Best New Christmas Albums of 2023
Well, this was a very interesting year for new Christmas music. We had some big names drop albums and singles this year. Cher, Michael Bolton, Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby, Alanis Morissette, Mary J. Blige, Blue Man Group, Brandy, Jimmy Fallon, Bon Jovi, Seth MacFarlane, Jason Kelce, and the guitar player from Creed, just to name a few. I’ve listened to them all. Just over 600 songs, 80+ albums, totaling just over 33 hours of new Christmas songs. There were a lot of surprises this year. Some good. Some bad. I’ve done all the work for you, so you can skip the bad and go straight to the good. There are other “new Christmas songs for this year” articles out there, but you will not find a more comprehensive review of ALL the new Christmas music anywhere online, and especially not one that includes savable playlists for different listening tastes/genres, carefully researched and selected just for you.
Before we start, let’s quickly review what, in my opinion, makes a “good” Christmas album. In order for any new Christmas song or album to be worthy it must meet at least 1 of the following 3 criteria.
It’s Fun
It’s Sentimental
It’s Nostalgic
Before we get to the winners, let’s talk about a few of the albums that didn’t make it.
Cher – Christmas
We’re starting here, because this is the one that I’ve been asked about the most leading up to this, and it’s also been the most heavily promoted on the interwebs. I’m sorry Cher fans, but besides Run Rudolph Run, this album is awful. If you’re a huge Cher fan, you’ll probably like it. But for everyone else you can skip this album. There are singers that have very suitable Christmas song voices. Cher is not one of them. Not even Michael Bublé could save this one.
Blue Man Group – Overjoy to the World
Yeah, I was as surprised as you are to find out they released a Christmas album. These guys are probably a blast to see live in person. But as far as Christmas songs on an album where you can’t see their weird faces doing their things…it just doesn’t work. Skip it.
Gavin DeGraw – A Classic Christmas
This was a missed opportunity for Gavin. The songs he chose to do just don’t compliment his voice like they could have. There are so many bluesy Christmas songs with a good groove that he could have done well. Merry Christmas, Baby? That Spirit of Christmas? Run Run Rudolph? Hell even Santa Claus is Coming To Town could have worked, but sadly none of those are on here. Skip it.
Bing Crosby’s Christmas Gems
Man was I excited when I heard we were getting NEW never before heard Bing Crosby Christmas songs. It’s not that these are bad. They’re not. It’s Bing, after all. There’s a few decent things on here, but it just doesn’t have the same Christmas magic we’re used to from him. It’s probably why these weren’t included the first time. It’s ok, I still love you, Bing, and you’re still the king of Christmas.
Matt Rogers – Have You Heard of Christmas?
This album wins for the worst Christmas album I’ve ever heard in my life. This album is so terrible, I’m not even going to link it for you on the image. I’m a fan of comedy. I’m a fan of Christmas. I’m even a fan of Christmas comedy, but this is just the absolute worst. Don’t be curious and go find it. And if you ever see it, run far far away.
Alright, now that we’ve talked about some of the duds, let’s get to the good stuff!
Alanis Morissette – Last Christmas (EP)
This is one of the pleasant surprises this year. I’ve always liked Alanis, but when I heard she was releasing a Christmas album I was skeptical. She has a very unique voice and singing style (not unlike Cher) that I didn’t think would suit Christmas songs well. Boy was I wrong. I still feel like her voice shouldn’t work for Christmas songs…yet it does. In fact, it’s pretty fantastic. Most of these were made back during the Covid quarantine, so you may have heard some of these on YouTube back then. If this was a full album, it very easily could have won. I hope she does more of this. Do yourself a favor and listen to all 4 songs, but if you’re short on time, then do Happy Christmas and What Child Is This.
Fitz and The Tantrums – Perfect Holiday
I’ve never heard of these guys before, but this is a great example of how to make an original Christmas song album. This could have easily just been a straight indie pop album. The secret sauce they used was expertly sprinkling Christmassy percussion throughout. It gives it that Christmas magic feel and it’s very well done. Two of their songs are contenders for the best original Christmas song of the year. Specifically Perfect Holiday, and Some Kind of Christmas. I think I’m a fan of these guys.
Alexis Ffrench – Christmas Piano with Alexis
If I allowed instrumental Christmas albums to be in my top 3, this one would have won. This is probably my favorite new Christmas album of the last 5 years. It won’t be everyone’s cup of Christmas tea, though. It’s solo piano. It’s mellow. And it’s absolutely gorgeous. His arrangements, and the touch that he has on the piano is honestly something I’ve never heard before. Out of all the albums this year, this is the one I’ll be re-playing the most. There’s 24 amazing tracks on here, but if you’re only going to check out a few, make it be In the Bleak Midwinter, Together at Last, and O Holy Night. This isn’t the album for your rockin’ Christmas party. This is the album for when the kids are in bed, the fireplace is on and the wine is poured.
Alanis, Fitz, and Alexis all had such strong albums, I couldn’t leave one out to make a “Top 5”. And “Top 6” just sounds weird. So they get honorable mentions, and I’m instead going with a “Top 3” list for this year. Here we go!
#3 – Mark Tremonti – Merry Christmas Classics New & Old
This is the guitar player from Creed…yes it’s fantastic…and no I’m not joking. This was the surprise of the year for me. I’ve been doing this long enough where I can usually sort of tell when an album is going to be good and when it will be bad just by the artist. Well, turns out after all these years, I don’t know shit. When this album came on I was just half listening to it, because, come on, it’s the guitar player from Creed. LOL It’s going to be terrible. I was so dumbfounded as to what I was hearing, I first checked to make sure I was playing the correct album, and then googled his name to make sure this was the right Creed guy. Apparently while he was being listed in Total Guitar Magazine as one of the greatest heavy metal guitarists of all time, he was secretly a Sinatra style jazz crooning vocalist. Who knew? Trust me, it’s a solid album.
