Christmas reminds us we are not alone. We are not unrelated atoms, bouncing and ricocheting amid aliens, but are a part of something, which holds and sustains us. As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same. Christmas shows us the ties that bind us together, threads of love and caring, woven in the simplest and strongest way within the family.
Donald E. Westlake

Even an old Scrooge like me can’t argue with that. Happy Christmas.

Arize – “Jingle Dub” (download)
Wax Audio feat George W. Bush – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (7″) (Metal Postcard)
The Wedding Present – “Step Into Christmas” (v/a LP – “A Lump Of Coal”) (First Warning)
The Aggrovators – “Santa Dub” (v/a 3 CD Set – “Trojan Christmas”) (Trojan)
Sonic Youth – “Santa Doesn’t Cop Out On Dope” (v/a LP – ” Just Say Noel”) (Geffen)
John Prine – “Christmas In Prison” (LP – “Sweet Revenge”) (WEA)
Freddie Mitchell and his Orchestra – “Jingle Bells Boogie” (LP – “The Chronological Freddie Mitchell 1949-1950”) (Classics)
Cromtech – “Deck The Stix/Crestnobs on Open Filmor/Chanukob O Chorukab/Clomtad Is Here/We Wish You Xmas/Jorpeel Bells/Winter Wonderland” (7″) (Troubleman Unlimited)
The White Stripes – “The Reading Of The Story Of The Magi/Silent Night” (7″ -“Merry Christmas From The White Stripes” (XL)
DJ Primo – “Merry Christmas” ( v/a download LP – “Gabberbox – Hardcore X-Mas Party Volume 1”) (5th Gear)
The Wailers – “Christmas Spirit” (LP – “Merry Christmas From The Sonics, Wailers, Galaxies”) (Etiquette)
Man Or Astroman – “Frosty The Snowman” (v/a LP – “Happy Birthday Baby Jesus Volumes 1 &2”) (Sypmpathy For The Record Industry)
The Fall – “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” (5cd Box – ” The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004″) (Castle)
Belle and Sebastian – “O Little Town of Bethlehem” (er..taped off John Peel by me in 2002)
The Tamlins – “Silent Night” (v/a LP – “A Yard Style Chrsitmas”) (VP)
Nat King Cole – “The Christmas Song” (LP – “The Unforgettable Nat King Cole”) (EMI)
The Yobs – “May The Good Lord Bless and Keep You” (LP – “The Yobs’ Christmas Album) (Captain Oi!)

and for the nostalgic amongst you . here’s the week before

Niney The Observer – “Blood and Fire” (LP – ” Roots with Quality”) (17 North Parade)
PJ Harvey – “Written On The Forehead” (download single) (Island)
The Gasman – ” Ionic Suffix” (LP – “Powerpoints”) (Planet Mu)
The Wave Pictures – “Now You Are Pregnant” (EP – “Johnny Helms Sings”) (Moshi Moshi)
Groundcover – “Taiwanese Noise Clinic 1” (CDR – “Psychobass) (Self Released)
Unknown – Untitled (12”) (Knowone)
The Fall – “No Xmas For John Keys” (LP -” Totales Turns (It’s Now Or Never)”) (Rough Trade)
Survival – “Alien” (12″) (Dispatch)
Magrudergrind – “Incapacity Reigns” (EP – “Crusher”) (Scion A/V)
Napalm Death – “You Suffer” (7″) (Earache)
Electro Hippies – “Mega Aramageddon Death Pt.3″ (7”) (Earache)
Scientist and Shackleton – “Hackney Marshes Dub” (LP – “Scientist Launches Dubstep Into Outer Space”) (Techtonic)
Bardo Pond – “I Don’t Know About You” (LP – ‘Bardo Pond”) (ATP)
Tha Pope – “Jungle Juke” (v/a LP -“Bangs and Works Volume 1”) (Planet Mu)
DJ Killa E – “Star Wars” (v/a LP -“Bangs and Works Volume 1”) (Planet Mu)
DJ Lil Rome and DJ Young Tellem – “Kill Da Circle” (v/a LP -“Bangs and Works Volume 1”) (Planet Mu)
Fay Hield – “Banks Of The Nile” (LP – “Looking Glass”) (Topic)
Martyn – “Left Hander” (12″) (3024)