The year is pretty much done. You’ve driven home for Christmas. Now you need seasonal listening that won’t tip you over the edge before December 25th.

A record we’ve spent nearly the whole of 2013 with is Veronica Falls’ second album, Waiting For Something To Happen. Even if Teenage still sounds as fresh as the day it hit disc, to coincide with the band’s UK/Australian/Japanese tour in October we got the bonus of brand new material, the single Nobody There on their own imprint, Beachy Head Recordings.

We wanted to know if Falls’ drummer and backing vocalist, Patrick Doyle – he of the motorik-influenced percussion – would rise to the challenge of a festive playlist. He did and here it is.

Danny Says by The Ramones
Produced by Phil Spector, Danny Says is a beautiful love song, which references Christmas in terms of feeling very far away from home. The Ramones were recording in LA at the time and obviously missing the snowy Christmases of their New York City home – “it ain’t Christmas if there ain’t no snow.”

Listen, The Snow Is Falling by Yoko Ono
This song is so beautiful; it makes me equally happy and sad at the same time. I like it when a song can capture a feeling and deliver an atmosphere that makes me wish I could have been there for the recording.

Just Like Christmas by Low
This is such a great Christmas song! The production is awesome and the melodies are great. I’m not a huge Low fan, but I would be if they had more hooks like this!

Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
I think this is my favourite Christmas song. I love the vivid picture it paints of a lady who hates the stress of Christmas. I tend to like uplifting songs that have a bit of a dark or sarcastic undertone and this is one of the best. I also really like the way she says the word ‘cranberries’.

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Darlene Love
Phil Spector’s productions generally remind me of Christmas, but I think this is my favourite from his Christmas record. Apparently it was supposed to be sung by Ronnie Spector, but they decided that Darlene Love would be able to deliver more emotion in the performance – I’m not sure about that, but I definitely think her voice sounds incredible in this song.

Million Dollar Bill by Whitney Houston
I know this isn’t a Christmas song at all, but it reminds me of the first Christmas I ever spent in London. My then boyfriend and I were invited to a friend’s for Christmas day, it was really fun and this song got a lot of plays throughout the course of the evening.

Don’t Worry Baby by The Beach Boys
Again, not a Christmas song, but one of my favourite songs of all time. I guess the fact that it reminds me of Christmas has more to do with the way it makes me feel generally.

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
This song gets so much play at this time of year, but I never get sick of it. A modern day classic!

Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley
My dad is a huge Elvis fan, so having grown up with a lot of his records, it can’t help but take me back to my childhood.

December Will Be Magic Again by Kate Bush
My friend Helen put me onto this song recently and I’ve been listening to it a lot. It really gets me in the festive mood and will no doubt soundtrack Christmas 2013 at our house.

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