The 2023 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

Is it December already? This year went fast, probably because it was filled with change for me. After nearly 15 years in New York City (and after only 10 years of talking about it), we finally moved up to the Hudson Valley, where I’m now sitting in my office looking out the window behind my desk at trees and sky. I also started my second year of being in business on my own, and built a new brand for my coaching and training business. And I finally released my first album with my band, The Archivists. And then released a Halloween EP a month later.

I also took a trip to Iceland, saw a lot of my family and friends, watched a lot of horror movies, listened to a lot of music, went for a lot of bike rides, and drank a lot of really good beer. All in all, not a bad year.

Anyway, you’re not here for my holiday card. You’re here for…

Look at this horrifying AI-generated Santa! Why are there wires coming out of his head??

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The 2022 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

Singing Santa says: it's playlist time!

Happy holiday times, friends and lovers of holiday music that doesn’t suck! It’s that time again. Time for me to down glass after glass of eggnog while I write clever annotations that no one will read for a playlist that I’ve put way too much time into, starting of course last December, with all the tracks that didn’t fit into last year’s playlist.

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The 2021 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist - Naughty & Nice Edition!

Welcome back, fellow lovers of great Christmas music, happening Hanukkah tunes, and holiday music that doesn't suck. How was your year? I have mixed feelings about mine: while the world seems to be sliding ever faster into destruction and autocracy, it was actually a pretty good year for me personally. So today, I'm choosing to focus on the positive, because a little positivity can be really helpful when times get tough.

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The 2020 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

Hello, fellow holiday music freaks. It's that time again... time for me to get drunk on my homemade eggnog, try to forget most of 2020, and post this year's Holiday Music that Doesn't Suck playlist. This was a... special year in many ways. Many horrible, horrible ways. But there were some silver linings: [Editor's note: fill in some silver linings here if you ever think of any], and of course the fact that this year you get not one but two 2020 holiday playlists from your old pal Jordan Claus! So pour yourself a glass of something warming, sit back, and relax as you enjoy a plethora of palatable painkillers in the form of a playlist. See you next year! 

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A Very Quarantine Christmas!

Stay safe, Santa!

Hi, everybody! So, what's new with you? If you're like me, you're adjusting to life at home [Editor's note: I've been working from home and using videoconferencing for a portion of my social plans for years now, so I'm more adjusting to the rest of the world adjusting], and if you're like me, you could maybe use a pick-me-up right now. So rather than wait for the traditional Christmas-in-July (or the more traditional Christmas-in-December), I've decided to release an out-of-cycle playlist to help you get through the long days ahead. Welcome to A Very Quarantine Christmas.

I had to pull a lot of things that were going to be on this year's official playlist, which will make it a fun challenge later this year to start with fewer tracks in the tank. I don't know if anyone will want to listen to this in March, but it made me feel a whole lot better to have a project to throw myself into, so I hope you enjoy it too.

Also available on Spotify! 

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The 2019 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

Hello friends. As you've no doubt noticed, it's that time of year again. Specifically, the day after Thanksgiving, and I've already eaten the traditional day-after-Thanksgiving-turkey-ham-and-sauerkraut omelette, so all that's left to do is start on this year's Wired for Music Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist. This year's list has some artists who've been featured here before but who have a lot more to offer in the holiday music arena, some classic rockers who have never cracked the list before, and as always some acts that are new to me but have something valuable to add to the overstuffed stocking that is holiday music.

It's always hard for me to edit these down to a reasonable size, so I've usually ended up redefining "reasonable" to be "however many tracks are left when I no longer feel like cutting" but this year was especially challenging - maybe because I really let myself go last year, or maybe because converging is harder than diverging, or maybe just because I get so excited about each song I come across that doesn't suck that I want to share it with everyone. I've already got more than enough in my holding pen for next year's playlist, and that's before I wade through all the stuff that's coming in the next few weeks. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, this year's playlist...I've got a full glass of home-made eggnog (this year I finally learned that aging makes it good), my Yankee Candle "Christmas Cookie" housewarmer lit, and my headphones on, so let's get to it, shall we?

