On Track to Xmas: Toot! Toot!

If you’re lucky you might see Santa fly by on the good ol’ “Christmas Train,” as folk-hoarsely mewed by Patrick DeVille. Ragged, but righteous.

Just like the chariot that’s gonna take ye to heaven, There’s a train on the way to Christmas. “The Christmas Train” by Chantal Kreviazuk (feat. Salvador Maida) is a piano recital for Grandma in wistful shades of children’s blues and pop. Somber as all get out.

MG rambles through a children’s huzzah: “Polar Xmas.” It’s not really singing, but it’s not rap either. Pop as a catchall.

Bad Flappin’ Birds concoct an amateur pop adventure to visit Santa. Apart from being unable to navigate the candy cane maze to find the bathroom, they have a jam-packed time (riding the train!) in their “Bad Flappy Holidays.” Catchy as much as weird.

On Track to Xmas: Why to the North Pole, of Course!

Does Santa use a train? Honey, Santa uses it all! That train makes the most commotion with its locomotion, though, so give it some heed.

Ginger St. James sets the mood with her stentorian country: announcing (and whoo whoo-ing) more than singing “Christmas Train.” What a toot!

Ben Browning strains soft rock through a boy band screen to deliver “Christmas Train” into your elevator music queue.

Tom Hanks (and some kids) chortle out “The Polar Express” as a showtune to introduce the uncanny valley of the 2004 movie. Brrr.

Jake Hadrick takes this conceit and murderlizes it with the excessively filtered pop of “Pole Express.” Jump! Escape! Hurry!

On Track to Xmas: Full Steam Ahead!

I think i can party i think i can party i think i can party….

“Booze Train Christmas” sums up the experimental alt-pop of Madslack Mike. The slurry invite, the wobbly rhythms, the hypnotic repetition… i’m gonna need some fresh air.

Screamin’ garage from The Hot Dogs feels like a booze-fest in “Rolling on the Train.” Reverb on repeat is a hangover and a half.

Ben & Tucker take the “Magical Rainbow Train” to Christmas: seeing snow elephants, feeding polar bears, eating cookies. Don’t ever wake up, boys! Silly ad-lib pop.

On Track to Xmas: Through the Tunnel!

Sometimes the journey is what matters, especially when you’re holiday celebrating the whole way.

BLUE ALERT for the rapping romance “Christmas Train” by Punky Brewskies.

Brett Dennen gets on the “Christmas Train,” but whether it’s for the PARTYing as a metaphor or forthe juggernaut that ’tis the season– the slo-mo alt-country does not reveal. Opaque poetic lo-fi.

Gighive lounge swanks the grooviest “Christmas Train” you might ever take. It might be all in their head, but it’s a perfect way to enjoy the holy day. I’m running to catch it.

I can’t celebrate until I’m on this train! insists The Snow Angels with their party pop “CTA Xmas Train.” It’s insistent.

Tom Dyer and The True Olympians shovel on the funk for his “Christmas Train.” Santa’s doin’ the mashed potato! That is one Martian mushroom party.

On Track to Xmas: Riding the Rails!

Not exactly commuting, the American classic hobo did use the train system for shelter and support.

“Oscar’s Christmas Lament” by Hadnot Creek zips together blues and pop country to explicate the hopes and realities of the boxcar life. Tough stuff.

Protest singing from Bill White makes the same points the hobos make: trains are the only way to go. “The Christmas Train” is hard driving blues for those on the tramp.

“Santa Fe Sam and Hobo Bill” make the best out of hungry exposure around Xmas playing the What If game. Boxcar Willie does that talky sad storytelling to the weepy violins. …then there’s the miracle of ham and taters and all the fixin’s. Was it a dream–?

“Hobo Christmas” from Sharp & Cissell has that driving rock rhythm that elevates country to Americana, so their sad story is fun.

Grunge country splashes water in your face as Old 97’s sing their “Hobo Christmas Song.” Side effects include toe tapping, yodeling, and eye rolling.

Actual fiddlin’ country from Matt Andersen brings a nobility to the “Hobo Christmas Train.” Makes you feel like takin’ a gap year and joinin’ in.

On Track to Xmas: Sorry for the Delay!

Pissy parody from David Goody jangles ‘Jingle Bells’ into “Train Delays at Christmas.” He’s pretty mad, wanting to nationalize the whole mess.

Goombay Dance Band brings the dance despite a late train “Wishing a Merry Christmas” to you and to me. Syncopated mush.

Musical comedy from Michael Mott (feat. Jessica Vosk) wants those relative hangers-on to catch a plane OR a train to JUST LEAVE the house. It was Hanukkah/Xmas, so prolly lots of people. “To All a Good Night” checks all the boxes and hits all the notes.

