A bit tired of hearing Bruce babbling on about Clarence getting a new sax for Christmas? Us too. Here’s a holly jolly roundup of some little-known originals and some well-known classics done by some of our favorite modern (mostly indie) artists. Have a favorite tune you wish to share? Just Post a Comment (bottom of page) and let us know. Merry Merry!

Boy Least Likely To – “Christmas Isn’t Christmas” -  MP3

The Mynabirds - “All I Want is Truth (For Christmas)” – MP3

Duvall – “Do You Hear What I Hear” – MP3

Sufjan Stevens – “Only at Christmas Time” – MP3
and “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever” – MP3

The Dismemberment Plan – “This Christmas” – MP3

Dream Diary – “Christmas All Over” -  MP3

Mogwai - “Christmas Song” – MP3

Alexi Murdoch – “Silent Night” – MP3

Andrew Dost – “Yeah, I Know, It’s Christmastime” - MP3

Long Winters - “Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)” – MP3

Cliff Hillis - “On A Day Like Christmas” – MP3

Belle And Sebastian – “Are You Coming Over For Christmas?” – MP3

Death Cab For Cutie – Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) – MP3

Centro-Matic – “Fuselage (It’s Starting to Look Like Christmas Once Again)” – MP3

Descendents - “Christmas Vacation” – MP3

The Swimmers – “A Christmas Sound” – MP3

Adam Arcuragi – “The Christmas Song” – MP3

The Flaming Lips – “A Change At Christmas (Say It Isn’t So)” – MP3

Adventures of Jet – “Waiting for Christmas” – MP3

Pearl Jam – “Let Me Sleep” and “Someday at Christmas” – MP3

Snow Patrol – “When I Get Home For Christmas” – MP3

The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale Of New York” – MP3 – Video

Chomsky – “Christmas Time Is Here” – MP3

The Soft Lightes – The Last Christmas On Earth – Listen here

The Hives & Cyndi Lauper - “A Christmas Duel” – Video

Harvey Danger - “Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)” – Video

Aimee Mann – “Calling on Mary” – Video

The Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” – Video

Low – “Just Like Christmas” – Video

Matt Pond PA – “Snow Day”

Huffamoose – “Hanukkah And Christmas Hand In Hand”

Chris Stamey & Cathy Harrington – “You’re What I Want For Christmas”

Coldplay – “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

Man or Astroman – “Frosty the Snowman”

Blink 182 – “It’s Christmas Time Again”

More Holiday Cheer!

• Holiday Shopping Tips 2010
• Holiday Shopping Tips 2009
• Holiday Shopping Tips 2008

Topics: The Pros and Cons of Parades, Best Music of 2010, The Soup, Zooey Deschanel is the Worst, Great TV of 2010, Beatles, Todd has Sick Voice, Conan Needs a Little Help, Community vs. Modern Family!, Andrew Bird Really Loves Whistling, Dumb Spitting Wrestlers, Good Comedians, Unemployed Sidekick, eMusic Blows, New Sherlock Holmes!

Preview: “Parades? Firetruck, firetruck, tank, karate class… alright, done.”

Playlist: Whole Sky Monitor, Paper Bird, Versus, Bad Plus

Play Now: http://www.usedwigs.com/pod/podcast82.mp3

iTunes: Download, Listen and Subscribe

Podcast Website: www.usedwigsradio.com

Topics: Listener: Brad! Back to School Fashions, Hot Oatmeal Action, iTunes Ping Review, iPhone Photographers, Growth Spurts, Thirst for New Music, Pop Country Radio Review, Chicago Transit Authority, Russ’s Dirtbag Mullet, Sax Solos Destroy Everything, Fishbone, The Dark Tower, Band from TV, Sufjan Stevens, Awesome Drummer Video.

Playlist: Wow & Flutter, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., The Budos Band, Gemini

Play Now: http://www.usedwigs.com/pod/podcast79.mp3

iTunes: Download, Listen and Subscribe

Website: www.usedwigsradio.com

That’s right, Russ’s favorite. Not claiming to be an exhaustive list or a definitive list. So don’t tell me it was criminal of me to ignore the latest Jimmy Buffet album. It was downright heroic.

