The Lead: 14 Releases For Your 2011 Holiday Party

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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ALL TIME LOW – “Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass” single
RELEASE DATE: Out now (DGC)

The sardonic princes of pop-punk originally tacked this song onto the US deluxe edition of their latest album Dirty Work, but in a recent move that can only be described as uncannily timely, ATL released a video for the track that features plenty of festive decorations being unnaturally worn by actors, unrequited office romance and best of all, a mustachioed puppet. What's next for these guys, an hour-long holiday special?

SPARKS THE RESCUE – “The Christmas Song” single
RELEASE DATE: Out now (Fearless)

It's not a cover of Weezer's great “The Christmas Song”, but rather a rendition of the traditional “Christmas Song” colloquially known as “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire.” The video is a slideshow of sorts comprised of childhood Christmas photos from the members of STR, which ought to cause at least a few of you to involuntarily emit an “Aww” sound. The song probably helped keep Sparks The Rescue on the minds of fans in the mood for giving as well, as the group has exceeded their fundraising goal on Kickstarter to record a new album, which will be their first since being jettisoned from Fearless Records earlier this year.

VERSAEMERGE – “Santa Baby” single
RELEASE DATE: December 20 (FUELED BY RAMEN)

VersaEmerge's rendition of “Santa Baby” isn't quite as full of whimsy as previous versions with which you're likely familiar, which makes VE's musically moody take on the track interesting. It's a nice showcase for vocalist Sierra Kusterbeck as well, who spends the majority of the video either looking into a mirror or hanging out underwater. Chalk this one up as a legitimate surprise. The song hits iTunes on December 20.

ROCKY LOVES EMILY – “I'm Not A Dang Polar Bear, I'm A Human Being”
RELEASE DATE: Out now (TOOTH AND NAIL)

This original from RLE has jingle bells, soothing vocals, a nice acoustic guitar base and best of all, a lyric video most will probably find adorable. As if that weren't enough, the use of “Dang” in the song title is highly endorsed. Shirts off, everyone! We're human beings! We buy music on iTunes!

HEY MONDAY – The Christmas EP
RELEASE DATE: Out now (Self-released)

Cassadee Pope and company lend their accessible pop-rock bent to the holiday season with three new originals and a cover of “Oh, Holy Night” that doubles as their first release since leaving Decaydance/Columbia. The band appear unperturbed by the move, with Pope giving the proclamation in a recent Facebook Q & A, of all things. The EP is available on iTunes. 

FOREVER THE SICKEST KIDS – “Mistletoe Is For Quitters” single
RELEASE DATE: Out now (Self-released)

Speaking of newly independent bands, FTSK have hopped aboard the holiday song train by recently self-releasing “Mistletoe Is For Quitters” on iTunes. It's an acoustic track with a ton of vocal harmonies—a fairly tried-and-true formula for holiday music. Listen to it while decorating your tree, if you haven't already done that for some reason.

BONUS TRACK – MXPX – “Gimme Christmas”
RELEASE DATE: Out now (TOOTH AND NAIL)

This one's a couple years old, hence its status as a bookend on this list, but still: who can resist Mike Herrera rapping about what he wants for Christmas, not to mention the scintillating rap hands from Herrera, Tom Wisniewski and Yuri Ruley? Your move, Sum 41. Truly a holiday tour de force. 

The song is from MxPx's 2009 Christmas album, Punk Rawk Christmas.