You know it’s home for Christmas when the lights are up. It’s the best.

Old Dog Orchestra has some fun garage pop with “2010 Lights,” stirring up all those reminiscences and past loves and stuff back home.

Garage bluegrass (?) from Paul Baribeau hangs out in his childhood basement and gets weird, until he enjoys those “Christmas Lights.” They just might slow that racing rhythm down.

Keep (feat. Gabrielle Sareena) hitch the millennial mopiness up to some rambling rap with “Christmas Lights.” BLUE ALERT ‘cuz the hard feelings won’t just let go despite the new loves.

Cashiers ring, are you listenin’? To the charge, that is blisterin’? …bells remind some of us of debt.

The Progress bemoan the lack of change while they’re “Jingle Bell Broke.” (Caution: no actual bells were harmed during these lyrics.) Just solid folk/rock protest against the riches.

“Make It Jingle” equates the timpani with the dolla. Big Freedia queens up this dance number with all the right ringing: car keys, bracelets, you know–it’s not all bells.

Let’s take destitution down a notch and get racial wit’ y’all. Socio-economic conditions in the hood bein’ what they are, don’t get your Xmas hopes up.

Paco Gzz BLUE ALERT raps up a storm about the imbalance of his broken home. “No Christmas” may be too real for some, too angry for others. Get over it.

Big Mista adds a bit more party ‘cool’ to his “No Christmas” rap. It’s a journey from NO Xmas to Xmas evee day. Yo. He’s allowing his rapper fame to inform on his dichotomy. Unpack dat, bitch.

The unhappiest may not rejoice when the 25th rolls around. Get thee to the Ghetto and experience the lack of the black.

Harmonizing a lovely hymnal background The Realest YK rap out the message of the not-have in “Christmas Missed Us.” Spookily spiritual.

From the bad block Jae Tipps (BLUE ALERT) raps “Cancelled Christmas” as testimonial to the times. Poverty preach!

Wally Tusk has a cool Bandcamp folk stumble-growl about how no money means “No Christmas.” Brace yourself for the pain.

Some of you don’t deserve a Christmas, did you stop and think about that, naysayers?! Sorry? It never crossed your mind? Then No Xmas, mister doubty-pants!

Sir Cliff Richard lends easy-listening schmaltz to a gospel reaching show tune in “Christmas Never Comes” for the kids not raised right. Season them, stat!

Soaring show tune paints the backdrop in “Christmas No More” by David Lyve. Sweet pipes. But, why so harsh on the Santa? Christian spirit, guy!

Eagleman Band glees up the barbershop sextet with all the fervor of the mild mannered missionary afraid of saying the wrong thing in mixed company. “No Christmas Day” is a lesson in how to lessen.

Try B-Shoc’s “There’d be No Christmas” instead, a power electric rap ballad that, if repetitive, brings the shivery soul you needed to remind your pagan butt to honor Hizzonor.

Poverty really puts the hammerlock on Christmas. Without trappings, feasting, or gifts would there be a holiday? Would it drive the desperate to–robbery?

Listen for clues from burrell with “No Christmas in the Hood.” Pretty, melodic rap, with a punch.

Santa may have judged you accordingly and found you wanting. Mad Claus sez:

“Santa Claus Ain’t Coming to Town” is a spoken word/metal indictment on ya little troublemakers. Don’t wait up.

Stet That Records has created a fun little rap over some sampling to learn you that “Santa Claus Ain’t Coming to Town.” You’re on notice.

Getting nothing for Christmas is a lovely curse to perform on the unexpecting. Try it when you’re losing an argument. They’ll recoil as if you had licked them. Hee hee.

Evil Blizzard tubular bells chants I Hope You Get “Nothing for Christmas” between psychedelic guitar bridges. Haunting.

Slim Jxmmi raises the rap with the retort to the less-than-perfect girlfriend: Yo’ Bad Ass ain’t Gettin’ “Nothing for Christmas.” Party that parting.

Whassamaddayew, you act like being bad is All THAT! You DO know you’ll get no gifts this Xmas, doncha?

Oh, and that’s your thing?

Melodic punk from The Reducers: “Nothing for Christmas.” They know it fo’ sho’.

Nick and Gabe play Chris and Chris, “The Christmas Boys.” They’re down with naughtiness and they’ll ‘burb-boy rap you their list o’ crimes. Shudder.

After listening to too many songs about coal for Christmas, i begin to think it might be just a catchphrase or cliche, like ‘dog tired.’ It may just be some more noise to stitch lyrics together.

Skumbags’ “Coal in My Stocking” suffers from poor recording quality, but i think boys just wanna have punk. This song is about how rotten life is. So maybe the metaphor plays well.

Unoway seems also to be bitching, but the electronic smuzhup of rap and R+B in “Coal for Christmas” is just background moodscape for a desperate make out session.