Weekly Best Of: Underrated Holiday Media

As we here at Tangled Up in Wires start to head off for some holiday cheer, we thought we’d share with you this brief Weekly Best Of. If you’re sick of Rudolph of feeling Santa fatigue kick in, we suggest a few alternatives. Got any more to contribute? Let us know in the comment section.

The Long Winters – “Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas”
A rarity from a charity compilation, John Rodderick’s lamentation over working at a movie theater on the day that most people don’t have to work is a great song, Christmas aside. Rodderick rocks through the chorus on one of the few bitter songs about the holidays that’s really fun to listen to.

The Office Christmas Special (US and UK)
Turn on any Christmas special from the American Office or the special that wrapped up the original and you’ll be laughing hysterically throughout. Nothing better puts on display the shared hell that is the office Christmas party, and when David Brent and Michael Scott are involved, you know it’s not going to be good.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
While not technically about Christmas, TUIW favorite Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is set at Christmas and makes for excellent viewing for anyone who is sick of the usual holiday fare, thanks to the hilarious performances by Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer, and the hyper-literate, quick-witted script.

Die Hard
I defy you to identify one flaw with Die Hard. It is impossible. Not only is John McClaine the only Bruce Willis character who doesn’t deserve a hearty punch to the face, but the film features Alan Rickman giving one of the all-time best villain performances. Plus plenty of explosions and what goes better with egg nog than that?

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – “Cold White Christmas”
“Cold White Christmas” treads the same thematic ground that The Long Winters did, it sucks to work on Christmas, but Owen Ashworth spins it off into another one of his fine character sketches. The song captures the bleak unfulfillment that comes with being trapped in a dead-end job in a crappy city after the high of graduating from college and blends it with a raw lo-fi sound that almost lets you feel the slush seeping through your shoes.