Manchester Orchestra, Hiss Golden Messenger & Kelly Clarkson Release Holiday Albums

There are three kinds of people in this world. Some start listening to holiday music as soon as their Halloween pumpkins land in the trash, others get into the spirit about a week before Christmas, and the rest can’t wait for December 26th so they no longer have to hear Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” while grabbing a bottle of shampoo at Walgreens.

The first two groups are in luck, as three Low Boy artists contributed to new holiday albums in 2021.

Although Tim Very and Manchester Orchestra released The Million Masks of God earlier in the year, they still found time to record and release Christmas Songs Vol. 1 in December. The album includes six classic holiday tunes, including “Silent Night,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

You can stream the album below, but also check out the band’s live version, recorded at Favorite Gentlemen Studios in Atlanta.

Longtime Hiss Golden Messenger drummer Matt McCaughan returned to the studio to record O Come All Ye Faithful, featuring an assortment of traditional Christmas songs, M.C. Taylor original tunes, and covers of songs by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Spiritualized, and Woody Guthrie.

Limited edition LPs are sold out, but you can stream the songs below.

Lester Estelle Jr. played drums on pop icon Kelly Clarkson’s album When Christmas Comes Around… which was released in October. This is Clarkson’s second Christmas album, following up Wrapped in Red from 2013. When Christmas Comes Around… features cover versions of various Christmas classics as well as new material featuring duets with Chris Stapleton and Ariana Grande.

Lester joined Clarkson for a live special on NBC, and you can also listen to his playing below.