Then there’s just NO LATE TRAINS. Without you, Lizzy Hilliard warbles with alt-pop lightness, Christmas “Doesn’t Mean a Thing.” Pretty.

Dead Orchids layers the rock with militarism, grunge, and pop declaring that one or the other, they’ll be “Home for Christmas.” They caught the last train. That always helps.

On Track to Xmas: Last Call!

If you’re familiar with John Candy and Steve Martin’s ‘Planes, Trains, and Automobiles’ you know all modes of transportation fail around the holidays. In fact, many Christmas songs about taking the train warn about being late.

Sarah Connor begins “Not So Silent Night” all ASMR anticipatory about getting ready. But the family crashes and bangs: Kids complainin’ Santa’s late; Brother stuck on the train… and it rocks on and on about the glorious mess of Advent reality. Cathartic.

Boys get impatient, too. Hudson Taylor power pop sings I’ve got my family and my friends, my lady′s on her way I go to meet her off the train, yeah, but it′s running late–that’s “How I Know It’s Christmas.” Acceptance is the last stage. Or maybe silver lining.

“Get There for Christmas” by Monique De Los Santos · Jex De Castro · Andrew Collins pitches up the frustrations of tardy toot toots with chimey pop music. Whoa-oh-oh-ohoh.

Lala Deaton is diva jazz band hopefully “Wishing on a Snowflake” that you’ll make it home in time for the holidays. I read a telegram today that you might be delayed; But nothing′s gonna hold that train cause Christmas won’t be late. Sultry, though it does suggest a kickline.

On Track to Xmas: See Something, Say Something!

Mary Blige sashays the rap with her “Christmas in the City.” On the train is merely one symptom of ogling, bustling, and dealing. No where else, though. A love letter to urbanity, yeah.

Byron “Mr Talkbox” Chambers also raps the joy of the city in “Christmas Time.” A bit more Jesus and family, here. The train comes, so more of both. I guess.

The last train home can be a bummer, too. Scouting for Girls caffeinates the pop of new-found romance when they felt like “Kids at Christmas.” But, she’s gotta leave for home for the holidays.

KWADI seems sad, but’s really excited to go “Home for Christmas” on the train. Light piano pop. It’s complicated.

Faithful Johannes takes the train to the city also to shop. He’s fretting because “You Don’t Like Christmas Songs” and he doesn’t know what to get you. But this sprightly pop with the whispery complaining might win you over. Well done (for a therapy session).

On Track to Xmas: Meet Me at the Station!

Meeting cute on the train, but having already broken up Nicole Andrade lisps through “This Christmas” as a cautionary pop song tale against being alive.

Tangential, “Boy Wonder and The Christmas Tree Girl” from Nicole Tesseyman & Steve Carrigan involve runaways with colorful nicknames, living off the con and the big bad London, once they take trains. Jazzy folk that rocks.

Also sad, Christian Rowe thinks this “One More Christmas” could be the last with you. I know your train leaves tomorrow but you don′t have to go, he begs with New Age-y pop. Moving. A bit.

Taking the last train, Night Flight can’t shake the sense “It Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas.” Perhaps it’s that ponderous New Age alt rock. That doesn’t feel like music.

Back to the country music with Stan Rogers. So, sad. “First Christmas” is about the very young children. But the daddy is working 3000 miles away–in the mines! Mother is waiting at the train station… but, i’m not sure this is going to work out. Life sucks!

On Track to Xmas: Mind the Gap!

More Christmas commuting! Street car rattles down ole Saint Charles in the colorful blues of Steve Cavalier’s “Merry Christmas New Orleans.” Cut offs and hanging moss and beignets fill in the corners. Pretty chill for the tropics.

Frothy pop from Bedbound by Summer reveals a deep seated love/dread about returning home for the religious revival. Are they “Depressed This Christmas“? Try this refrain: I hate love; I hate you; I hate me.

I won’t be home for Christmas Darling, not this year; The trains have all stopped in their tracks begins the sad bubbly pop of “Star Crossed Christmas” by Barnaby Bright.

The Brits know about train travel. OneNamedPeter tinges his pop with a whiff of punk in “Christmas is Cancelled.” Why so down? Now my train is moving so slow, By the time I get home my Amazon parcels Have been sent back to the depot. But there is hope in there… somewhere.

Spoken word poetry from Croydon Tourist Office skewers the bourgeoisie in “Christmas in the Suburbs.” Traditions are trash. Ceremony is senseless. Hope is less. The Salvation Army’s music stands Getting blown over By the updraft of a passing train. (But check out the Brit pronunciation of urinals!) Just my cup of soap box oration.