Five Christmas singles you actually want to hear

It’s this time of year again when I try to avoid the annual Last Christmas terror at all costs. If you’re as tired of that song as I am, check out these five alternatives below.

1. Sparks — Christmas Without a Prayer

Speaking about the single Ron and Russell Mael said: “As the tradition has been in Sparks, every 41 years marks the time to share an ode to Christmas. It’s 2015, and ’tis the season. So please celebrate our “Christmas Without A Prayer” release. And stay tuned for exciting Xmas news for 2056”.

41 years ago, in 1974, Thank God It’s Not Christmas appeared on the band’s third studio album Kimono My House. Since that time, Sparks have created a unique musical legacy both on record and in live performances, most recently by founding the supergroup FFS, consisting of Sparks and Franz Ferdinand.

2. Smoke Fairies — Christmas Without a Kiss

Smoke Fairies’ new video Christmas Without A Kiss is taken from their holiday-themed collection Wild Winter. The album is out now on Full Time Hobby. Last year, Wild Winter sold out entirely when it was released in a limited edition run and sold exclusively at Rough Trade as the December Album of the Month.

When asked why they chose to focus on a seasonally-themed record, Smoke Fairies explained, “We have a love/hate relationship with winter and the Christmas holiday. When it was suggested Smoke Fairies make a Christmas album, the last thing we wanted to do was make a classic, jolly, celebratory album that can only be played once a year. Sometimes winter provides us with a sense of togetherness and love, and sometimes it leaves us feeling alienated, cold and playing a glockenspiel alone in a darkened room. It’s part of the year that will always be bittersweet and wild. This was the inspiration behind the record.”

3. Palma Violets — Last Christmas On Planet Earth

Palma Violets’ Christmas single Last Christmas On Planet Earth is out now via Rough Trade Records. The single is backed up by Palma’s favorite All the Garden Birds sung by the Rhythm Studio Kids Choir. The single is available on Limited 7" & digital.

The band is currently on tour supporting The Vaccines and Florence + The Machine on their European dates.

4. Frankie & The Heartstrings — (Too Right) It’s Christmas (feat. Edwyn Collins)

Sunderland’s Frankie & The Heartstrings herald the festive season with news of a seasonal offering in the form of (Too Right) It’s Christmas featuring Edwyn Collins.

Reunited with erstwhile mentor and producer of their debut album Hunger, Edwyn Collins, their paean of festive joy, (Too Right) It’s Christmas will be available digitally from all normal outlets. The track is also set to become the first single to be released on Christmas cake, the band will be selling cake with a download at their forthcoming shows with The Charlatans.

5. Robyn Sherwell — River (Joni Mitchell cover)

Robyn Sherwell is a young singer-songwriter from London. Her debut EP Islander was released earlier this year on Birdland Records. This summer she covered the Feeltwood Mac classic Landslide, which was chosen as the soundtrack to the trailer for the new film Suffragette, starring Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep and Helena Bonham Carter. She has now covered one of my favourite (anti-)Christmas songs, namely River by Joni Michtell.

Robyn Sherwell is set to release her debut album early next year.

Originally published at Indie is not a genre.