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The 2018 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

Hello boys and girls. As I write these words, it's not even December and I've already subjected my family to a month (+ a few days, if we're being honest) of Christmas music, Chanukah music, New Years Eve music, basically anything and everything I can get my hands on that might qualify as holiday music that doesn't suck. Of course, the sad truth is that most of it really, really does suck. A lot. (I'm looking at you, Eric Clapton.) But never fear, girls and boys, Jordan Claus is here to sift through all that crap so you don't have to! And sift I have.

This year's playlist started, as they usually do, as a list of 20-30 songs that didn't make it to last year's playlist. Some of them fit in just fine this year, others were as appetizing as stale Christmas cookies (I mean, I'll still eat 'em). Then of course I had to add another 50 tracks or so of all the new (to me, not necessarily stuff that came out this year) tunes I had made my way through since I busted out my bottomless xmas playlist way back in August October.

So pour yourself a glass (or three) of nog, turn on the Netflix fireplace, cuddle up under your Snuggie, and feast your ears on some holiday cheer as we dive into this year's Wired for Music Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck playlist. Enjoy, and drop me a comment if you liked it!

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2017 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

It's Christmas music season! Woo hoo! [Sorry, I've been holding that in since August.] The problem, of course, is that most Christmas music sucks. Most holiday music in general is comprised of uninspired cash grabs or low-budget covers of public domain classics banged out by people with more aspiration than talent.

Then there's my playlist. I do the hard work of scouring the holiday music landscape to cherry-pick the very best of the best for you, then I whittle it down to a digestible playlist (harder than it sounds) rather than just posting all 500 of my favorite tracks.

So without further ado, pour yourself some eggnog, pull your chairs up round the fire, and turn up your speakers for the 2017 Wired For Music Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist.

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2016 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

It's that time of year, friends. Noses are cold, skies are grey, and a nuclear apocalypse or environmental disaster is probably pretty nigh. What better way to spend your time than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic while listening to these sweet holiday jams! Lots of great stuff on this year's Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck playlist, including some great takes on a few classic Christmas songs, at least 2 songs about doin' it, and a super-sad bonus song! Enjoy, and remember, kids, as long as we have music, the bastards haven't won yet. Happy Holidays from Wired for Music.

[Parents who share this playlist with the family, be aware a few tracks are on the explicit side, notably track 3, but "This Christmas" somehow continues to sound innocent even though it's obviously about banging.]

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2015 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

My eagle-eyed readers will no doubt have realized by now that I rarely update this blog any more. In fact, let's change "rarely" to "once a year." And people, today is that day. Yes, it's time once again for my annual collection of Christmas music, Chanukah music, and general winter-themed holiday music that doesn't suck.

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2014 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

It's that time again! Pretty much the one time of the year that I still update this blog, since I had a child and got a new job and became super busy all the time with life stuff. But never fear, friends, I wouldn't abandon you on this cold, rainy week encompassing both Chanukah and Christmas! I've got something special in my sleigh just for you, kiddies, and it's this year's Wired For Music Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist! It's a mix of Christmas music, winter music, weird and wonderful music...and all of it doesn't suck. So light the candles, sizzle up some latkes, trim the tree, pour some nog, and nestle in by the fire...and enjoy!

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2013 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck Playlist

It's the most wonderful time of the year! The time of year when I listen to so much Christmas music that my ears start to bleed tinsel and candy canes. Let's face it, a lot of holiday music just plain sucks. So although I haven't touched this blog in about a year (I've been busy), I have sacrificed my ears and listened to as much holiday music as I could find - all to find the best gems for you. And so, gentle reader, I present to you, this year's Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck playlist. Enjoy!

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2012 Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck

People have asked me over the years, "why does a nice atheist Jewish boy like you love Christmas music so much?"  To that I have several answers, but here's 3:
1)  About 60% of all holiday music [Editor's note: percentage not determined via any remotely scientific method] is different versions of the same song.  I love cover songs for the way that a good cover can bring out what is unique about a band's sound.  So it's not a big leap that I would really love hearing a bunch of different bands/composers/etc. all try their hands at the same handful of songs.
2)  If you're going to imply that a Jew can't love Christmas music, you should probably tell that to the Jews who wrote many of the Christmas songs that are so famous today.
3)  Most of these songs are not about Christmas.  Seriously, why do the goyim get a monopoly on riding in a one-horse sleigh?  Or letting it snow?  Or walking through a winter wonderland?  Or date-raping your girlfriend when it's cold outside?
So I guess my point is, music is music, and good music is where you find it.  And this music is good.
What are you listening to his holiday season?  Tell me in the comments, and have a happy pagan December holiday!

