25 Songs of Christmas 2012 - 25. The Christmas Song - Hootie and the Blowfish

Day 25: The Christmas Song - Hootie and the Blowfish

Why are you reading my blog. Go be with your family

25 Songs of Christmas - 24. One More Sleep til Christmas - The Muppets

Day 24. One More Sleep Til Christmas - The Muppets

I've said it once and i'll say it again. The Muppets ARE christmas. Enjoy this article on Geekscape.net I wrote about the 20 year anniversary of Muppet Christmas Carol.

25 Songs of Christmas 2012 - 23. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) - Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Day 23. Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) - Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Before this song The Carol of the Bells was just a boring old Christmas song. Trans-Siberian Orchestra managed to take what made that song great and make it amazing. Now this is a regular christmas cover by most bands, I would bet anything had this never been recorded this wouldn't be the case. 

If you've never gotten to see Trans-Siberian live I highly recommend it.

25 Songs of Christmas 2012 - 22. Christmas in Hollis - The AKAs

Day 22. Christmas in Hollis - The AKAs

I'm not going to lie, this isn't as good as the original. Nothing ever will be. Nothing. However The AKAs made a good effort to stay true to the original song, put their own unique twist into the song and then add in a tribute to Jam Master Jay. I still dig it, The AKAs just aren't Reverend Run nor D.M.C.

25 Songs of Christmas 2012 - 21. Silver Bells - Relient K

Day 21. Silver Bells - Relient K

I don't think Relient K ever fully gets the appreciation they deserve. They tend to be lumped in with bands like All Time Low and Simple Plan as another cheesy, by the book pop punk band. However the group contains some of the most creative songwriters in the pop punk music scene as well as having enough great vocalists in it to create some of the most magical harmonies your ears could ever want to hear. They even managed to make Silver Bells (one of my least favorite carols) a beautiful sing-along

No Question just share if love Relient K

25 Songs of Christmas 2012 - 20. What WE do at Christmas - Atom and His Package

Day 20: What WE do at Christmas - Atom & His Package

Gotta show a little love to my Hebrew friends with Atom and His Package's hilarious song about the plotting of the Jewish takeover that happens ever christmas. I specifically love that Atom is neurtoic enough that he even apologizes and clarifies that he doesn't hate Jewish people or Christians at the end.

Check out my interview with him (sorry the shitty audio) on my podcast THE SAINT MORT SHOW

25 Songs of Christmas 2012 - 19. Silent Night Medley - Hanson

Day 19. Silent Night Medley - Hanson

Before I was willing to admit that I actually liked Hanson I still loved this medley of christmas classics from their classic Snowed In album. It still remains my favorite song on the album and one of my top 5 favorite things Hanson ever recorded. Say what you will about the band (SongPop calls them a One Hit Wonder which is utter bullshit) they were talented.

What's your favorite song on Snowed In?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012 - 18. Joy to the World - Supertones

Day 18: Joy to the World - O.C. Supertones

Did it really take me this long to put a Christmas Ska cover? Ridiculous. If there was a ska band I wish would have done a full length Christmas album it'd be the Supertones. This cover of Joy to the World is my all time favorite version of the song and I will continue to love it til the day I die. Maybe with the Supertones reuniting I can finally get Christmas album I've dreamed of.

What band do you wish would record a christmas album?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012 - 17: Christmas Song - Denison Witmer

Day 17: A Christmas Song - Denison Witmer

I will always remember this song as the song I heard back when I listened to nothing but pop punk and metal that made me start to love folk music. This beautiful song felt out of place on Happy Christmas Volume 3 but I immediately loved it. I still never looked into Witmer's other music but it doesn't change how much I love the song. THe attached video is someone's old christmas videos mixed with the song and they blend together beautifully

What's your fondest Christmas memory?

