With Thanksgiving being over, we are finally able to listen to Christmas music free of judgement from others. Everyone has their favorite holiday soundtracks, and they usually consist of the exact same songs. But, if you know where to look, there are some albums that offer the perfect listening experience. Here are the top five Christmas albums to set that perfect holiday mood:
5. Various Artist – ‘Punk Goes Christmas’
This is not a traditional holiday album. In fact, this will be probably the most energetic album on this list. This record stands out above the rest mostly because it not only has an all-star lineup contributing to it, but it has plenty of original songs. With “Punk Goes Christmas,” you have All Time Low, New Found Glory, Yellowcard and a many more heavy hitters in the pop-punk scene. Something else notable about this album is that it has one of the strongest renditions of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” by William Beckett. If you are in the need for new music for the holiday this season, this record is one you should check out.
4. Trans-Siberian Orchestra – ‘Christmas Eve and Other Stories’
If you have heard any amount of Christmas music, then you have heard something from the debut album from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. It is such an instrumental album for the genre itself and is one of the most synonymous albums with the season. Odds are some of the tracks on this album like “The Silent Nutcracker” or “O Holy Night” might be some of your favorite renditions. This record is one of those that has a little bit for everyone, and it is perfect for enjoying the holidays. What more could you really ask for from a rock opera holiday album?
3. Frank Sinatra – ‘A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra’
Honestly, where would we be without Frank Sinatra on this list? This album has some of the most recognizable renditions of everyone’s favorite holiday tracks. Songs like “The Christmas Song” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” are some of the standout tracks that are perfect for every holiday season. You can never go wrong with Sinatra, whether it is this Christmas album or any of his other works.
2. Michael Bublé – ‘Christmas’
This is the most recognizable contemporary album on this list. Michael Bublé really comes up in the holiday playlist shuffle without fail. “Christmas” covers every genre including dixieland, pop, jazz and swing renditions of the most popular holiday tracks. Bublé has such a powerful and soothing voice that it is hard not to feel welcomed when listening to songs like “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and “White Christmas.” The latter of which has a powerful guest spot from Shania Twain. It is hard to think of a more iconic album for the holiday season, which brings me to the last and final album for this list.
1. Bing Crosby – ‘White Christmas’
The quintessential album you need to listen to during the holiday season without a doubt has to be Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” If you don’t recognize the name, you will definitely recognize some of his renditions of holiday classics. Tracks like “Silent Night,” “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” are just some of the songs that have brought people happiness during countless holiday seasons. Crosby is the artist in which many others have based their holiday albums off of. His soulful renditions are what make it one of the more enjoyable and entertaining listens. It is just a classic album. There is not much more to it. It is hard to imagine a holiday season without Bing Crosby’s soothing voice.
Stuart Smith • Dec 1, 2016 at 4:10 pm
My holiday season has been ruined because the author neglected to include the album “That’s Christmas to Me” by Pentatonix. 3/16.