Alternative Christmas

Alternative Addiction has announced the upcoming release of the site’s first-ever Christmas compilation, An Alternative Christmas. In addition to showcasing the site’s most well known track list on a compilation to date, it’s also their first charity disc.

The disc features several unknown bands with tons of potential; Patent Pending, Honor By August, and Kill the Alarm all have tracks on the compilation. A showcase of A-list of bands from the alternative genre include Lifehouse, Better Than Ezra, Shinedown, Thriving Ivory, SafetySuit, , Ryan Star, Honeyhoney, and Needtobreathe.

“Most holiday seasons come with an abundance of holiday music. There’s a lot of it- it’s just a lot of the same stuff,” says Alternative Addiction’s Ryan Jones. “What makes this album so unique is the original and distinctive songs that are on the track list. There are classic songs on the album like “Oh Holy Night”, “Silent Night” and “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” some newer classics like “Last Christmas” and “Happy X-Mas (War is Over)” and there’s also original material on this album that was written and/or recorded for this holiday season. You always have holiday music available, but not often do you have legitimately new holiday music.”

Alternative Addiction will celebrate its tenth anniversary in operation next year. Although still unknown in certain circles, the site is responsible for helping to launch artists such as Augustana and Graham Colton, as well as working with thousands of unsigned and independent bands. The site has always had an intense focus on the promotion of good music, encompassing mainstream and well-known acts with independent artists as well, often promoting lesser known artists alongside established gold and platinum selling acts.

An Alternative Christmas’ track list has a little of everything that the site has become famous for promoting. It ranges from former Rock Star Supernova contestant and soon-to-be Top 40 artist Ryan Star singing a heart wrenching version of Joni Mitchell’s “River,” to a Better Than Ezra holiday song written by Kevin Griffin and Co. a few years ago. Even New York based Kill the Alarm, recently featured in Billboard, performs an exceptional version of “Winter Wonderland” that was recorded exclusively for the album.

Perhaps the best part of the Christmas themed compilation is that all of the profits from its release will be donated to charity. The circumstances of the donation are a little odd, however. “We originally started working on this compilation thinking we would be working with the charity that we’re donating the money to,” Said Jones. “But as things progressed, we got some great music that was also a little risqué. So what ends up happening is we’re still donating the money to charity but we can’t directly work with the organization because of it’s reputation with kids. We put the music before the marketing- something that’s always hard to do, and something that can make sales suffer, but we feel the final product is worth it.”

That might seem taboo with a charity release, but Alternative Addiction co-founder Chad Durkee can attest to the legitimacy of the company’s gesture. “It might seem a little odd, but donating all of the profits to charity is what we wanted to do all along. By law, we’re not allowed to take any monetary compensation for this project, and honestly we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The Christmas themed compilation is available for purchase on AlternativeAddiction.com and on iTunes.

This is a limited edition special issue that will only be available from November 18, 2008 until January 31, 2009.

The track listing:

Thriving Ivory- Our December
SafetySuit- Anywhere But Here
Lifehouse- Silent Night
Ernie Halter- Angels We Have Heard on High
Better Than Ezra- Merry Christmas Eve
Honor By August- Happy Holidays
NEEDTOBREATHE- Go Tell It On The Mountain
Honeyhoney- The Naughtiness of Me
Shinedown- Happy X-Mas (War is Over)
Ryan Star- River
Patent Pending- She’s a Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas
Kill the Alarm- Winter Wonderland
Schaeffer- Last Christmas
Negative Space- I’ll Be Home
Evans Blue- Oh Holy Night
16 Frames- For Christmas (Alternative Addiction Exclusive)