5. The Walkmen - No Christmas While I'm Talking

Not exactly full of Christmas cheer - more a dark, spikey and actually-quite-nasty soundtrack to a Christmas gone wrong. Maybe a fight at a staff do, or some kind of family row that ends up with you huffing alone in your bed, with headphones turned up loud, longing for the 26th to arrive. Off to a good start, then...

4. Sufjan Stevens - The Little Drummer Boy

Or anything from 32 track 'Songs for Christmas' album Sufjan released in 2006. A few of his own Christmassy songs, but mostly simple, sweet takes on standards. A perfect album to keep the entire family happy during Christmas dinner, while allowing you a smug sense of satisfaction in the knowledge that you've managed to have everyone listening to one of the coolest singer-songwriters of the last ten years. (It should be noted, however, that nothing will ever top THIS bizarre version of The Little Drummer Boy).

3. Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Not strictly alternative given it's one of the most famous Christmas songs ever written, but certainly impressive and credible given Phil Spector's involvement as producer. Epic and pleading, you're dragged into the Christmas spirit, like it or lump it.

2. Run DMC - Christmas in Hollis

There's just something really funny about a Santa rap.

1. Low - Just Like Christmas

Like a lot of people, I've been caught complaining about the over-sentimentality of certain big Christmas anthems. Yet my favourite Christmas song is the most sickly sweet sounding three minutes and eight seconds I've ever heard. There's just something about those bells, the little shuffling drums, the girls voice and the references to snow. It's just perfect.

Happy christmas.