Indie Rock Christmas Carols For The Holiday Season
Ranked #4,162 in Music, #117,317 overall
Indie Christmas music for alternative rock lovers!
Tired of listening to the same old Christmas carols? Below is an Indie Christmas mix of rocked-up versions of all-time favorite Christmas carols interpreted by an eclectic array of popular indie bands that can (and will!) jumpstart your holiday spirit and give your Christmas parties a hip, contemporary touch.
There are also a couple of free Indie Christmas songs below.
Ready to listen and sing along? Let's go!
If you like the robot graphic, you can buy it on t-shirts at Poptastic Tees.
Listen to an indie rock Christmas playlist (part 1)
Classic Christmas songs with a twist!
Here's part 1 of a mix of indie Christmas music to play at your holiday party:
1. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Sugarcult
2. Winter Wonderland - Phantom Planet
3. We Three Kings - Fuel
4. Jingle Bell Rock - Arcade Fire
5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Coldplay
*Hit play on the videos below to sample the music.
Listen to an indie Christmas mix (part 2)
Indie rock versions of our favorite Christmas carols
Here's part 2 of a playlist of indie Xmas songs to play at your Christmas party:
6. Jingle Bells - Barenaked Ladies
7. All I Want For Christmas Is You - My Chemical Romance
8. Holly Jolly Christmas - The Format
9. Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer - Jack Johnson
10. Happy Christmas (War is Over) - The Fray
*Hit play on the videos below to sample the music.
Get your party started with these Indie Christmas albums
Your favorite Christmas tunes spiced up by awesome indie bands
Maybe This Christmas
Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 02/14/2012)
Winter Wonderland - Phantom Planet / Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith / Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Coldplay / Greensleeves - Vanessa Carlton / Blue Christmas - Bright Eyes / Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - Sense Field / 12/23/95 - Jimmy Eat World / Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Jack Johnson / God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman - Barenaked Ladies/Sarah McLachlan / Bizarre Christmas Incident - Ben Folds / What a Year For a New Year - Dan Wilson / Sweet Secret Peace - Neil Finn / Snow - Loreena McKennitt
Maybe This Christmas Too
Amazon Price: $37.99 (as of 02/14/2012)
Spotlight On Christmas - Rufus Wainwright / The Winter Song - Eisley / O Holy Night - Avril Lavigne & Chantal Kreviazuk / Xmas Cake - Rilo Kiley / Silent Night - Damien Rice & Lisa Hannigan / Donde Esta Santa Claus? - Guster / Rudy - The Be Good Tanyas / Christmas Song - Dave Matthews Band / Go Tell It On The Mountain - Oh Susanna / Green Christmas - Barenaked Ladies / It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Martina Sorbara / Donna & Blitzen - Badly Drawn Boy / White Christmas - The Flaming Lips / It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Sixpence None The Richer
Maybe This Christmas Tree
Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 02/14/2012)
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - The Polyphonic Spree / The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes / Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Death Cab For Cutie / I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day - Pedro The Lion / Bittersweet Eve - Belasana / Christmastime Is Here - Ivy / Baby It's Cold Outside - Royal Crown Revue / Wonderful Christmastime - Tom McRae / Fairytale Of New York - Pilate / Jingle Bells - Lisa Loeb / Christmas For Cowboys - Jars Of Clay / Do You Hear What I Hear? - Copeland
Put the Lights On The Tree
by Sufjan Stevens
Acclaimed independent music artist Sufjan Stevens
Songs for Christmas
Amazon Price: $15.79 (as of 02/14/2012)
In December 2001, Sufjan set out to create a Christmas gift for his friends and family. The result was a seven-song recording that he called "Noel Vol. 1". Over the next several years, he created new EPs to add to the collection. This 5-CD box set includes all five volumes, plus a 42-page booklet with an original Christmas essay by acclaimed American novelist Ricky Moody, two essays, a short story by Stevens, a holiday sticker, chord charts, lyrics, comic strip, family portrait poster, photos, and an animated video. Fantastic compilation!
