O Christmas Free 2011

December 25, 2011 1 Comment

In years past, I’ve rolled out the O Christmas Free banner for a series of separate posts dedicated to free holiday MP3s that artists, labels, and download services thoughtfully gift to fans this time of year.

The 2011 pickings were slim to begin with, nearly Scrooge-like in their scarcity — I tweeted out a link to a couple, here and there — but now the holiday rush has arrived, with the ‘sleighful of free’ now quite full. So with just days to go ’til Christmas Day, I’m skipping the one or two tracks per post format from previous years. Instead I’ve compiled a list of these festive free MP3s that are yours for the taking — all Popservations-approved, of course.

Another Night (Bright Light Bright Light, David Oh) – Mary: A Girl At A Party, Winter 2011 Mixtape via SoundCloud

The Bandana Splits – “Wonderful Christmastime” (Paul McCartney cover) via Spinner

Tony Bennett – “The First Noel” via iTunes

The Crookes – “It’s Just Not Christmas Without You” via the band’s website

Duke Ellington – “Jingle Bells” (Robbie Hardkiss Remix) via Amazon MP3

Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler – “(Don’t Call Me) Mrs. Christmas” via Amazon MP3

The Flaming Lips – “A Change At Christmas (Say It Isn’t So)” via Amazon MP3

Mayer Hawthorne – “Christmas Time Is Here” via Stones Throw Records

Jack’s Mannequin – “The Lights And The Buzz” via Amazon MP3

Leigh Nash – “O Holy Night” via Amazon MP3

Scott Matthew with Sia – “Silent Nights” via SoundCloud

Shonen Knife – “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” via Amazon MP3

Regina Spektor – “My Dear Acquaintance (Happy New Year)” via Amazon MP3

[STRANGERS] – “This Year” via Popservations

The Superions (feat. The B-52s’ Fred Schneider) – “Fruitcake” via Amazon MP3

Various Artists – The 2011 Paste Christmas Sampler, feat. 40 free tracks from She & Him, Nicole Atkins, Shelby Lynne, Vanessa Carlton, Summer Camp, Toad The Wet Sprocket, and more.

UPDATE 12/17

Flow Machines – “I Was Born On Christmas Day” (Saint Etienne cover) via Bandcamp

Lissie – “2000 Miles” (live Pretenders cover) via Spinner

Sarah McLachlan & The Students of the School of Music – “Space On The Couch For Two” via her website

Oh My! – “Christmas Wrapping” (The Waitresses cover) via SoundCloud

Tawiah feat. The Shining – “Little Drummer Boy” (part of the Run EP) via her website

UPDATE 12/23

Cristina Black – “When I Think Of Christmas” via White Iris

Choir Of Angels 2011 (Nerina Pallot, Fyfe Dangerfield, and Lisa Hannigan) – Christmas Songs for Dermot O’Leary via SoundCloud (limited downloads)

Fitz & The Tantrums – “Santa Stole My Lady” via Amazon MP3

Frightened Rabbit – “Cheap Gold” via SoundCloud

The Hives and Cyndi Lauper – “A Christmas Duel” via Rolling Stone

Leerone – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” and “Santa Baby” via her website

Johnny Mars & The Healers – “Free Christmas” via SoundCloud

Parenthetical Girls – Parenthetical Girls Save Christmas EP via Bandcamp

Jack and White – “Voices” via Tweet For A Track

My Tiger My Timing – “See You On New Year’s Day” via SoundCloud

Various Artists – Ho Ho Ho Canada III via The Line Of Best Fit

Various Artists – 20 New Indie Rock Christmas MP3s for 2011, feat. Class Actress, The Drums, Summer Camp, Dean Martin/Scarlett Johansson, and more via Stereogum