25 Songs for Christmas 2012 - 16. The Chipmunk Song by Hawk Nelson

Day 16: The Chipmunk Song - Hawk Nelson

Hawk Nelson has taken one of the most obnoxious christmas songs and made it a delightful little sing-along. Don't get me wrong, I like the Chipmunk Song but the more you hear it the more annoying the song becomes. Hawk Nelson sped it up and got rid of the chipmunk voices and just made it a delightful pop punk jam.

Am I the only one who dislikes the original these days?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 15. Snow Miser by FM Static

Day 15: Snow Miser by FM Static

I think we can all agree that A Year Without Christmas is one of the shittiest Christmas Specials (almost as bad as Little Drummer Boy). However the Heat and Snow Miser songs are the best part of them. Thousand Foot Krutch vocalist did an awesome cover of Snow Miser with his side project FM Static. It's a chill jam which is a change up from yesterdays song.

What's your least favorite christmas special?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 14. December is for Cynics - The Matches

Day 14: December is for Cynics - The Matches

For the most part I hate songs about unhappiness at Christmas time. For me it's always such a joyful time and I know the winter blues are a very real thing but I don't want it in my Christmas music. There's one or two good ones however and one of the best ones is The Matches December is for Cynics

Beyond solid lyrics it's just got an awesomely catchy chorus that gets trapped in your brain and won't go away.

What's your favorite 'negative' Christmas song?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 13. White Christmas - Goldfinger

Day 13: White Christmas - Goldfinger

For some reason Goldfinger doing White Christmas as a reggae jam just seems to make sense... and it does. There's not much to say about a minute long cover, just enjoy and move on with your day!

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 12. Zat You Santa Claus - Neon Horse

Day 12: Zat You Santa Claus - Neon Horse

When I bought Happy Christmas Volume 5 last year I saw someone covered Zat You Santa Claus which is one of my favorite christmas songs (but most people don't know it) so I was excited to check it out. I really liked the song but had NO CLUE who this band was.

Turns out Neon Horse is a combination of 4 members of famous christian bands (Stavesace, Starflyer 59, Joy Electric and Project 86). If their original stuff is this good, I may have a new favorite band brewing.

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 11. O Come, O Come Emmanuel - August Burns Red

Day 11: O Come O Come Emmanuel - August Burns Red

I've never been huge into metal. I've seen August Burns Red once or twice live and I enjoyed their show but its just not my type of music. However their christmas covers are incredible and epic (though I hate that word).

This was the first of their covers I ever heard and I fell in love.

How do you like this heavy metal christmas? Is it better than Twisted Sister?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 10. Yule Shoot Your Eye Out - Fall Out Boy

Day 10: Yule Shoot Your Eye Out - Fall Out Boy

I got plenty of crap for not putting this on last years list. So I had to include it this year. This was actually the first Fall Out Boy song I ever heard. However before I heard the real version I heard my friend Matt Howard's cover of it at a Christmas Coffee House. Matt's a decent musician but singer he is not. 

However I enjoyed the lyrics enough to download the real version which I liked enough to track down the album it appeared on (A Santa Cause). Shortly after the band exploded, to this day this is still my favorite Fall Out Boy Song

What's yours?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 9. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Element

Day 9: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Element

Element 101 (later just Element) was one of my favorite female fronted bands. Their career was sadly short-lived. However in between the recording of their 3 stellar albums they recorded this solid christmas cover.

It's short, sweet and makes you wanna dance. What more do you want out of a christmas cover?

When I hear this song I always think of Home Alone? Is there any other famous usage of this song I'm forgetting about?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 8. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - All Star United

8. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - All Star United

I never was a huge fan of All Star United. Even in the peak of my Jesus Freak listening strictly to Christian Music phase I only enjoyed about half an album of songs. So for that reason I normally skipped this song on Happy Christmas Volume 2 on principle. When I finally listened to it I was really sad for how many years I went missing such a catchy rendition of this song.

What would you do if it were christmas everyday?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 7. Heavy Metal Christmas - Twisted Sister

7. Heavy Metal Christmas - Twisted Sister

Let's get ridiculous in this bitch.

