, "I'm Getting A Ukelele For Christmas" . Collect the whole set.
I don't know why people never get tired of Trailer Park Christmas songs, but they never do. Here's an uptempo Honky Tonker from Illinois' Rat Rod Kings, "A Trailer Park Christmas", where the socks are hung with care on the plastic fireplace. Meanwhile, Mama's doing more than kissing Santa Claus and, oh oh, it looks like it isn't Daddy after all (he's sleeping off a drunk). Oy!
For the last few years, Gay Blades frontman James Dean Wells has released a Christmas single. Or should I say anti-Christmas single? He's definitely got Santa Claus issues. There is almost nothing not to love about his latest. Here's the title: "I Can't Believe You Brought Your New Boyfriend To Our Mutual Friend's Holiday Party". Love it. And the song, itself, is even better than the title implies. It's a great all out Alt Rocker; sounds like Iggy Pop or Julian Casablancas meets The Killers. A little overly jealous, Wells presumes Santa as his girl's new boyfriend. And who can compete with Santa? I said "almost" nothing not to love. The song's got a couple of huge expletives and I won't embed those here (intentionally, anyway), because the kids might stop by. But I'm gonna buy it. Cause its AWESOME!
North Carolina's "Bag Of Toys" have a new Christmas single, "Rudolph". The band very much has a sunny feel-good sound, combining Surf Pop and Reggae rhythms. "Rudolph" is their second holiday outing, having released "Santa Bring More Beer" in 2010.