I've Seen Christmas Lights...

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has aired, the repetitive commercials are getting annoying, the holiday music is playing and people might seem somewhat more civilized to each other. Yup, it's mid-December and by now, the Christmas season is in full swing.

This time of year is always filled with traditions. Longstanding traditions that we all hold dear for some reason or another. In my opinion, the best ones are the ones that only you and your family can truly understand. For instance, for some reason, my family cannot keep a secret when it comes to gifts. It's rare that I do not know what I'm getting for Christmas from my family by December 15th. We all use Amazon.com wish lists, and I think, that is our downfall. You can see what's been purchased for you! We have no will power.

Christmas music is one of those traditions that I know many people share. Every year, I try to find new and interesting songs to add to my Christmas playlist. This year, I found many. Glasvegas actually has a Christmas album front and center on the iTunes holiday store. It's pretty funny considering it has to be one of the few Christmas albums that drops the f bomb. I loved this album last year and I continue to love it this year. Here is a Christmas playlist for 2009. After that, I'll discuss some non-traditional Christmas movies.

1. Glasvegas - Careful What You Wish For
   


2. Jets to Brazil - Further North
   


3. Death Cab for Cutie - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
   

OR


4. The Raveonettes - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
   


5. Coldplay - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
   


6. The Weepies - All That I Want
   


7. Smashing Pumpkins - Christmastime
   


8. Athlete - Wires
   


9. Glasvegas - A Snowflake Fell (and it felt like a kiss)
   


10. Mick Jagger - Lonely Without You
    


11. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time is Here
    


12. The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
    


13. Nina Simone - Little Girl Blue
    


14. Sufjan Stevens - O Come O Come Emmanuel
    


15. Kanye West - Coldest Winter
    


16. Badly Drawn Boy - The Shining
    


17. Okkervil River - Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas
    


18. Mogwai - Christmas Song
    


19. Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Was Christmas Today
    


20. Ryan Adams - Hey Parker, It's Christmas
    


21. Joni Mitchell - River
    


22. Feist - Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming
    


23. Rogue Wave - Christmas
    


24. The Swimmers - The Christmas Sound(Download)
    


25. Relient K - I Hate Christmas Parties
    


26. Sufjan Stevens - That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!
    


27. Pedro the Lion - I Heard the Bells on Christmas
    


28. Coldplay - 2000 Miles(Download Here)
    


29. Glasvegas - Silent Night (Noapte de Vis)
    


30. Sufjan Stevens - Star of Wonder
    


31. Phantom Planet - Winter Wonderland
    


32. The Dismembermant Plan - This Christmas
    


33. Tom McRae - Wonderful Christmastime (Download)
    


34. Badly Drawn Boy - Donna & Blitzen
    


35. Glasvegas - Fuck You It's Over He mentions Christmas. Doesn't that count?
    

Undoubtedly, this is a downer Christmas mix. There is always something about the holidays that is bittersweet to me and I tried to capture that with this mix.

With the Christmas season comes Christmas movies. There are a few movies that are pretty standard these days. It's a Wonderful Life, one of the many Christmas Carol films (I prefer the Alastair Sim version), A Christmas Story(played out, but classic), Elf , Love Actually (both modern Christmas favorites) and the list goes on.

What about the non-traditional ones? The ones that I've come to enjoy, that take place around Christmas, but may not necessarily have plots centering around family or festivities. Here are some ones that you may or may not know about in no particular order.

1. Die Hard
   One of the best action films that happens to take place during the Christmas season. This movie also has "Christmas in Hollis" by Run DMC in it.
   
   
   



2. Edward Scissorhands or Batman Returns
   
   Gothic Christmas anyone? Johnny Depp and Tim Burton...enough said.
   
   
   
   Another dark Tim Burton film, I used to think this movie was awesome when I first saw it as a kid. Upon subsequent viewings, it is not at as cool as I remember it. Batman is hardly in this one. It's more about the villains. Despite being a summer release, this film takes places around Christmas.
   
   
   


3. Black Christmas
   Before there was Halloween, there was this Canadian gem. Bob Clark, the director of A Christmas Story, directed this several years prior. The guy just loves Christmas.
   
   
   



4. Gremlins
   This is a Steven Spielberg production that I LOVED as a kid. Which is weird, considering the fact that it is one messed up movie. It takes place around Christmas, but the holiday gets severely fucked up for this town. Phoebe Cates is way hot too.
   
   
   


5. Serendipity
   Ok ok ok, so I am not one for romantic comedies, because usually they are not well made. Much like slasher movies, these films are made to turn a quick profit. Not this one. First off, I think John Cusack is a good actor. I thought he was great in The Sure Thing, High Fidelity and Grosse Point Blank to name a few. Second, this movie is not a cookie cutter rom com because "couple" of the movie is not together for most of it. The beginning and end of this film center around Christmas. If you have not seen it, check it out.
   
   
   


6. Alfie
   This movie got pretty bad reviews, but I think that it's actually pretty good. Takes place in Manhattan around the Christmas season. Sienna Miller is ridiculously hot in this.
   
   
   


7. Less Than Zero
   A movie based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. Spoiled rich kids with effed up lives reunite during Christmas break. Obviously, the book is better.
   
   
   


8. The Sure Thing
   An 80s classic that revolves around a guy who is trying to go coast to coast in search of a "sure thing" during Christmas break. Along the way, he finds something he didn't expect. This is a great movie starring John Cusack and a solid 80s soundtrack.
   
   
   


9. Catch Me If You Can
   This movie was released on Christmas Day, so it is no surprise that the holiday is a consistent theme running through out the film. A Great director and a great cast makes a great movie.
   
   
   


10. Scrooged
    This movie is pretty damn funny. I think I like it more than Christmas Vaction. Yet, whenever I mention this movie, many people haven't seen it. If you like dark humor, sarcasm, or Bill Murray, then you should love this.
    
    
    


11. About a Boy
    Hugh Grant plays a slacker living off of his father's Christmas song royalties. Check it out. Good flick.
    
    
    
    
12. Trading Places
    This movie is hilarious. Period.