As the holiday season unfolds, it seems impossible to escape the familiar melodies of Christmas music. While Mariah Carey and Wham! have secured their spots on every playlist, it’s understandable if you find yourself yearning for a change. To freshen up your festive soundtrack, consider these 10 less conventional tracks that might just become your new holiday favorites.

Throughout history, some Christmas songs have taken a more somber tone. Classics like Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” and The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York” are known for their melancholic themes. However, none quite match the emotional weight of “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis,” a song that delivers a poignant twist likely to pause even the most cheerful gift exchange.

Although I cherish the timeless duet of Bing Crosby and David Bowie, it’s a tune I’ve revisited countless times. Enter Lindstrøm, who reimagines its rhythm with a persistent drumbeat, transforming the melody into a hypnotic, spacey disco journey. This track is available in various lengths, from a brief five minutes to an immersive 42-minute experience, ideal for any holiday gathering seeking a unique musical twist.

Following the energetic Lindstrøm track, a more serene option offers a peaceful transition. This song features soothing synths, gentle sleighbells, and calming vibes, perfect for those who wish to achieve a meditative state amidst the holiday hustle.

Holiday songs with a hardcore edge are in short supply, but “David Christmas” stands out. This track, a precursor to Fucked Up’s acclaimed rock opera David Comes to Life, combines festive elements like sleighbells and references to iconic Christmas tales. It’s a rare tune that might just inspire an enthusiastic dance circle around the Christmas tree.

Interestingly, the theme of infidelity surfaces in numerous Christmas songs, such as Clarence Carter’s “Back Door Santa” and the child’s perspective in “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” They Might Be Giants’ “Santa’s Bear” adds a playful twist to this genre, telling the story of a wife flaunting her affair, with her lover whimsically dressed as Santa. This lesser-known track is infused with the band’s signature humor and makes for an intriguing addition to any holiday playlist.

This is the calm comedown counterpoint to the Lindstrøm track above. All gently bouncing meditative synths, sleighbells, and chill vibes. If all you want for Christmas is a zen-like trance state, then queue up this song.

Fucked Up – David Christmas

There aren’t enough hardcore holiday songs if you ask me. The titular David of “David Christmas” ultimately went on to be the central character in Fucked Up’s breakthrough rock opera David Comes to Life. “David Christmas” has sleighbells, references to the Grinch, and the first Noel. It’s the rare Christmas song that will have you trying to start a circle pit around the tree.

They Might Be Giants – Santa’s Beard

There are a weird number of Christmas songs about infidelity. (See Clarence Carter’s “Back Door Santa” and, at least from the child’s perspective, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”) But They Might Be Giants’ “Santa’s Bear” is a lesser-known one that pairs the duo’s trademark irreverence with a tale of a woman flaunting her extramarital affair in her husband’s face. Oh, and her sidepiece is dressed as Santa.

I’m just gonna say it — American holiday folklore is boring. Germany and central Europe have Krampus, the Welsh have Mari Lwyd, and Iceland has Jólakötturinn, or the Yule Cat. Jólakötturinn is an enormous feline that stalks the countryside, eating people who don’t receive new clothes for Christmas. Apparently, it’s supposed to encourage hard work and preparedness. In 1988, Iceland’s finest export, Björk, recorded a song about this creature that includes such festive lines as:

His hair sharp as needles

His back was high and bulgy

And the claws on his hairy paw

Were not a pretty sight

Low – Just Like Christmas

Slowcore pioneers Low released an entire Christmas album in 1999, appropriately titled Christmas. “Just Like Christmas” is probably the most approachable song on the record, and it moves along at a faster clip than much of the band’s material. It still showcases the band’s ear for delicate melodies and the late Mimi Parker’s intimate vocals, though, before fading out as drippy avalanches of drums crash around her.

Magnetic Fields – Everything is One Big Christmas Tree

A delightful song about telling someone to loosen up and have some fun.

Stop mumbling and cheer up

Put down the book, pick beer up

Why sit in your dark and lonely room?

Must your every word be sincere?

Also, just casually referring to Santa Claus as “Sandy” is perfection.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Ain’t No Chimneys In The Projects

A modern entry in the Christmas soul pantheon that can stand toe-to-toe with James Brown’s “Santa Claus Go Straight To The Ghetto.” “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects” has groove to spare, killer strings, and one of the best horn sections in the business. It’s a pretty short song about how the magic of Christmas is provided by hardworking parents, not some jolly weirdo in a red suit.

100 gecs – sympathy 4 the grinch

We’ve all had disappointing holidays when we didn’t get the gifts we wanted. 100 Gecs embrace the fantasy of exacting revenge on Santa and taking what you want in this goofy hyperpoppunk song. It’s an absolute blast with a chant-along “la-la-la” post-chorus. I might not play this one for your ungrateful kids, though.