Kate's Annual Holiday MIXXes
After making the questionable choice of releasing a holiday mixx every(ish) year since 2008, I've finally pulled them all together in one place.I hope you enjoy as much as I enjoy wading through truly terrible holiday come-back albums, deep-cuts, b-sides, Christmas music blogs, and youtube videos of fan-only releases from the 90's to bring you what I hope is enjoyable, but I'll also settle for "not terrible."Don't miss the extras and special content throughout!
2024 Mixx is HERE!!
Long December 2024
Don't we all need a happy end to a long December? Heres to a long January but hey we've got each other?
Are you an apple music listener but also a Kesha Lover? Don't miss out on the bop of the year!
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2014
2013
2012
2010
2009
Yule Belong With Tree (santa's version)
2023
I'm sorry for the opening song but I couldn't not. I tried to include Cher's new song "DJ play a Christmas song" but its going to have to be a standalone.
All new (to the mixxes) songs!
X-MIXX 2022: Grapes of Wreath
Just when you think there can't possibly be more holiday music, a bunch of 00's artists decide to stage their comebacks by recording either bad or mostly inaccessible christmas albums.
You’re welcome for skipping the new Barenaked Ladies, 98° & Backstreet Boys in the final cut.This one is super eclectic but has some new favorites.
Happy 2022! Onto 2023!
First AI generated album art and a nice snapshot of how mediocre dall-e was at the end of 2022
Can't skip the Kate Bush! She had quite a 2022!
Missing Dolly's Hard Candy Christmas? May I recommend the video from the movie?
x-sides and reindeerities 2021
2021 was strange and so are some of these selections. All new tracks this year so save room for Rob Thomas, ABBA, Harry Nilsson, Hall & Oates, Fiona Apple, Karl Blau, Pixies- and a few songs about poor Santa getting stuck in Chimneys. Plus a Dolly and Willie duet!?!Big thanks to everyone who submitted ideas, and to Aquarium Drunkard and All Songs Considered's Holiday Specials, and Owen Brennan for inspiration!
Absolute highlight here is Pearl Bailey's Five Pound Box of Money (which also isn't on Apple music ) and also the video is worth it.
MMXX. .XXMM 2020
The Holiday Mixx that really no one ever asked for, for a year that no one really asked for.
Some new and creative ones on here. We've come a long way from just repeats of Merry Christmas Baby.
this is a ghostly rendition of a picture of me and legs at a cabin in NE NM that we sent as a Christmas card to celebrate our 20 years of friendship.
No longer streaming, but this whole Bootsy Collins Christmas album is amazing. I would put one on each year if it were online. Just imagine this between TSwift and Carly Rae
xmixx 2019
For this, the 10th Annual Mixx, I pulled together my favorites from years past. This is a mixx of bangers and HITS. A bit more subdued than other years. (Though somehow doesn't have any Dolly which in retrospect is very confusing- I suppose there's only so many times you can put on Hard Candy Christmas.
Based on a print Kat and I made of Lincoln in Provincetown one snowy valentines day
RED GREEN WAVE 2018
See what I did there?
For the full experience listen to the Bootsy Collins first and be thankful for creative, non-boring Christmas music.e.d. This one is really good
This is an abstracted version of a picture of some baby turtles in their first swim after hatching that Ayana and I got to see in Jamaica in 2018
Just imagine that this one starts with this Bootsy Collins opening...
SANTAISDEAD// LONGLIVESANTA
2017
DC in the rearview, my sturgis duck on the dash crossing the west, this is full of classics.
This was taken from some pictures I took as I drove across the country in 2017 - the badlands and my little sturgis duck who accompanied me the whole way
CHRISTMASTIME IN THE CITY 2016
Sharon Jones and Stevie Wonder get extra playtime this year, throw in some TLC and Destiny's Child, plus Weezer and Smashing Pumpkins and we've got eclectic up and down the list.
Did you know Weezer released a full Christmas album? Neither did anyone else.
Is that a lego white house in front of the real white house? Sure is.
Candles Burnin Low/Lots of Mistletoe 2014
Maybe my favorite opening... and my favorite album art. I used to send a dropbox folder with art and the track list for uploading to iTunes. its still the only place that has the whole mix bc streaming services are stupid.Deeper cuts and rarities linked below.
Based on a screenprint I did - still have some prints if anyone wants :)
Sharon Jones released Big Bulbs in 2013 as a single, but it would be on her full Christmas album in 2015. Perhaps one of my favorites of all time - her Tiny Desk concert is also amazing.
This one was on the original mix and its too good to not include - J. Hines Band's Funky Christmas for You
Don't sleep on Liz Phair's HO HO HO
Also this Beth Orton cover of Joni Mitchell's River (sleeper Christmas song)
HO HO HOLIDAY 2013
I do not apologise for the two Elton John or two Dolly tracks, though both Magnetic Fields and Neutral Milk Hotel feels like some strong Gen-x dude pandering.
This one has a strong country middle section but doesn't skimp on Otis, Stevie, or Ella.
Making screenprints of Van Morrison album covers was a big part of my 2013. I have a few prints left...
Belle and Sebastian apparently recorded an entire Christmas album in 2002 and I used to have a James Brown cover but I decided this one is more fun.
So I have this recording of R.E.M covering Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) BUT upon further research and this blog apparently R.E.M recorded lots of Christmas songs as fan releases. This one is great and so is Reindeers in the Sky:
Cheer Cheer Cheerful 2012
Started to hit my stride with this one - first appearances for: The Wish - Bruce's ode to his mom; the BPB cover of Christmas Eve can Kill You; everyone's favorite Pogues' Fairytale of NY; Willie and Lyle. Rarities not on streaming below.
After he was the drummer for Phantom Planet (RIP Marissa), Jason Schwartzman launched a solo project called Coconut Records. This is it's only Christmas song.
A very jazzy rendition of Holly Jolly Christmas from the Old 97's in 1997
Also not available to stream is Yo La Tengo's Its Christmas time
CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA 2010
I really hadn't gotten the swing of this and 10 of the tracks are the same as 2009. Don't get me wrong, they're great, but its rather similar.
A Very Merry DC Christmas
It was my first full year in DC and that deserved a lot of Dolly and Loretta.
An Inaugural Christmas 2008
The first mix, brought to you from the PIC offices while we organized a very very large party.
This one was only on CD and is lost to time (until I find a copy and also a CD player)
About X-MIXX
I started doing this on the third floor of the PIC building in 2008 as we were preparing for the 2009 Inauguration. I burned them on CDs and shoved them in the hands of people I liked as they left for our 3 day Christmas break. I've tried to recreate those playlists but they had a lot of rarities and live tracks its been hard to recreate on streaming music platforms.
Anyways people liked them and this slightly absurd tradition has continued through the years.
Just as I think there can't possibly be more holiday music every year, there always is and its always absurd.
Did you know there was a documentary made about the search for rare and obscure Christmas music? Loved the trailer. Cant wait to watch it.
Top Songs:
1. Merry Christmas Baby
2. Touch The Hem Of His Garment
3. Hard Candy Christmas
4. Christmas Must Be Tonight
5. Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis
6. Winter's Come And Gone
7. What Christmas Means To Me
8. Presents For Christmas
9. Last Month Of The Year
10. If We Make It Through December
Statistically Speaking
16 years
13 Mixxes
222 Songs
352 Tracks
219 Artists
Top Artists:
1. Stevie Wonder
2. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
3. Loretta Lynn
4. Otis Redding
5. Solomon Burke
6. John Prine
7. Dolly Parton
8. Bruce Springsteen
9. The Blind Boys Of Alabama
10. The Band