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Still More Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck

SK Holiday Open House by flickr user vastateparksstaff

"Christmas music."  "Holiday tunes."  "Mind-numbing winter-themed muzak pabulum."  Call it what you will, our ears are subjected to a lot of crap every winter.  Well, Wired For Music is here to help, with yet another edition of our patented "Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck" playlist.

This year's playlist has some songs that a lot of you will probably already know, but I've had enough people ask me about them in the past that I finally decided to put them on.  Hopefully there'll be some surprises on here too for more "advanced" listeners, whatever that means.  And it even features one song I swore I would never, ever include (it grew on me).

Enjoy, and be sure to check out the playlists from previous years!

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Even More Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck

DJ Santa by flickr user kjd

There is a special time of year that people around the world hold dear in their hearts.  A time to which children look forward with near-crippling anticipation.  A time about which normally well-behaved adults can hardly contain themselves. I refer, of course, to the time when everyone, regardless of race, color, or creed, loads up Wired For Music to hear the annual Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck playlist.  Well folks, brace yourselves - because that time is now.

Enjoy, and don't miss the special links section at the end!  As always, please tell me in the comments what you're listening to this holiday season, and have a happy New Year and whatever else you're celebrating this month.

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More Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck

photo by flickr user Merelymel13

Once again, the "holiday" season is upon us. All across America (and surely other countries) retail workers are stockpiling their weapons so that one day they can come into work, take aim, and make that unbearable, horrid, godawful Christmas-themed playlist stop forever. Well, before you take matters into your own hands like those poor souls, I'd urge you to take a listen to this year's Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck playlist.

Each song on here is absolutely, positively guaranteed not to suck [Editor's note: not a guarantee]. And if you want even more non-suckage, check out last year's Holiday Music That Doesn't Suck playlist.


UPDATE:  Check out all the Wired For Music holiday playlists!
UPDATE 2:  Click here to download this year's playlist.

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"Holiday" Music That Doesn't Suck

Picture courtesy of flickr user elycefeliz

UPDATE:  Check out all the Wired For Music holiday playlists!
UPDATE 2:  Click here to download this year's playlist.

Well, it's that time of year again.  All my favorite December accoutrements are back in vogue:  eggnog, pagan winter trees, mindless consumerism, and of course...Holiday music!  Now I should clarify, my usage of "holiday" here is not because I'm actively engaged in the War On Christmas (though I am), but rather because many of my favorite songs of this season have little if anything to do with Christmas.  Frosty the Snowman?  How did that ever get labelled a Christmas song?  Did the power of Christ compel Frosty to come to life?  Sounds pretty damn Voodoo to me.  Others, of course, are overtly religious, but even an atheist like me can admit that that doesn't mean they can't be wonderful songs.

Growing up Jewish, I never really got exposed to good "Christmas music," but I did get exposed to many beautiful Chanukah (and other Jewish) songs.  My only experience with Christmas music would be the horrible crap I heard repeated ad naseum at the mall, in drug stores, on the radio, in TV commercials, and basically everywhere else my ears were from late November - New Year's.  And frankly, I fucking hated it.  And for good reason:  most of the music played in public this time of year is simply fucking awful.  Even good songs (like the aforementioned Mr. Snowman) get mangled over and over again by hack "artists" looking for a quick buck.

Well, I'm glad to say that Wired for Music is here to help.  In addition to some really good resources for decent holiday music, I'm giving you my very own playlist of holiday favorites.  This time of year is when every musician in the world becomes a cover band, and half the fun is seeing how 50 different bands treat the same tune.  The other half is hearing your favorite bands come up with some originals about the same topics.  And the third half is drinking eggnog.

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