In recognition of the Holiday season, I wanted to share mixtapes and playlists which use music to celebrate the spirit of the season.

A Very Indie Xmas mixtapes

Every holiday season I try to find a more diverse mix of songs than shopping malls and radio stations play on an endless loop between Thanksgiving and the Holidays. It’s a holiday tradition I’ve continued for the past 7 years, mixing new covers of traditional holiday music and original songs by artists known for their independent streak. Here’s a few of the more recent mixtapes you can enjoy during Holiday season:

My 2012 mix of Indie holiday music includes songs by The Shins, Of Montreal, Sufjan Stevens, They Might Be Giants, and Rufus Wainwright, among many others.

The 2011 Indie Xmas mixtape features holiday music by The Dandy Warhols, Lou Reed, She & Him, Harry Nilsson, and Weezer and much more.

My 2010 mixtape includes songs by Beach House, Coconut Records, and Los Campesinos (and some nifty artwork by Lauren Reid).

The 2009 Indie Xmas mixtape features holiday music by Julian Cassablancas, Tom Waits, and a very special appearance by Bob Dylan, among many others.

My 2008 mixtape includes tracks by The Flaming Lips, Toots & the Maytals, Nellie McKay, The Ramones, and many more indie bands.

Extra credit: My 2007 Xmas in July mixtape on the Highway 61 blog.

Disco Noel

This Holiday-themed disco album is an record I found while digging through countless stacks of vinyl. It’s a perfect disc to play at any holiday party, or to mix into your own music playlist! I’ve recorded the full set and shared it via Soundcloud, so it can be played in any device using HTML5