Well It is the Thought That Counts….

Coming up to another Christmas that seems to have begun on the high street straight after Halloween my mind has turned to one of the most diabolic excesses of the commercial “holiday season”: the pop artist’s Christmas album. It is depressing when great artists like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix release appalling covers of Christmas carols. Not only are they distressing to listen to but they also reek of “selling out” and cashing in (but to be fair to Dylan he has donated all royalties to charity). Below is a selection of some contemporary musicians’ take on some festive standards. The first two are pure stinkers (especially “Mr. Rebel Yell” Billy Idol) with only ironic value. Luckily the Thin White Duke is incapable of producing anything below par. However the selection below is not total box of purple Quality Street; and Scottish indy-folk lords Belle and Sebastian show how not to ruin a Christmas (or Advent) song. Of course, they recorded it for a charity album.