We are now less than a week away from Christmas, but as we all know, most people start the Holiday season a bit too early. Before the pots and plates of Thanksgiving are out of the dishwasher, you can see people setting up their trees and inflatable lawn ornaments. While the lights are dazzling and a decorated tree is a sight to see, with every Holiday season, we’re reminded here at the Caustic Camp that most of the music associated with the season, frankly, sucks. The commercialization of Holiday music has drowned the genre in sugary pop and false imagery, removing the authentic warmth meant to drive the Holiday season.
For this week’s Caustic Commentary, we wanted to focus on new holiday music that doesn’t suck. The type of songs that truly encapsulate the nuances of this season rather than emphasize the blunt greed of it all. Welcome to Caustic Commentary: Holiday Songs That Don’t Suck.
Check out Glide’s picks for the most refreshing Holiday music of 2024 below.
Reggie Watts – “White Christmas”
Reggie Sings: Your Favorite Christmas Classics, Volume 1 – EP
The multifaceted and always entertaining Reggie Watts tackles three holiday standards on his foray into the sonic Christmas spirit. Reggie Sings: Your Favorite Christmas Classics, Volume 1 finds Watts adding a smokey jazz club-style flair to tunes like “Christmas Time Is Here” and the standout from the three-track outing, “White Christmas.” Watts’s interpretation of this song is cheeky yet moving, as warm piano keys elevate the swaying melodies.
Robert Glasper – “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Feat. Doobie Powell)
In December
Last year, award-winning jazz producer/keyboardist Robert Glasper released his In December holiday album, and he took 2024 to revisit the project and add a new tune to the already unforgettable outing. The deluxe version of In December adds a stirring rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Glasper’s elegant piano work acts as the falling snowflakes, and Doobie Powell’s soaring vocals are the pine tree they stick to, creating an aesthetic holiday portrait to get lost in.
DJ Harrison – “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
A DJ Harrison Xmas
While this project was initially released in 2010, 2024 was the year DJ Harrison finally released his underappreciated yet utterly refreshing Christmas album on streaming platforms. A DJ Harrison Xmas captures the warmth of lo-fi and the looseness of jazz as Harrison pieces together bedroom-style instrumentals that capture the whimsy of the season. Harrison’s version of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is a quint arrangement driven by lush synths and juxtaposing drum chaos.
Sloppy Scales – “Sweet Baby Jesus”
This Machine Mocks Fascits: The Sloppy Scales Songbook
After leaving their life as a rodeo clown in the past to pick up music, Sloppy Scales has been fearlessly airing out his grievances with the modern world across multiple singles in 2024. Those singles have found a home on This Machine Mocks Fascits: The Sloppy Scales Songbook, the debut project from the artist. “Sweet Baby Jesus” is a groovy take on nostalgic blues and an original Christmas tune with Sloppy Scales navigating an animated arrangement and delivering harsh realities.
Madi Diaz – “Kid on Christmas”
Single
Singer/songwriter Madi Diaz is on a clear path to the top of modern music as she slowly builds a discography that showcases her lyrical prowess and fearless sonic explorations. After releasing her stunning Weird Faith LP in 2024, Diaz wraps up the year with a downtrodden acoustic Holiday single that employs a simplistic beauty. “Kid on Christmas” is a moving example of Diaz’s poetic songwriting. She croons over minimalistic instrumentation, penning a longing that finds the artist reminiscing about simpler times around the holiday season.
Dawes – “Christmas Tree in the Window”
Single
Dawes has had one hell of a 2024, racking up critical acclaim for their fantastic Oh Brother LP. The band closes out the year with “Christmas Tree in the Window,” a moving tale of finding solace in the togetherness of Winter. The storytelling tracks put the listener in the shoes of someone attempting to make ends meet by dastardly means, only to be deterred by the smell of hot cocoa and shimmering lights hanging from trees. The band crafts a piano-driven arrangement built on the same sentimentality of the songwriting, making the tune even more palpable.
SNACKTIME – “This Christmas”
Home for the Holidays (Live at WXPN)
Philadelphia’s SNACKTIME is proving to be one of the most innovative and unpredictable additions to the city’s thriving music scene in quite some time, and their new holiday double-single shows their genuinely diverse sound. The band took to Philly’s WXPN to record staggering versions of the modern classic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and their jovial take on “This Christmas.” The latter finds the band injecting deep grooves and jazzy fireworks into the Christmas classic as SNACKTIME wraps up a stellar year with a danceable bow.
Amanda Whiting – “Skating”
A Christmas Cwtch
Jazz harpist Amanda Whiting is becoming an inspiring voice in modern jazz. She follows her 2024 LP with A Christmas Cwtch, a 14-song outing in which Whiting reimagines Christmas classics with new arrangements, putting her experimental tendencies aside for a sinfully sweet pack of cheer. One of the singles from the project, “Skating,” finds Whiting’s nimble harp prowess, creating a gentle Winter breeze that forces the drums to sway along.
Laufey – “Winter Wonderland”
A Very Laufey Christmas: The Santa Baby Edition – EP
Laufey has officially broken through the ranks of modern jazz with the release of her Bewitched LP and its subsequent deluxe version. Now, the vocalist/multi-instrumentalist sets her sights on the Holiday season. Her new Christmas EP features five tunes that will shoot you into the spirit of the season via gentle vocals and lighthearted instrumentation. Laufey’s take on “Winter Wonderland” crackles like a roaring fire or an old vinyl as her vocals float over droning horns and sleigh bells.
BOYR!OT – “I Hate The Holidays”
Single
The melodic and aggressive punk of BOYR!OT takes on the form of The Grinch as they express their disdain for the season in an infectious manner. “I Hate The Holidays” is the anti-seasonal anthem for those who don’t find jingle bells all that musical. The duo takes their youthful energy and pop-punk prowess to craft a punchy single that aims at the negatives of this time of year, including busy shopping malls and underwhelming Christmas music.
