The (Mandatory) Christmas Post

With Christmas comes the usual hustle and bustle to finish your holiday shopping, visit the relatives, sing some carols and I dunno, bake some cookies. But for me Christmas also means that whatever I consider to be my musical 'tastes' are tossed out the window in favour for complete and utter fromage (that's cheese for those who don't speak French). Don't get me wrong, there are some great renditions of every one's holiday favourites. We have Death Cab For Cutie with 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)', Coldplay with 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas', Sufjan Stevens with 'What Child Is This Anyway?' and the list goes on and on and on. Plus, you can't go wrong with The Pipettes' 'White Christmas' or Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith's 'Maybe This Christmas,' one of the best in my opinion.

However, things get a bit shady from here because for me there is no better Christmas album than Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's Once Upon A Christmas. It's a crowning achievement in my opinion. Songs like 'A Christmas To Remember,' or 'Christmas Without You' or 'I Believe In Santa Clause' are just too good to be true. I am in no way a country music fan but this shit is great! In all honesty though, the last track 'Once Upon A Christmas,' is pretty great and one of my all time faves.

But it doesn't end there because Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas is another one of my guilty pleasures. Look, I can admit without a second thought when someone has talent. Mariah Carey is one of them, I mean girl is rumored to have a seven to eight octave vocal range. That's insane but I'm just not a fan. I just can't bring myself to listen to 'Heartbreaker' or 'Dreamlover.' However, none of that matters at this time of the year because her Christmas album is classic and probably makes her a shitload of money every year during the holidays. Just go to iTunes under the holiday section and you'll know what I mean. It's all good though and up until December 26th I will not be ashamed to admit that 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' will be blaring from my stereo and that I will be singing along to every word, note and gospel interlude.

Of course we can't forget Wham's 'Last Christmas.' This song is so bad, it's good. Wait, I'm listening to it again.......no I was wrong, it's just bad!

So here it is, my Christmas playlist...in all it's shining glory....complete with the hits and guilty pleasures of the season.

Download: Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You [mp3]

Download: Mariah Carey - O Holy Night [mp3]

Download: Wham - Last Christmas [mp3]

Download: Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas [mp3]

Download: The Smashing Pumpkins - Christmastime [mp3]

Download: Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton - I Believe In Santa Clause [mp3]

Download: Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton - Once Upon A Christmas [mp3]

Download: Coldplay - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas [mp3]

Download: How The Grinch Stole Christmas - You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch [mp3]

Download: Bryan Adams - Christmas Time [mp3]

Download: Death Cab For Cutie - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) [mp3]

Download: Sufjan Stevens - What Child Is This Anyway? [mp3]

Download: The Pipettes - White Christmas [mp3]

Buy Mariah Carey - Merry Christmas

Buy Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton - Once Upon A Christmas

Buy Sufjan Stevens - Song For Christmas

Buy How The Grinch Stole Christmas [Soundtrack]