Relient K is the biggest pop-punk band in Christian music history, I think. In 2001 they released rather dark and brooding holiday-themed songs, "Santa Claus Is Thumbing To Town" and "I Hate Christmas Parties". In 2003, they released the first version of this Christmas album as Deck The Halls, Bruise Your Hand, adding mostly quick punk-pop versions of classic carols, their masterful version of "12 Days Of Christmas", and a few slower carols leading into the piano-based ballad "I Celebrate The Day", one of the best original songs about Christmas in the past few decades. Deck The Halls... was originally a bonus disc on a re-release of their latest album, so not really a full-fledged, widely-available album. But in 2007, they added a few more holiday standards, a song that originally appeared on a The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe-related album, and a few more originals including one about "Boxing Day", to make a real album of all this Christmas fun. I love Relient K because they always have a variation in styles, both musically and lyrically. One moment, you've got a silly song, the next minute an earnest song, and then a punk rock version of the "Hallelujah Chorus". This album ends with a choral version of "Auld Lang Syne" with a personal message from the band styled after The Beach Boys' Christmas album. Or maybe there's a hidden track of a silly version of a more obscure carol there too? (In 2008, three new recordings of holiday standards were released and appear on the vinyl double album as well, though you have to look harder to find them on streaming.)

Release Year: 2007
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