Top 10 modern hymn arrangements:
Adam Again- Angels We Have Heard on High (Broken Christmas comp., not sure where to find it)
Mindy Smith- Away in a Manger
(free on Amazon)Over the Rhine- The First Noel
Jars of Clay- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Sara Groves- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
(free on Amazon)Sojourn- Joy to the World
(free on NoiseTrade)Rosie Thomas- O Come O Come Emmanuel
Eisley- O Holy Night (free on their website)
Sixpence None the Richer- Silent Night
(free on Amazon)Sleeping at Last- What Child is This (free on NoiseTrade)
Top 10 modern covers:
Fiona Apple- Frosty the Snowman
She & Him- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (free!)
Rosie Thomas- Christmas Don't Be Late
(The Chipmunk Song. Drastically different take on the song which takes something silly and makes it serious.)Jimmy Eat World- Last Christmas
Starflyer 59- I'll Be Home for Christmas
Tess Wiley- Come On Ring Those Bells (free from Tess herself)
Mindy Smith- Silver Bells
Sleeping at Last- White Christmas (free on NoiseTrade)
Thrice- Happy Christmas (War is Over)
Fleming & John- Carol of the Bells (Was free on their website years ago. Look up the background on this song if you don't already know it, also called the Ukrainian Bell Carol.)
Top 10 original Christmas songs from the last 15 years:
Brown Feather Sparrow- Let Us Come Together (free on Bandcamp)
Rosie Thomas- Why Can't It Be Christmas Time All Year
Mindy Smith- Follow the Shepherd Home
Sufjan Stevens- Christmas in the Room (from his unreleased 8th Christmas EP. Search hard enough online and you will find it; don't know a current link off hand)
The Be Good Tanyas- Rudy
Coldplay- Christmas Lights
Low- If You Were Born Today
Over the Rhine- Snow Angel
Derri Daugherty & Steve Hindalong (The Choir)- Babe in the Straw
(Noel CD)The Innocence Mission- Hymn for Christmas Day (was free on their website)
My top two favorite Christmas albums ever are both from the last couple of years:
Mindy Smith- My Holiday
Rosie Thomas- A Very Rosie Christmas
Both of them balance some terrific new original songs and reverent versions of classics while giving them interesting twists.
