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With Halloween over, it’s time to do what every store and suburban home has been doing since September: start preparing for Christmas. However, if you’re like me and always want something new and exciting, it can get exhausting to hear the exact same songs constantly on the radio. For your enjoyment, I’ve crafted a list of 25 of my favorite non-traditional Christmas songs so you can get into the holiday spirit without Mariah Carey this year. In addition, I’ve arranged the songs in ascending order into my favorites, so the longer you listen, the better they get (at least in my opinion!)

1. “Christmas Drag” by I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME: 6.5/10

I really enjoy the casual opening to this song; it’s a nice sentiment, but it does take almost a minute to get into the song. The piano is also a nice addition! However, the song isn’t very memorable, even though it’s good, which is why it got the bottom spot. 

2. “Perfect Holiday” by Fitz and the Tantrums: 7/10

This song has a nice beat and is fun to listen to! It does get somewhat repetitive after a while and uses lots of typical Christmas stereotypes like Santa climbing through the chimney and snow falling in its lyrics, though. It kind of just seems like someone took all the Christmas imagery they could think of, put it in a bowl, stirred it up, and made a song. 

3. “Groovy Xmas” by The Linda Lindas: 7.4/10

I really like how upbeat this song is. It’s perfect for when you want to dance, and it truly was adequately named. It’s insanely groovy. 

4. “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call” by Bleachers: 7.8/10

The somber vibe isn’t something you often get with holiday songs. Bleachers did an incredible job creating a tragic song while still making it enjoyable to listen to. The vocals are also really lovely. 

5. “Christmas Dirtbag” by Wheatus: 8/10

This song is a twist on the iconic “Teenage Dirtbag” that we all know and love! It has a lower spot on the list simply because it isn’t unique, even though it’s still enjoyable to listen to. I also love Santa’s voice in this song; It’s hilarious. 

6. “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas” by blink-182: 8.2/10

You can always count on blink-182 to create a fun spoof. I truly love this song because it captures their angsty and unserious vibe and tells a funny story while doing so about a man who ends up in jail after attacking bothersome Christmas carolers. The unconventional lyrics, such as “I can’t describe the joy they bring/ ‘Cause joy is something they don’t bring me” are definitely what make this song. 

7. “Alone this Holiday” by The Used: 8.2/10

I will forever be a fan of Bert McCracken’s 2000s emo voice. I highly recommend for fans of Taking Back Sunday, My Chemical Romance, and the All-American Rejects. I’d also like to add that I’m probably biased because I met McCracken, and he was very kind. 

8. “Christmas Caller” by Beach Bunny: 8.3/10

Back in middle school, I almost exclusively listened to Beach Bunny, so I had to include this song on my list. Though it is similar to a lot of the band’s music, it’s still a really good song, and I love the guitar. I also really enjoy the play on the word “presents/presence” in the lyrics and think it’s a cute touch. 

9. “Christmas on my Own” by Picture Us Tiny: 8.4/10

I really enjoy a song that can deviate from the norm, and that’s exactly what this song does with its lyrics. I also love the humor in the excessive profanity and the singer’s desire to be put on a hit list. In addition, the ending wraps the song up really well as the vocals slow slightly and get more drawn out. 

10. “Christmas Card” by Joyce Manor: 8.6/10

I absolutely love the vocals on this song. It has a Midwest-emo sort of vibe, which I haven’t heard in any other Christmas songs. The short guitar solo at 1:04 is also very nice. My only complaint is that I just wish the song was longer. Two minutes is just not enough. 

11. “Christmas Treat” by Julian Casablancas: 8.7/10

I love how the song opens with bells, and Casablancas also has a deep voice that works really well with the instrumentals. The chorus is hands down the best part of the song, though it’s short and repetitive. The outro is also lovely, and I love how it ends with the same bells that the song began with.

12. “Missing You This Christmas” by Theory of a Deadman: 8.9/10

The song opens on a really strong note with electric guitar before going into bells and then vocals. The build-up to the chorus is amazing, and the chorus absolutely doesn’t let down either. The lyrics aren’t anything special, but the vocals are incredible.  

13. “Candy Cane Children” by The White Stripes: 9.1/10

The White Stripes’ sound is so unique to them, and for lack of a better word, it is just so good. This is the kind of song I could listen to all year. 