1. Tegan And Sara – Sainthood
2. Avett Brothers – I and Love and You
3. Passion Pit – Manners
4. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
5. Bishop Allen – Grrr…
6. Langhorne Slim – Be Set Free
7. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
8. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
9. Kings Of Convenience - Declaration of Dependence
10. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
11. Boy In Static - Candy Cigarette
12. Metric – Fantasies
13. Nickodemus – Sun People
14. Rodrigo Y Gabriela – 11:11
15. Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
16. The Swimmers – People Are Soft
17. Maserati – Passages
18. Joe Henry – Blood from Stars
19. Bidiniband – Land Is Wild
20. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below

Musical Guest: Brian Seymour

Topics: SM’s Mister Microphone, Jeff’s Made-Up Belgian History, Todd’s Perv Mustache, Brian’s Man Voice, Most Popular Holidays Albums, Top Songs of The Year, Billy Squier, Hall & Oates, Kings of Leon’s Very Bad Song, Chinese Music Fans, Feast of Seven Fishes, Ethnic Holiday Foods, Home Recording vs Studio Recording, Donut Thursday and Movie Talk!

Preview: “A girl in college said, ‘You should grow a mustache.’ The next day it was there.” – Kenjamin

Playlist: Dismemberment Plan, Sufjan Stevens, Brian Seymour, Centro-matic

Special In-Studio Guests! SM Shrake, Jandek Phil, Kenjamin Franklin and Crazy Aaron!

Play Now: http://www.usedwigs.com/pod/podcast70.mp3

iTunes: Download, Listen and Subscribe

Website: www.usedwigsradio.com

• “Sweet Avenue” by Jets to Brazil
• “I’ll Catch You” by Get Up Kids
• “Always Love” by Nada Surf
• “You Are The Everything” by R.E.M.
• “The Dress Looks Nice On You” by Sufjan Stevens
• “Think (Let Tomorrow Bee)” by Sebadoh
• “Love and Some Versus” – Iron and Wine
• “Skyway” by The Replacements
• “Chesterfield Kings” by Jawbreaker
• “The Way” by Bonnie Prince Billy
• “The Reasons” by The Weakerthans
• “Saro” by Samamidon
• “If Everything Fell Quiet” by Reindeer Section
• “Let My Love Open The Door” by Pete Townshend

What are your faves?

In a welcome turn of events, my 4-week-old took a break from her nightly 45-minute scream-fest which kicks off once her mom leaves the room and ends when mom is done gently putting the 3-year-old to beddy-bye. So, baby girl decided to nap in my arms instead of wailing — awesome — and I took advantage by watching a bunch of music videos On Demand.

I was instantly disturbed by all the teens they showed in the “young lovin’” videos made by the alternative, indie and punk bands. You would think these not-in-the-popular-crowd kids would have made a point to cast authentic looking, alterna-teens in their little narratives, but oddly, most did not. The majority of these actors were chiseled and tanned “One Tree Hill” model types who threw on some Hot Topic clothes, some fake tats and a healthy dose of black eyeliner to fit the part. Ugh.

This got me thinking, “What is the most realistic video portraying teens in a boy meets girls story?” The answer: “Used for Glue” by the almighty and short-lived Rivals Schools. The beauty of this 3-minute mini masterpiece is the fact that the song is not a love song. It’s epically rocking and a love motif is not expected. The band Rival Schools is playing a happenin’ summer party where normal kids are just chilling, skating, drinking and eyeing each other up for some possible hook ups and procuring of digits.

The girl is cute: no make-up, no fancy clothes, just an air of sweet normality and hope. The boy, pretty much the same. That’s the set-up, now behold the majesty:

Perfect ending, right? Great kiss, great song, great vibe, great connection… simple and honest elation. This brings me back to the too-few nights of my youth where something magical like this actually happened. Where the stars align and a girl surprisingly takes you up on the offer of one of your warm cans of Busch and you chill out together innocently while everyone else buzzes about around you and you just tune them out. You’re both in a giddy haze, time stops, and you just connect . Ahhh… thank you beer for the much-needed assist!

So that’s my favorite romantic music video? How’ about you? Comment? Since we’re all in the loving mood now, here’s a quick list of my favorite indie rock love songs (plus one classic rock gem):

• “Sweet Avenue” by Jets to Brazil
• “Always Love” by Nada Surf
• “You Are The Everything” by R.E.M.
• “The Dress Looks Nice On You” by Sufjan Stevens
• “Think (Let Tomorrow Bee)” by Sebadoh
• “Skyway” by The Replacements
• “Chesterfield Kings” by Jawbreaker
• “The Way” by Bonnie Prince Billy
• “The Reasons” by The Weakerthans
• “Let My Love Open The Door” by Pete Townshend