Tired of hearing the same old Christmas chestnuts this season? Give Bing Crosby a break, put the Peanuts on pause, and click play to unwrap these festive modern offerings. Most are brand new for 2012, with tunes to fit nearly every Christmas mood.
Backstreet Boys – “It’s Christmas Time Again” (iTunes)
Sara Bareilles – “Love Is Christmas” (iTunes)
Stephen Colbert, Michael Stipe, and Mandy Patinkin – “Good King Wenceslas”
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Frenchie Davis – “Ave Maria” (iTunes)
Dragonette – “Merry X-Mas (Says Your Text Message) (iTunes)
Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler – “Zombie Christmas” (iTunes)
Fun. – “Sleigh Ride” (iTunes)
Cee Lo Green and The Muppets – “All I Need Is Love” (iTunes)
Billy Lockett – “Only In December” (iTunes)
The Madden Brothers – “Let The World Be Still” (iTunes)
Jon McLaughlin – “Merry, Merry Christmas Everyone” (iTunes)
The Primitives – “You Trashed My Christmas” (iTunes)
She & Him – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (iTunes)
Rufus Wainwright & Sharon Van Etten – “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (iTunes)
Brooke White – “Christmas Card” (iTunes)
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BONUS: Watch Tracey Thorn – The Making of Tinsel and Lights, this season’s best new addition (iTunes)