xmasI made a resolution this year to try and suppress my natural Grinchy tendencies. Now that I have two young boys around, Christmas is going to start to become less about me being grumpy and self-indulgently miserable and more about them being smitten with Christmas magic.

They’re both still too young to properly appreciate Christmas, but I’m working on a pre-emptive attitude adjustment. I’ve already eaten my body weight in mince pies. Dr. O’C and I have erected our own ‘tree’ for the first time ever. I’m even thinking of taking Boy Z to see Santa’s Magic Cave in the city on Monday. It isn’t entirely clear to me why Santa lives in a cave in Australia, maybe the North Pole is too far away. But that’s neither here nor there. I’m the Grinch post heart-size increase this year, post-haunt Ebeneezer Scrooge.

And part of getting in the Christmas spirit, especially when Christmas comes at the height of summer, is Christmas music. Last year it was a Joni Mitchell Christmas for your underwhelming narrator:

It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on…”

Joni Mitchell “River” (”Blue” Joni Mitchell - Blue)

But this year, in the spirit of a better attitude, I’m looking for a more cheerful Christmas soundtrack. Problem is that most of my favorites are pretty somber affairs. I’m not much of a ‘Holly, Jolly Christmas’ sort of guy. For example, Tom Waits paints a pretty bleak, and in my experience accurate, picture of the Christmas experience. I prefer Neko Case’s cover to the original:

Neko Case – “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis” (”New Coat of Pain – The Songs of Tom Waits” Neko Case - New Coat of Paint - Songs of Tom Waits)

Sufjan Stevens seems to have a similarly plaintive view of the winter holidays, his apparently rooted in family dysfunction:

Sufjan Stevens – “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever” (”Songs for Christmas” Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas)

I’m not sure who wrote the original (Alan Jackson maybe?) but whoever did must have spent some holidays with the Stevenses. The Decemberists cover is just gold:

The Decemberists – “Please Daddy, Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas” (”Alternative Rock Christmas” The Decemberists - Alternative Rock X-mas)

OK, OK, festive Christmas spirit, Chris. How about some jazz? John Coltrane’s version of “Greensleeves” is festive:

John Coltrane “Greensleeves” (”Ballads” John Coltrane - Ballads:)

And this little diddy from one of my favourite Christmas movies:

Vince Guaraldi Trio “Linus and Lucy” (”A Charlie Brown Christmas” Vince Guaraldi Trio - Charlie Brown Holiday Hits)

Then there’s this Motown classic:

Marvin Gaye “Purple Snowflakes” (”Motown Christmas Vol. 2″ Marvin Gaye - Motown Christmas, Vol. 2)

If purple isn’t your thing, what about blue?

 Elvis Presley – “Blue Christmas” (”Elvis Christmas” Elvis Presley - Elvis Christmas)

I also like my Christmas with a side of sexy:

Mae West – “Put the Loot in the Boot, Santa” (”Christmas Classics” Mae West - Christmas Classics)

But still my favorite, the greatest Christmas song of all time:

The Pogues – “Fairytale of New York” (”If I Should Fall From Grace With God” Kirsty MacColl & The Pogues - If I Should Fall from Grace With God [Expanded])

It was christmas eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me: won’t see another one…

Nothing says Christmas cheer like drunken Irishmen.

Hurry up, only 16 14 (oops, better get going) shopping days to get your Chinese robot hamster or whatever you kids are buying this year.

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