Even more alternative Christmas songs
For the holiday rocker in you!
| Track | Artist | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Don't Shoot Me Santa | The Killers | Don't Shoot Me Santa - Single | |
| Do They Know It's Christmas? | Band Aid | Now That's What I Call Christmas! | |
| Silent Night | Weezer | Christmas With Weezer | |
| The Opposite of Hallelujah | Jens Lekman | Night Falls Over Kortedala | |
| Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) | Death Cab for Cutie | Maybe This Christmas Tree | |
| First Noel | My American Heart | Taste of Christmas | |
| Christmas Song | Stars | A Very Magistery Christmas (Exclusive) | |
| Father Christmas | The Kinks | Come Dancing With the Kinks - The Best of the Kinks 1977-1986 (Remastered) [Remastered 2004] | |
| Winter Wonderland | Eurythmics | A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 1 | |
| Every Day Should Be a Holiday | The Dandy Warhols | ...The Dandy Warhols Come Down | |
| You Are My Joy | The Reindeer Section | Up to Now | |
| Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) | The Smithereens | Christmas with The Smithereens | |
| Holly Jolly Christmas | The Format | Do You Hear What I Hear? | |
| Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight) [Single Version] | Ramones | Brain Drain | |
| O Holy Night | Weezer | Christmas With Weezer | |
| Alone This Holiday | The Used | Taste of Christmas | |
| The Christmas Song | The Raveonettes | The Christmas Song - Single |
Indie Christmas CDs to satisfy the rocker in you.
More indie rock Christmas songs
Discover hot new indie music for free!
Join eMusic and get 25 free downloads.
If you would prefer to sample music without buying anything, you can sign up at eMusic. I have an account with them myself and can vouch for their exceptional selection of independent music. Upon signing, you get 25 FREE Downloads. No Restrictions - Own Your Music. You can choose to cancel membership anytime.
Bonus music! Free Christmas MP3s
from Chicago indie rock band The Layaways
David Harrell of indie rock band The Layaways has very kindly informed me that they have a new holiday album entitled Maybe Next Year and are giving away two free mp3 samples. How about that? You may access them from the following links below:
- O Christmas Tree
- Away in a Manger
- The Layaways -- Chicago indie rock band, official site and free mp3 downloads
- Official website of the Layaways
The Christmas Song by Owl City
A sweet and tender Christmas love song by indietronica artist Owl City
This isn't a cover of an old Christmas song but I thought some of you alternative rockers would like to hear a Christmas love ballad for once. Here's The Christmas Song by Owl City.
Want another Indie rock Christmas mix?
Here's a collection of alternative Christmas playlists for your reference
- The 12 Plays of Alternative-Indie Christmas Songs, Mix V: The Used, Relaint K, Belle & Sebastian, Love & Rockets
- Popular indie-alternative rock blog with best new music, rock songs, great, hot bands, album releases, free MP3s, and playlist mixes.
- Indie Christmas Music | Best indie rock music, great new songs, hot bands, album releases
- Best Indie & Alternative Rock Christmas Songs
- Best Christmas Alternative and Indie Rock Songs - Playlist Mix Series
- The best alternative and indie rock Christmas Xmas songs, music playlists and mixes featuring more than 140 downloadable, free MP3s.
- Another Indie Rock XMas Mix - Stereogum
- Jonathan Schmitt put together this fine mix of holiday tunes...Angels We Have Heard On High - Sufjan Stevens Winter Wonderland - Phantom Planet Yule Shoot Your
- Gorilla Vs. Bear Indie Christmas Mix | MP3s
- It's holiday music time already. Gorilla vs. Bear starts the season with a ten track mix of indie rock Christmas songs. Go Download It....
- an 'indie' Christmas mix tape (free MP3s for you)
- DOWNLOAD: THE POLYPHONIC SPREE - HAPPY XMAS (WAR IS OVER) (MP3) DOWNLOAD: Death Cab For Cutie - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) (MP3) DOWNLOAD: OVER THE RHINE - ALL I EVER GET FOR CHRISTMAS IS BLUE (MP3) DOWNLOAD: RYAN...
