There are plenty of people who enjoy listening to the same tired Christmas songs year after year. I’m not one of them. If you’ve ever spent a few holiday seasons working in retail, you know what I’m talking about. Clearing trashed fitting rooms and dealing with stressed-out customers are both temporarily worse than listening to a saccharine Christmas mix. But I can attest after you’ve heard Christina Aguilera belt out The Christmas Song four hundred times on store speakers, the song triggers a gag reflex ever after.  For this list of Christmas songs that don’t suck, I primarily looked for songs that specifically mention Christmas and aren’t entirely overplayed. I also appreciate songs that reflect the dark as well as the light side of the holidays, or tell a good story.

The entire playlist is above, except for #9, #13, and #16 which weren’t available on Youtube, so those song links are below and #9 is replaced with runner-up “Christmas Ghosts” in the playlist.

1. The Sonics - Santa Clause
Who doesn’t want a cute honey and a lot of money for Christmas?

2. The Kinks - Father Christmas
Because Christmas shouldn’t be just for little rich boys.

3. The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
This song’s kinda famous, but I can’t resist the incongruity of a beachy Christmas.

4. Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes
A super-cozy song, with a slightly mournful feel.

5. The Damned - There Ain’t No Sanity Clause
Remember finding out there was no Santa?

6. Run DMC - Christmas in Hollis
Going on the Christmas party mix.

7. Billy Taylor - Bright Star in the East
Would be on the Christmas party mix, if I had the LP.

8. James Brown - Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto
And tell them James Brown sent you!

9. The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
Have you ever wished you could be snowed in with someone so you didn’t have to go home?

10. The Knife - Reindeer
Because no one ever thinks about the poor reindeer that have to haul around fat-ass Santa and that heavy sleigh.

11. Bjork - Jolasveinar (Icelandic Christmas Carol)
I have no idea what she’s singing about, but something tells me the elves are up to no good.

12. Harvey Danger - Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas
Christmas isn’t all about joy and presents. Some people actually have to work.

13. The Magnetic Fields - Mister Mistletoe
Oh Mr. Mistletoe/wither and die/you useless weed/for no one have I.

14. Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!
A pretty song about a shitty Christmas.

15. Tom Waits - Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis
Gather round with your flasks of bourbon kids, Mr. Waits is gonna tell us a tale.

16. Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - There Ain’t No Santa Claus on the Evenin’ Stage
If the one above didn’t make you feel tipsy this will.

Also: If like me you have an embarrassing fondness for “Last Christmas” by Wham! you’ll want to bookmark Last-Christmas.com.

Also: If you really just wish Christmas music rocked more check out this punk rock advent calendar (one punk Christmas song download each day in December): Punk-Christmas.com.

Also: I personally can’t stand the Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” but it’s a pretty standard non-standard holiday tune.