Bit Bublé’d out? Nixing the Pentatonix this year? Or maybe you’ve ever worked in retail and the All I Want For Christmas Is You intro gives you a physical jumpscare? 

Well don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a stack of Christmas albums and top cover picks from Aussie favourites that will spread a little more local love this festive season. 

With a bit of indie rock, a bit of country, and a bit of the Carols By Candlelight camp,  we’ve got something for all of your extended rellies and make sure to scroll to the end as we’ve saved the best for last.

Troy Cassar-Daley – Blue Christmas & Let It Snow

Kicking it off for the country fans, or even the country curious, Troy Cassar-Daley’s Christmas For Cowboys album is a perfect heart-warming record for a laid back Chrissy lunch, with Cassar-Daley’s trademark velvet vocals and immaculate instrumentation woven throughout. 

While the title track covering the John Denver festive favourite settles us in with a smooth waltz, my first top pick from this album cannot go past his rendition of Blue Christmas, sweetened with slide guitar solos that makes it hard to hear the song again without it. 

Closely following is Cassar-Daley’s fiddle-fied Let It Snow for a toe-tapping treat that could convert any country contrarian.

G Flip – Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)

Sorry to non-Apple Music subscribers as this one’s an exclusive, but it’s an absolute firecracker. Clocking in at just over two minutes, this 2023 single rockets through the track in an impressive display of G Flip’s vocal arsenal – even more impressive when you learn the cover was recorded in a hotel room while they were on tour in the US.

Darren Hayes – Last Christmas

Featured on Rosie O’Donnell’s 1999 compilation Christmas album A Rosie Christmas, Hayes shares record credits with the likes of Elton John, Lauryn Hill, Cher, *NSYNC and more. There’s been a million takes of the deeply beloved Wham! hit, but Hayes steers it to an upbeat groove, keeping the '80s reverb drums and adding dreamy synth palette that melds seamlessly with his vocals. 

For close listeners, the cover includes an extra George Michael homage surprise at the end, so keep an ear out as Hayes sneaks in lyrics from Careless Whisper into the final chorus.

Luca Brasi – How To Make Gravy

We’ve got an Australian double up on our hands here with Luca Brasi’s 2016 Like A Version cover of Paul Kelly’s infamous Aussie Christmas institution How To Make Gravy. 

Applauded by countless fans as a nailed delivery of the seminal track, it also landed at #21 on triple j’s Hottest 100 Of Like A Version in 2023.

grentperez – I’ll Be Home For Christmas

This is a lovely little groove for the more low-key festive folks in your life who are less into the exuberant extravaganzas that often make up the majority of the Christmas covers catalogue. 

Grentperez has been churning out a few of these chilled-out Christmas delights over the years, introducing a few originals into the mix also, so if you prefer a more relaxed vibe on your Chrissy playlists, he’s definitely worth checking out.

Christine Anu – River

Island Christmas is an absolute gem of a record from the vocal powerhouse Christine Anu, featuring a truly no-skips tracklist perfect for those who love a relaxing festive season soundtrack without skimping on any of the flair. 

And while the whole record is filled with showstopping vocal performances, Anu’s cover of Joni Mitchell’s River absolutely stops you in your tracks. Another special mention has to be Anu’s stunning bluesy duet of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas with Steve Clisby as the star on top of the tree, sparkling with jazzy runs and '60s organ flourishes.

Julia Stone – Come All Ye Faithful & Joy To The World

A standout from Julia Stone’s 2021 album Everything Is Christmas is definitely her take of Come All Ye Faithful, sung in blissful harmony with Sam Amidon on backing vocals and banjo. 

While I never thought I’d say a bit more banjo was what I was missing from Christmas music, her cover of Joy To The World also really opened my eyes to that tinsel of twang. A definitely playlist must-add for all my folky friends out there.

Anthony Callea – Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

It would be a crime to night include the King of Carols By Candlelight himself. Every year I’d huddle up in front of the TV and watch those awkwardly prolonged zooms on sleeping babies during Silent Night, the out of time audience candle waving, about five host outfit changes, and this absolute icon. Rhinestone-encrusted nostalgia. 

Any Anthony Callea cover could easily make the cut, but Santa Claus Is Coming To Town is a real OG, and so is that haircut.

Polish Club – Little Drummer Boy & It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

With their new album Christmas Stinks! arriving earlier this month, Polish Club have unveiled a solid batch of cuts that will definitely charge up your Christmas prep. Starting off with the coolest cover of Little Drummer Boy I’ve ever heard, the duo’s rock re-imagination takes this typically children’s choir-reserved snoozefest (sorry, children’s choirs) to a totally new level. 

Same goes for It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – it’s like the perfect Christmas montage track for an indie coming-of-age movie. Am I wrong? To top it off, a special mention can’t go past their dreamy cover of classic Filipino Christmas song Ang Aking Pamasko.

Kylie Minogue – It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Also with a new Christmas release out this December, Kylie Christmas (Fully Wrapped) is the refreshed version of Kylie Minogue’s original 2015 record featuring an array of brand new tracks. But since this countdown is covers only, my pick is going to It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year in all of its maximalist, orchestrally-embellished, choir-accompanied glory. 

However if it wasn’t just cover songs in the running, the utterly infectious bop that is At Christmas would definitely be making the list too.

King Stingray – Run Rudolph Run

This cover is a pure joy-filled firecracker, and one of my top favourites. Texturally lush with harmonies, squealing guitar riffs and a thunderous yidaki-driven bassline, King Stingray’s 2023 cover of Run Rudolph Run is the complete serotonin-boosting package – chef’s kiss.

Jimmy Barnes – Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree & Auld Lang Syne

While the title track off Jimmy Barnes’ Blue Christmas album has proven to be the crowd favourite, my top picks are the upbeat rock n’ roll numbers where I think Barnesy really shines on this record. Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree is a cracking cover, and a moment must also be had for that ripping sax solo. 

However, I’m split between my second pick and slower tempo exception, Auld Lang Syne, being a tear-jerkingly beautiful, belting ode to the New Year and to Barnes’ Scottish heritage.

Gang Of Youths – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Just Dave Le'aupepe and a piano, and it is phenomenal. This achingly stripped back cover might not be for an energising number to kick off the shindig, but it sure is perfect for when the evening winds to a close.

Delta Goodrem & Gurrumul – Silent Night

Saving the best present until last. Delta Goodrem and Gurrumul duetting Silent Night is timeless, spine-tingling musical perfection. Originally recorded in 2013, the track was then released posthumously after Gurrumul’s death to feature on Goodrem’s 2020 Christmas record, Only Santa Knows. 

Awash with delicate harmonies and exquisite fingerpicking, the cover also spotlights a second verse that Gurrumul sings in Yolngu (making history in the process). Truly an immeasurably precious duet – pure chills start to finish.