Favorite Tracks
The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Jingle Bells
The Christmas Song
Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town
#2 Johnny Mathis – Christmas Time is Here
Johnny Mathis, in my opinion, is one of the founding voices of Christmas. His 1958 album Merry Christmas is a classic and was on heavy rotation in my house growing up. This year, at 88 years old, he dropped a new Christmas album, and the man has still got it. His voice with a piano and orchestra is the perfect Christmas recipe. This is a gem of an album.
Favorite Tracks
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Merry Christmas, Baby
When A Child is Born
Auld Lang Syne
#1 Seth MacFarlane & Liz Gillies – We Wish You The Merriest
I expected this album to be decent, but I did not anticipate it being this years winner. Once again, I was wrong. Seth has one of those classic baritone crooner voices, which is perfect for Christmas music. Pair that with a strong female counterpart, excellent arrangements, and a fantastic big band orchestra, and you have a very solid album start to finish. There’s no filler songs on here. It’s just the hits, with 2 fun originals thrown in and a little bit of classic Seth MacFarlane humor, too. Start to finish, you can’t go wrong with this album.
Favorite Tracks
Here Comes Santa Claus
That Holiday Feeling – This is a fun original, with some definite Baby it’s Cold Outside vibes.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
As always, there are also a handful of Christmas singles out this year, as well as a ton of other albums I haven’t even talked about. There is, however, one single I have to mention…
Fairytale of Philadelphia – The Philly Specials
I’m not saying I’m on board with all the Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce hype, (actually, I totally am. Just don’t tell my friends), but the Kelce brothers certainly are trending lately. In fact, they have a Christmas single out, and you know, it’s not terrible. I would even dare to call it good. Jason has a very pleasing singing voice. Am I crazy for thinking he could actually put out a legit album? See for yourselves.
Even though my review is done, my work is not. There will be a few other albums and singles that get released in the coming days and weeks, and when they do I’ll add them to the playlists below. Even though an album didn’t make my review, it doesn’t mean there weren’t some good things on it. There’s quite a few great songs that I cherry picked out of some not so great albums. Michael Bolton, Mary J. Blige, and Katharine McPhee all had some good songs worth listening to. Brandy, not so much. It can be difficult finding those diamonds in the rough, but I’ve done the digging for you. This is what the playlists are for.
The Full Master List of New Christmas Songs
If you want to see the ginormous list of new Christmas songs for this year, you can do so here. It has everything. The good, the bad, the ugly. You will not find a more complete and accurate playlist anywhere online. I know because I’ve checked. You’ll have to click the link and open it in Spotify to access the entire list. Feel free to save it.
Best of 2023 Christmas
If you want only the BEST of the new Christmas songs this year that include all the songs listed above, plus all the other good ones this year, then this is the playlist you want. You’ll have to click the link and open it in Spotify to access the entire list. Feel free to save it. Apple Music users click here.
Ultimate Christmas Playlist
If you want the ULTIMATE Christmas playlist that includes all the classics, and all the best new songs from the last 5 decades, including my picks from this year and all the other years, then here’s my Ultimate Christmas Playlist. It currently has over 500 songs and over 28 hours of only the best Christmas music. This list is updated yearly with both additions and deletions if I feel a song isn’t worthy to remain on the list. This is serious business, guys. You’ll have to click the link and open it in Spotify to access the entire list. Feel free to save it. Apple Music users click here.
Instrumental Christmas
If you’re more of an instrumental music lover, then I have a playlist for you as well. There were quite a few new instrumental Christmas albums this year, and the majority of them are good! You’ll have to click the link and open it in Spotify to access the entire list. Feel free to save it.
Original Christmas Songs
If you’re sick and tired of the same old Christmas songs year after year, then you’ve probably stopped reading this already. But if not, I have a playlist for you. Below is all the original Christmas songs that came out this year. Full disclosure, there are a few that aren’t new, but they’re so obscure I’ll be surprised if most people recognize them. You’ll have to click the link and open it in Spotify to access the entire list. Feel free to save it.
Best Original Christmas Songs
I usually pick a best new original song of the year, but this year there were quite a few good options. This review is long enough already, so instead I made a playlist with what I feel are the contenders for the best original Christmas songs of the year. It’s a small playlist. I’d love to hear what your favorite one is! Comment or send me a message and let me know your pick! You’ll have to click the link and open it in Spotify to access the entire list. Feel free to save it.
Christmas Groove
This is a new playlist I’ve been working on for a couple of years that I’m finally going to roll out to you this year. Christmas Groove has funky fresh takes on Christmas songs. This is the playlist you want for a Christmas party where the drinks are flowing, or if you’re just in a festive mood and want to move your butt a little. You’ll have to click the link and open it in Spotify to access the entire list. Feel free to save it. Apple Music users click here.
Christmas by the Fireplace
This playlist is the opposite of Christmas Groove. It’s chill sentimental arrangements for when you want to relax by the fireplace with a glass of your favorite beverage. This one is a work in progress as I just started it this year, but 2 hours of music should be enough for you to finish a couple bottles of wine. Both Fireplace and Groove will be improved upon and added to each year. You’ll have to click the link and open it in Spotify to access the entire list. Feel free to save it. Apple Music users click here.
One last note on the playlists above. The songs are mostly put in by album, so I strongly suggest listening to them on shuffle mode.
Merry Christmas, all. See you next year.
