Just in case you haven't been around a calendar recently, we're now in the holiday home stretch with Christmas less than two weeks away. Some of your favorite bands have taken the time this year to record music that celebrates everything great about the holiday season—family, giving, thankfulness, etc.—while hopefully prying listeners away from buying the new Justin Bieber holiday album or listening to Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas for the seventeenth year in a row. 

With that in mind, we here at Altpress.com wanted to compile all of this year's relevant holiday releases into one convenient post. It's still not too late to enjoy these this season (say, at an ugly Christmas sweater party; those haven't been overdone yet, right?), so read on for a list of 14 releases that'd make a perfect soundtrack for any holiday soiree.

ARTIST VS. POET - Naughty Or Nice EP
RELEASE DATE: December 12 (SELF-RELEASED)

Artist Vs. Poet's first release since being dropped from Fearless Records—something the band appears to be completely at peach with, for the record—Naughty Or Nice features one new original ("Airplanes And Candy Canes") as well as four covers from blink-182 ("Happy Holidays, You Bastard"), Ben Folds Five ("Brick"), N'SYNC ("Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays") and Judy Garland ("Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"). Curious BF5 cover choice aside (here are the lyrics to the song, in case you're wondering why), Naughty Or Nice is streaming here and will be available for free download from the group later today.

BAYSIDE - "Angels We Have Heard On High" single
RELEASE DATE: Out now (WIND-UP)

This cover originally surfaced in 2010, but in the spirit of the holidays Bayside has let their benevolence take over and reupped the track for free download here. If you really enjoy Bayside's take on this holiday standard, you might as well head to our recent edition of Under The Holiday Covers to vote for it over Family Force 5's version, then read our new interview with frontman Anthony Raneri about his upcoming solo plans as well as the Where's The Band? tour. Give a little, get a lot.

THE SUMMER SET - What Money Can't Buy EP
RELEASE DATE: Out now (SELF-RELEASED)

100% of proceeds from the sale of the Summer Set's What Money Can't Buy EP goes to Toys For Tots, one of the more noble charities helping those in need around the holidays. With two originals ("Old Mexico" and "Love On Our Side") as well as "Something 'Bout This Time of Year," written by ex-Whiskeytown multi-instrumentalist Mike Daly, it's well worth the minimum donation of two dollars from the group's Bandcamp page. Give more if you can; those peppermint mochas will still be available tomorrow.

AUGUST BURNS RED - "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" single
RELEASE DATE: Out now (SOLID STATE)

If metal's more your bag when it comes to traditional holiday covers, August Burns Red have you, well, covered. Their take on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" skyrocketed up the iTunes metal charts earlier this month, and even held the top spot for a brief spell. In addition to releasing the song, the band held an auction earlier this month to benefit Invisible Children's efforts in ending the Ugandan war, a cause we can all get behind, as well as one that offers a bit of perspective on how blessed most of us are to be in our situations. 

THIS PROVIDENCE - "All I Want For Christmas Is You" single
RELEASE DATE: Out now (FUELED BY RAMEN)

Despite our subtle dig at Mariah above, there's no question that Carey's album Merry Christmas has remained a huge part of our holiday consciousness, to the joy of some and the chagrin of others, since its release in 1994. Still, it's led to many covers over the years, including This Providence's take on "All I Want For Christmas Is You," which initially surfaced last year but has made the rounds again in 2011 thanks to an official reup on YouTube.

RUNNER RUNNER - "Christmas In California (You're My Holiday)" single
RELEASE DATE: Out now (SELF-RELEASED)

To many, Runner Runner's brand of electro pop-rock is a perfect conduit for holiday music, and they've taken it to task with a new digital single, "Christmas In California (You're My Holiday)." They're one of the few bands releasing original holiday material in this vein in lieu of a cover, which is commendable, although time will tell if the song becomes a holiday standard. Meanwhile, some of us might just reminisce about how awesome Over It was. The mid-2000s were a magical time, weren't they?

THIS CENTURY - "Kiss Me Like It's Christmas" single
RELEASE DATE: Out now (SELF-RELEASED)

If acoustic jams are your cup of tea (say, peppermint tea), This Century's "Kiss Me Like It's Christmas" will probably satisfy your requirements, so long as said requirements are that the song be heartfelt and sound vaguely like something that'd be playing as you snuggle up close to a fireplace with your significant other and/or favorite pet. Is it getting misty in here?

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