This year, instead of licensing existing songs for Target’s new Christmas campaign — like, say, Vampire Weekend’s “Holiday,” now playing in two companies’ adverts — the cheap-chic retailer contracted with various musicians to turn in 13 14 festive originals.
These holiday-themed tunes are now collected on The Christmas Gig, an exclusive sampler available for free download via Target.com. Since it’s Target, there’s a certain cool cachet attached to the musical project, best exemplified by the duet from indie faves Best Coast and Wavves (each featuring one-half of real-life couple Beth Cosentino and Nathan Williams). Listen to “Got Something For You”:
Another highlight is Guster‘s charming, chiming “Tiny Tree Christmas”:
And groove to the festive funk of “Mrs. Claus Ain’t Got Nothin’ On Me” from Little Jackie:
Check out the full tracklisting for The Christmas Gig:
Guster – “Tiny Tree Christmas”
Blackalicious – “Toy Jackpot”
Darker My Love – “Snow Is Falling”
Natalie Hemby – “Perfect Gift”
Crystal Antlers – “10,000 Watts”
Bishop Allen – “You’ll Never Find My Christmas”
Jenny O. – “Get Down For The Holidays”
Little Jackie – “Mrs. Claus Ain’t Got Nothin’ On Me”
Blazer Force – “Electronic Santa” [NEW!]
Best Coast & Wavves – “Got Something For You”
Best Coast & Wavves – “Got Something For You”
Coconut Records – “It’s Christmas”
Little Isidore – “Party Hard”
The Pinker Tones – “Súper Mamá (Supermom)”
Ceci Bastida – “Un Regálo Para Mí (A Present For Me)”
Free download of The Christmas Gig via Target.com (where you can also view some of the television spots soundtracked by these tunes).
