![]() It helps that, even though it was produced in 1996, it’s got the same fuzz-filled production that’s helped the stuff from the ’60s stand the test of time.Ī mix between surf and dead-awful a capella, The Barbary Coasters play a risky game. But this jam by the LA-based Bomboras is the grooviest version you’ll find online. Seeing as one of surf rock’s defining characteristics is the rolling, amped up western drums, it makes perfect sense that “Little Drummer Boy” would be one of the most prevalent of all the surf rock Christmas covers. OK - maybe it is just a little bit cheesy. It begins a little softly, so give it a minute or two, but once this thing gets fully going, it delves deeply into psychedelia in a way that would make Lennon proud. John Lennon’s classic hasn’t worked its way into the holiday covers canon completely - fans of his are probably still wary to touch the work of an artist many consider to be a Songwriting God - but this rendition is worthy. The Mermen - “Happy Christmas War Is Over” It rocks, but just a little bit, so that all generations of your family can appreciate the fingerpicking that’s happening here, so long as you’re not fighting about the legitimacy of Donald Trump’s presidential bid.ġ1. This is really just a beautiful rendition of a beautiful song that has become one of the sleepiest, most played-out Christmas classics. Either way, once the squishy pedal effects come in you’ll be dreaming of jumping in puddles of slush, sunshine be damned. ![]() Thee Swank Bastards - “We Three Kings”īefore the shimmering guitar blocks out all that other noise, you’ll notice the creeping bass here, a device that manages to undermine the schlock of Christmas and highlight the fact that the holiday has been transformed into an awful capitalistic crusade. And removed from their place as cultural touchstones, those stories are weird as hell.ġ3. There could be some more sci-fi thrown into this, given the band’s general pastiche, but that’s fine, as the track is bookended by vintage samples of Christmas specials. It seems weird that a surf band could come from Alabama, but if Man or Astro-man?’s twang is any indication, it could be for the best. The guitar tone is more somber than celebratory, a perfect soundtrack for binge drinking straight through to the morning of December 26.ġ4. Smith - “Alle Jahr Wieder”Īn uncommon German Christmas carol done by an even more uncommon musician, this take on “Alle Jahr Wieder” is better suited for closing out the night than kicking it off. Highlight? “Band-Aids!? Why would you want Band-Aids for Christmas?”ġ5. This one starts out with a little skateboarder asking for a “bottle of peroxide” for Christmas, and then basically does nothing but provide the Los Angeles band a venue for ridiculing what were then known as sidewalk surfers. The Crossfires were perhaps the masters of penning original surf rock Christmas songs, mostly because they did it with the sense of humor of a ten-year-old beach rat, which is exactly what’s needed to create any enduring holiday jam. The Crossfires - “Santa and the Sidewalk Surfer” But it’s just too damn good to be left off of the list. Listen, this is probably the greatest song on this list, but it can’t get the top spot - or anywhere near it - because, just like the Beach Boys, it barely even counts as surf rock. So leave the eggnog behind, grab a cold one, and kick back as the ceaseless twang of surf rock carries you on through to the New Year. ![]() ![]() They’re especially suited to those who might be stringing Christmas lights in shorts and a tank top this year due to El Niño, nary a flurry in sight. That’s a good rule of thumb for any time of year - making it as gnarly as possible - so we’re helping you out with this list of tubular takes on holiday classics. Any way you slice it, you’ve got to put up with the jingle bells and sleigh rides and snowflakes for at least three months of every year, so why not try to make it as gnarly a time as possible? Christmas music: you love it, hate it, or just try to tolerate it until the first of the year rolls around. ![]()
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