Sing Sad Christmas Vol 2, Communist Daughter (self-issued)

Haven't encountered this St. Paul, MN group before, but this 2025 release definitely lives up to its name. It's all covers, but chosen for their melancholy vibe. "I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas" is the Aimee Mann song, "Christmas Eve Can Kill You" arrives via the Everly Brothers, "Christmas at Denny's" is the Randy Stonehill original, and "In the Bleak Midwinter" is the antique carol. Fingerpicked guitar, breathy vocals and the occasional use of drone instruments maintain the mood. Definitely worth their inclusion in your playlists. Oh, just to underline that I'm late to the party here, they did the same thing in 2015 with Vol. 1, including "Blue Spruce Needles," "Fairytale of New York," "The Lawson Family Murders" and "River."