Twisted Sister released a christmas album a few years ago. Never understood why but frankly I didn't care. Listening the Dee Snyder belt out classic carols was too awesome to ignore. However the highlight of the album is their version of 12 Days of Christmas titled "Heavy Metal Christmas". Enjoy this

Which thing would you want most from the lyrics? For me It's the Two Pairs of Spandex Pants.

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 6. O Come All Ye Faithful - Abandon Kansas

Day 6: O Come All Ye Faithful - Abandon Kansas

For a hot minute I wrote CD reviews for Absolutepunk.net. I was terrible at it and only one review was ever published. It was for Tis the Season to Be Gotee from one of my favorite christian labels growing up. While there were some good Relient K songs in general it was a pretty underwhelming cover album... however I was floored immediately by Abandon Kansas. I've never heard their other songs; but I loved the instrumentation choices made on this particular cover and it quickly became my favorite version of this song.

Has anyone else heard them? Are they any good?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 5. The Night Santa Went Crazy - "Weird Al" Yankovic

5. THE NIGHT SANTA WENT CRAZY - "WEIRD AL" YANKOVIC

There's a magic moment when you hear Weird Al for the first time. I first discovered him when he released Amish Paradise. I immediately got a copy of Bad Hair Day which ends on this little demented holiday song. A nice blend of alt-rock and christmas the song is performed in the style of Black Gold by Soul Asylum (although I'd argue the main music hook also has elements of 'Mama I'm Coming Home' by Ozzy Osbourne). While there was never an official music video I did find this bad ass home made version. How do you guys like it?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 4. The First Noel - Weezer

4. THE FIRST NOEL - WEEZER

I heard this cover for the first time last year. I was getting ready to move back home from my brief stay in California. My friend Jonathan (of Geekscape) lent me a CD of random christmas songs (some weird 50's originals and other covers) the CD ended with this Weezer cover. I've always loved Weezer no matter what album it was (screw the haters) and this cover just further makes me love the band.

What's your opinion of Weezer?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 3. It's Christmas Time Again - Harley Poe

3. IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME AGAIN - HARLEY POE

Okay, our first original on the list. Harley Poe is the brain child of Joe Whiteford (formerly of Calibretto 13). They are one of my all time favorite bands and I was lucky enough to have Joe on my podcast earlier this year. 

This demented warning to kids about the evil Santa Claus feels like a belongs in a Tim Burton film. The Elfman like quality is only amplified by the haunting child-like "la la's" that fill the background. 

If you've never heard Harley Poe before check out their newest record Sex, Satan and No Regrets

So what do y'all think? Too dark to be a Christmas song or all in good fun?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 2. Baby It's Cold Outside - Brian Setzer Orchestra

DAY 2. BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE - BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA

This is probably one of my favorite Christmas songs ever. In fact 2 years ago I included TWO covers on the countdown. However while it's not my favorite version of this song, there's no more appropriate person to tackle this song than Brian Setzer. 

A nice jazz/blues version really makes this song sound the way it should. While I still prefer Zooey Deschannel/Leon Redbone's version. This version definitely squeaks by in a tight second place. Plus who doesn't love Brian Setzer?

What's your favorite version of this?

25 Songs of Christmas 2012: 1. Motorhead - Run Run Rudolph

DAY 1: Run Run Rudolph - Motorhead (technically just Lemmy)

Okay I'll get this out of the way first. Yes. This isn't actually Motorhead. It's Lemmy of Motorhead featuring Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters/Nirvana)... but any band that involves Lemmy singing is Motorhead in my brain.

I first heard this song on the Kidd Chris show last winter. Absolutely love it.

This is what 25 songs of Christmas is all about. Kicking it off with a nice heavy cover of a moderate christmas classic. I've never been a fan of this song, I mean it's okay but it just never feels like a christmas classic to me, so I welcome heavy metal legends to do their own thing to it.

How do you feel about this cover?