New Wave Xmas: Just Can't Get Enough

Wall of Voodoo (Performer), David Bowie (Performer), Throwing Muses (Performer), The Pretenders (Performer), The Pogues (Performer), Squeeze (Performer), Timbuk 3 (Performer), XTC (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 15, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000033W7
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,594 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Thanks For Christmas - The Three Wise Men (aka XTC)

2. Christmas Day - Squeeze

3. Fairytale Of New York - The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl

4. Rudolph The Manic Reindeer - Los Lobos

5. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders

6. Santa Claus - Throwing Muses

7. Little Drummer Boy - Miracle Legion

8. Xmas At K-Mart - Root Boy Slim And The Sex Change Band With The Rootettes

9. Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie And Bing Crosby

10. One Christmas Catalogue - Captain Sensible

11. All I Want For Christmas - Timbuk 3

12. Shouldn't Have Given Him A Gun For Christmas - Wall Of Voodoo

13. Santa's Beard - They Might Be Giants

14. Christmas - The Buzz Of Delight (Featuring Matthew Sweet)

15. Christmas Time - Chris Stamey Group

16. Mary Xmess - Sun 60

17. Careless Santa - Mono Puff

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This seasonal adjunct to Rhino's 15-volume proto-alternative series of '80s favorites is characterized as much by sweetness as wigginess: check out XTC's "Thanks for Christmas" and Squeeze's "Christmas Day," the latter of which name-checks everything from tree lights to British comedy team Morecambe and Wise. Closest to true new-wave sound and spirit is They Might Be Giants' Farfisa-driven "Santa's Beard," but this eclectic mix's stretches generally succeed. Still, a couple of complaints: why a dreary "Little Drummer Boy" by Miracle Legion instead of the turbocharged one from Joan Jett's I Love Rock n' Roll? But it's churlish to complain about a record so well-meaning that it stacks up a blindingly good "Rudolph" by Los Lobos, a vintage single by Matthew Sweet's early Buzz of Delight, and "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl--what a tearjerker. --Rickey Wright

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Captain Sensible Captures The New Age Christmas Spirit August 27, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

I would rate this X-Mas compilation a 5+ on the strength of track #10 alone. Captain Sensible's 1984 single, "One Christmas Catalogue" is one of the best pop songs I have ever heard. It's synth pop intermingled with overdubs of sound bytes from distant Christmas movies of the past, create a nostalgic overload. I first heard this song on the radio in December of 1995 while attending Brigham Young University. And up until just recently I was finally able to locate this CD and buy it. "One Christmas Catalogue" is a classic 80's hit that deserves much more airplay during the holidays. It isn't every day you stumble onto a song this good! This is a must have single for any 80's alternative pop fan!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Happy Christmas, your ass! I pray God it's our last! December 2, 2004

By Johnny Heering

Format:Audio CD

This is a good compilation of somewhat rare Christmas songs. It says "New Wave" in the title, but that's stretching it. I certainly wouldn't call Los Lobos, David Bowie or They Might Be Giants "New Wave". But there probably aren't enough Christmas songs by actual New Wave performers to fill a CD, so they had to stretch the definition a bit. Regardless of all that, this is an enjoyable Christmas CD. Any CD that features the great "Fairytale of New York" (my sister's favorite Christmas song) is worth purchasing. There are also great contributions by XTC, the Pretenders, Captain Sensible, They Might Be Giants and others. But not everything is great, alas. "Xmas at K-Mart" is pretty bad, in my opinion. But the good songs far outway the bad songs, so this is a worthwhile Christmas album. Here is the track listing:

1. Thanks for Christmas - The Three Wise Men [aka XTC]
2. Christmas Day - Squeeze
3. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues featuring Kristy MacColl
4. Rudolph the Manic Reindeer - Los Lobos
5. 2000 Miles - The Pretenders
6. Santa Claus - Throwing Muses
7. Little Drummer Boy - Miracle Legion
8. Xmas at K-Mart - Root Boy Slim & the Sex Change Band
9. Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy - David Bowie and Bing Crosby
10. One Christmas Catalogue - Captain Sensible
11. All I Want for Christmas - Timbuk 3
12. Shouldn't Have Given Him a Gun for Christmas - Wall of Voodoo
13. Santa's Beard - They Might Be Giants
14. Christmas - Buzz of Delight
15. Christmas Time - Chris Stamey Group
16. Mary Xmess - Sun 60
17. Careless Santa - Mono Puff

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not Christmas until I've listened to this one! November 23, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

This is one of my favorite Christmas CDs! I play it over and over every year. Some of the rock n roll Christmas CDs seem to have the same songs, but this one has quite a few I haven't heard anywhere else. Christmas Day by Squeeze is probably my favorite, but I also love Santa's Beard by They Might be Giants, Santa Claus by Throwing Muses, Careless Santa by Mono Puff, and Mary XMess by Sun 60. And thrown in to round it out are some perennial favs like Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, the great Fairytale of New York by the Pogues with the sadly deceased Kirsty MacColl, and 2000 Miles by the Pretenders. If you're looking for an alternative to tradition but only want to buy one or two CDs, this should definitely be one of them!