For those who love Christmas music, the holiday season is a dream. From shopping centers to fast food restaurants, from the doctor’s waiting room to cramped elevators, hearing some rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock” at least 50 times is unavoidable starting as early as the day after Thanksgiving.
For those who gain a knot in their stomach worse than that from your aunt’s fruitcake from hearing Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” or Dean Martin’s “Let it Snow!” on repeat for a month, but still want a soundtrack for the wintertime, don’t worry — there’s hope.
Whether you are looking to substitute the irritating Christmas classics with something equally as joyous or just really want nothing to do with the holiday at all, below is a list of songs for every winter occasion.
For those who still want to retain the magic and optimism of Christmas joy without the cheesy classics:
– Julian Casablancas – “I Wish it Was Christmas Today”
– Vampire Weekend – “Holiday”
– Ariana Grande – “Snow in California”
– Kishi Bashi – “It’s Christmas, But It’s Not White Here In Our Town”
– Aly & AJ – “The Greatest Time of Year”
For those sad and lonely around the holidays:
– Sufjan Stevens – “Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It)”
– Pixies – “Winterlong”
– Elliott Smith – “Angel in the Snow”
– The Dodos – “Winter”
For those angry, unhappy and/or bitter around the holidays:
– Kate Nash – “I Hate You This Christmas”
– Blink-182 – “I Won’t Be Home For Christmas”
– Paul Baribeau – “Christmas Lights”
– The Descendents – “Christmas Vacation”
– Joyce Manor – “Christmas Card”
For those who don’t care for Christmas at all but still want to listen to some songs about cold and wintery things:
– Arcade Fire – “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)”
– Death Cab For Cutie – “Blacking Out The Friction”
– Fleet Foxes – “White Winter Hymnal”
– Azealia Banks – “Ice Princess”
– Belle and Sebastian – “Fox in the Snow”
– Galaxie 500 – “Listen, The Snow is Falling”
– Real Estate – “Snow Days”
Cozy jams which subject matters have absolutely nothing at all to do with the holidays or wintertime, but are perfect to curl up by the fireplace with hot cocoa to:
– Rhye – “Open”
– Cate le Bon – “That Moon”
– Made In Heights – “Hors D’oeuvre”
– Ryan Adams – “Out of the Woods”
– Pure X – “Starlight”
– Blood Orange – “It Is What It Is”
Listen to the full playlist on Spotify below:

Other favorites: Weezer – “Holiday”; Animal Collective – “Winter Wonder Land”; Blink-182 – “Happy Holidays, You Bastard”; Low – “Just Like Christmas”; Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)”; Snow Patrol – “When I Get Home For Christmas”; Band of Horses – “The First Song”; Kate Bush – “50 Words For Snow”; Atlas Sound – “Winter Vacation”