Blossoms are the upgrade your Christmas playlist needs if you're getting tired of Wizzard and Mariah Carey

Christmas time is here, and with it comes the swath of songs which you can only really listen to this time of year. I for one am a huge fan of the Christmas tunes, from the poignant to the cheesy and everything in between. 

A question which sometimes gets asked is ‘why aren’t there any new Christmas songs?’ which is to some extent a valid question. The classic songs, such as ‘Fairytale of New York', ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday’ and ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’, came out at least 35 years ago, with two marking their 50th anniversary this year. 

A hit Christmas song and one which had a local touch to Greater Manchester had, until a couple of years ago, been a long time coming. That was until Stockport’s finest Blossoms released not one, but two festive tunes. And their take on Christmas songs is everything that is good about them - and more. 

I’m a big fan of the band which is stamping its looks and sound on UK music, and I’m a sucker for a good Christmas song. So when these two worlds collided, it's fair to say I was intrigued and more than a bit excited. 

It was November 2020 and the nation was doing the Hokey Cokey between Covid-19 lockdowns. The first pandemic Christmas was always going to be more than a bit unusual compared to most we’d experienced, and new Christmas songs were perhaps what some of us needed. 

In one swoop, Blossoms dropped their double-header of festive delight. There's not the usual cheesiness (nothing wrong with cheesy, this isn’t me having a go at cheesy), but fans of the band both old and new have been charmed nevertheless. ‘It’s Going To Be A Cold Winter’ and ‘Christmas Eve’ (Soul Purpose) were out in time for Christmas 2020 - and they’re pretty different in tone and mood. 

‘It’s Going To Be A Cold Winter’ starts with the less than festive lyrics of “let's get this Christmas over with, how I miss the summer wind.” Whichever way you look at it, these are pretty out of place in a Christmas song. Despite this, the festive vibe eventually burns through and with all the cool charisma we’ve come to expect from Blossoms.  As I write this, I’m sat head bopping to the tune and realising even I’ve underestimated this one as a track.

Swiftly onto the next of Blossoms festive duo, and to ‘Christmas Eve (Soul Purpose). There’s far more of a romantic sense to this one, and its slower nature is something which you hear in many a classic Christmas song. The track also takes on board that seemingly stellar trope of including a children’s choir in the chorus, which adds just that little bit more.

Blossoms may not be the immediate choice to go to for your Christmas songs, but if you’re looking for something alternative then they certainly could be it. Factor in a great cover of Paul McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmastime’ and you’ve got a trio of top songs to enjoy this festive period.