Holiday Songs: Watch Those Chestnuts Pop, Pop, Pop

Power-pop is above all feel-good music, designed to hit all your pleasure centers at once, which makes it a natural fit for Christmas time. Click below for five super-charged riffs to restore your faith in humanity.

THE SHITBIRDS - Christmas is a Comin' (May God Bless You)
With a name like that you may be expecting sonic assault, but this local troupe, led by elfin chanteuse April March, aims for maximum joy and adorable-ness.
THE AUTOMATICS - Merry Christmas
Another Gulcher Records find from the lovable Xmas Snerts comp, they seem to have the tradition down pat except the part about "reindeer roasting on an open fire". Guys, you're supposed to roast the TURKEY while the REINDEER fly Santa's sled around. You seem to have that part backwards. Still, the thought of a bunch of turkeys flying Santa through the night - thanks for the visual.

THE RAMONES - Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight)
Joey Ramone can be a damn touching lyricist when he wants to be, and this holiday tale in which he and the old lady agree to put the rolling pins away for a night is an unexpected heartwarmer.

INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE - Christmas Will Be Magic Again
In which a band moves to LA, doesn't like it, and splits for home, nostalgic for ice and snow. I suppose if such craziness inspires tunes as lovely as this, they're entitled to their opinion.

TRALALA - Holiday Hearts
Ths was another nice find during random net searches for seasonal tunes, an indie band from Brooklyn with four female singers. Young, spirited, and highly Christmasey.

Photo by ac4lt on flickr.