14. “Christmas on the Road” by Sleeping with Sirens: 9.1/10

I like the acoustic guitar used in this song, and it’s so different from the usual songs that Sleeping with Sirens makes. In all honesty, I prefer their other songs, but that’s just personal preference, and I can’t dismiss it just because I miss Kellin Quinn’s screaming vocals. It’s a lovely song with a bittersweet vibe. 

15. “Christmas ‘04” by The Oh Hellos: 9.3/10

The imagery within this song is extremely beautiful, and the acoustic guitar in the background really adds to the atmosphere. It’s the perfect song to listen to when gathered around a fireplace, drinking hot chocolate and watching the snow fall outside. 

16. “Merry Axe-Mas” by ICE NINE KILLS: 9.3/10

Despite my mom’s intense hatred for this song, I had to put it higher up on the list. It’s so rare to hear a metal Christmas song, and ICE NINE KILLS just does it so well. While I’m partial to it because I love anything in the rock/punk/emo genre, I just believe this song is so different, and that’s what makes it so good. I also love the transitions from screaming to regular vocals and the inclusion of a stereotypical Christmas song that turns into an insane guitar solo at 1:46. 

17. “A Great Big Sled” by The Killers: 9.4/10

This song has somehow both a relaxing and upbeat vibe. Both the chorus and the verses sound wonderful, and there’s nothing I would change about this song. The feature at 3:00 also really adds to the soundscape, and then the combination of the two voices afterward is transcendent. I have a wonderful memory of listening to it outside the Rotunda last year during an early-morning snowfall when nobody was awake yet and everything was so pristine, and I think that was the perfect way to experience this song. 

18. “reindeer games” by Oso Oso: 9.4/10

I really enjoy the vibes of this song, and the chorus is incredible. It also isn’t super obviously about Christmas, which is perfect for when you’re getting tired of all the bells and “ho ho ho”s. 

19. “Yule Shoot Your Eye Out” by Fall Out Boy: 9.5/10

The acoustic guitar was the perfect choice for this song. I also just really love Patrick Stump’s voice, so this song being so high up on the list is pretty heavily attributed to that. I also love how, despite the song being acoustic, Fall Out Boy’s general sound was kept,  which can be a very difficult task to accomplish. 

20. “Threadbare” by The Wonder Years: 9.6/10

This song is just so beautiful and full of nostalgia. I love how the intention of this song wasn’t to make some catchy, meaningless song. Instead, it has strong emotion behind it, and I appreciate poetic songs. The imagery is astounding. 

21. “I Want an Alien For Christmas” by Fountains of Wayne: 9.6/10

Contrary to “Threadbare”, this song is meant to just be catchy; however, it’s done so well that I can’t dismiss it. It’s so fun, and a sci-fi song about Christmas and an alien who lives in the bathtub and goes on walks is such a silly concept that I can’t feel anything but enjoyment when listening.

22. “Christmas Song” by Escape the Fate: 9.7/10

There’s something about this song where I just can’t get enough of it. I’ve never been able to figure out why I love it so much, but the chorus just hits so hard every time I listen. I listen to Escape the Fate on occasion, but none of their other songs are quite as good as this one, which is such a rarity when a band releases a holiday song. 

23. “Island of Misfit Toys” by The Misfits: 9.8/10

This song is such a great play on the Island of Misfit Toys in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie. It took an already great song concept and executed it so well. The vocals and instrumentals are incredible, too. If you like any genre of rock, I highly recommend it.

24. “Is This Christmas? (Radio Edit)” by The Wombats: 10/10

The original version of “Is This Christmas?” is wonderful, but the radio edit sounds more polished in my opinion. The vocals aligning with the electric guitar just sound so good. The backing vocals also really add to the song, and the vocal buildup in the lyrics right before the chorus (“But it’s right wing versus left until the wings fall off our heads/ Though it never really snows, it’s just more like horizontal sleet”) is one of my favorite things that artists can do within a song, and the Wombats do it so well without dropping off when reaching the chorus. Finally, the lyrics also pose a thought-provoking question about what Christmas really means and how it’s evolved over time. This combination of elements is what makes the song so amazing and earns it second place. 

25. “His Favorite Christmas Story” by Capital City Lights: 10/10

This has been my absolute favorite Christmas song for around three years now, and it’s been covered by different artists countless times. Without spoiling, I’ll mention that it’s such a sweet (or sad if you want to interpret the ending verse as tragic) story that always makes me emotional, and the verses and chorus are lovely. There isn’t a single Christmas song that can surpass it. 

Overall, I hope you found a new song (or multiple) to add to your Christmas playlist, and I wish you all Happy Holidays!