- Christmas Mix I made (indie, rock, single, quote, artists) - Music Banter
- Made an xmas mix for friends - thought some people here may like it... 01 Johnny Cash - The Little Drummer Boy 02 Suburban Kids With Biblical Names -
- It's back! the 2009 Indie-punk-ass Christmas Mix at ThomasPurves.com
- The 2009 Indie-punk-ass Christmas Mix | Not your chipmunk's christmas. Long time readers will know what time of year it is. It's indie-punk-ass music mix time of the year on thomaspurves.
- Have Yourself A Merry Indie Christmas - Stereogum
- Looking for indie rock Christmas MP3s? Here's our 2009 mix for download. 1. The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song 2. Dismemberment Plan - This
- A Very Indie Christmas Mix - Kyla Roma
- The past few days I've been getting into the grooves of Christmas, giving into the cold, buying a real tree, altering dog snowsuits, and hosting friends over at our house but I've been lacking a sound track...
- plime.com | Best of Indie Rock Christmas Songs Collection
- Here's the next installment of a 10-song playlist featuring the best indie and alternative music Christmas songs on the web.
- Swedesplease Christmas Mix (The Hives, Hello Saferide, Sally Shapiro, Parker Lewis, The Knife, etc) %uFFFD Swedesplease – The Swedish Music Blog
- Swedesplease Christmas Mix (The Hives, Hello Saferide, Sally Shapiro, Parker Lewis, The Knife, etc)
What other alternative Xmas songs are people listening to?
Blog entries about indie Christmas music
- Six Super Bowl 46 Halftime Show Ideas Better Than Madonna
- Not only would the music be much better than people expect, it would also allow for a clever Indie Christmas-like title for the halftime show. Okay, so this has no chance of even being considered simply because of the need for name brand musical acts, ...
We Wish You A Merry Christmas by Weezer
An old Christmas classic given a new, alternative rock spin
Alternative rockers Weezer
We wish you a merry Christmas (3x)
And a happy new year
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin
Good tidings for christmas
And a happy new year
Oh bring us a figgy pudding (3x)
And a cup of good cheer
We won't go until we get some (3x)
So bring some out here
We wish you a merry Christmas (3x)
And a happy new year
(Repeat 3x)
Listen to covers of Wham!'s Last Christmas
(If you're not tired of it yet, that is.)
This lens is part of
The Indie Rock Playlists for Any Occasion Lensography. Go back by clicking on the link.
So, did you like the indie Christmas covers?
I'd love to hear what you think of the rock versions of familiar Christmas carols.
Your thoughts on the music and the lens are most welcome too, of course. I would love to hear from you.
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TheMeadMan
Jan 20, 2012 @ 6:39 pm | delete
- Cute... you should check out bob noxious, they've got an excellent christmas album with some great original christmas tunes such as The Police Nabbed my Dad (sung to the tune of felic navidad), its on of my all time favourite christmas albums.
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Tipi
Nov 27, 2011 @ 8:36 pm | delete
- Indie Rock for Christmas....music to my ears, thank you!!!
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brucem77
Nov 23, 2011 @ 3:38 am | delete
- Thanks for a great blog
Best Christmas Songs
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HackMyHeart
Aug 19, 2011 @ 12:51 pm | delete
- What an original Christmas song lens! "Don't Shoot Me Santa" by The Killers always makes me smile. =) I love Christmas songs, so I look forward to listening to some of these around the holidays!
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chandrudaniel
Jan 26, 2011 @ 8:39 pm | delete
- its good lens.
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Have a very merry Christmas with Weezer
Weezer's take on classic Christmas songs
Christmas With Weezer
Amazon Price: $4.52 (as of 02/14/2012)
Whether you're a fan of Weezer or not, you'll love their rockin' and humorous takes on these classic Christmas hits.
Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer by Relient K
Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer
Amazon Price: (as of 02/14/2012)
Alternative rockers Relient K gives familiar Christmas tunes a punk-tastic new spin.
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