Whether you’re looking for a fresh soundtrack to your casual holiday party or you’re one of the true believers who genuinely enjoys exploring the lesser-known corners of the holiday music world (I see you, friend), plenty of XPN favorite artists have new takes on seasonal chestnuts this season.
Jazz-pop generations collide on Christmas with You, a new two-sided single from Norah Jones and Artist to Watch Laufey. Expanding on their 2011 holiday EP (which featured contributions from The Head and the Heart), My Morning Jacket‘s Happy Holiday! is a festive set featuring several new recordings. A direct sequel to last year’s smash A Philly Special Christmas, Philadelphia Eagles stars Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata reunite with members of The War on Drugs and team up with Patti LaBelle (and Kelce’s brother Travis) for A Philly Special Christmas Special.
Soul-pop celebrants Fitz and the Tantrums‘ Perfect Holiday EP isn’t quite as bawdy as their earlier single, “Santa Stole My Lady,” but it’s a snow-sparkled collection of joyful originals. Gregory Porter puts his spin on classics by Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, and offers tender originals on the full-length Christmas Wish. Fans of Joel Paterson‘s 2017 LP Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar will find even more to love on the multi-instrumentalist’s charming sequel, The More the Merrier.
PRESS PLAY on these new releases (and more from Middle Kids, WAR, Madison McFerrin, Karla Bonoff, and more) below. Listen for these and other new and classic holiday sounds now streaming on Jingle Jams, and later in December on the 31st annual edition of The Night Before with Robert Drake.