Throw Away Your Troubles and Forget Every Care: Christmas Playlists 2023

There may not be snow in San Antonio, but it's a Texas Christmas to me

Three Mixes for Christmas (and more!)

Everyone has an opinion on holiday music. Some avoid it like the plague, some prefer the traditional and religious, some listen to the same dozen songs they are forced to endure at their retail job. Personally, I enjoy Christmas music. (only listen during the last few weeks of the year.) I love the infinite strange variations on the “standards” from every conceivable genre.

This month I have three holiday playlists for you, and one year in review. Enjoy!

Mysterious Alloys Christmas Special: 2023 edition (revised and expanded)

This is it folks. Five+ hours of Mysterious Alloys approved Christmas tunes. It’s full of familiar faves and obscure musical Christmas treats. It’s similar to what I put out last year, with a few additions and edits. Put it on at your holiday gathering, while wrapping presents or driving to grandma’s house. Listen on Spotify.

Country Christmas

Next up is my five and a half hours long Country Christmas music playlist. I’m originally from Texas, so these songs have a special place in my heart. I also love how these country tunes cover so much emotional territory, from silly to depressing to cheerful to sentimental. I find this one particularly suited to Christmas road trips. Listen on Spotify.

Christmas Island: Reggae, Ska, Rocksteady, and Calypso Christmas

I have a new holiday playlist this year, with three hours of Jamaican and Caribbean Christmas tunes. After reading This Is Reggae Music, it just felt right to put this together. Enjoy it in the sunshine! If you need more, I also recommend Aquarium Drunkard’s mix. Listen on Spotify.

Another intriguing find.

It didn’t fit anywhere else, but I very much enjoyed this bizarre cold-war era tune about Santa dodging missiles. Unfortunately as relevant now as it ever was.

My favorite recent Christmas Album discovery

Just give it a listen. RIP Carla Bley.

2023 Year in Review

As I do every year, I’ve combined each monthly mix into one big mega mix, just in case you need it all together. Personally I enjoy tossing everything together and seeing what patterns and themes emerge.

Thank you for listening!

This project and these mixes are a labor of love. I don’t expect money and fame for doing this. I make them because I want to, and it helps me make sense of all the music I discover and rediscover. It’s a strange hobby but it’s mine. Over the next year, I am going to decide if I’m going to keep going with the project as it is now, on Spotify or find a way to leave that cursed, destructive, and thieving platform. It sure is convenient, but I think there might be a better way.

If you know a better way and can offer tips and suggestions, I’m all ears. Please get in touch!