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Stereogum has published an early guide to this year’s new Christmas releases, spanning albums and EPs by Sufjan Stevens, Alanis Morissette, Hilary Duff and other artists. The listed projects include new songs, holiday standards and collaborations, with release dates running from Oct. 30 to Dec. 4; the guide does not establish whether every planned release has arrived.
Stereogum has published its annual early-season guide to new Christmas albums and EPs, listing projects by Sufjan Stevens, Alanis Morissette, Hilary Duff and several other artists. The roundup spans releases from October into December, giving listeners a preview of this year’s holiday music before the main Christmas season.
Among the featured releases is Sufjan Stevens’ Worst Christmas Ever!, a 16-track compilation drawing from his earlier Christmas recordings. Stereogum says it includes one new song, “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),” which the article describes as his first new holiday song in 15 years and his first new song since recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome. The album was listed for release Nov. 6 via Asthmatic Kitty.
Alanis Morissette’s Good Weather For Immaculate Conception collects holiday songs she has released over several years alongside new recordings. The guide names Brandi Carlile, Joy Oladokun, Amythyst Kiah and Trans Voices among the guests, as well as actors Steve Martin and Martin Short. Morissette previewed the album with “Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem,” a version of the traditional song featuring Carlile and Martin. It was listed for Nov. 6 through Epiphany Music.
Other projects include Hilary Duff’s Holiday Things EP, described as three original songs and two covers and already available through Sugarmouse/Atlantic; Niia’s Christmas With Niia, listed for digital release Oct. 30 and physical release Dec. 4 through Candid Records; and Ryan Peter Murphy’s Christmas In New England, listed as out now on Warner. The roundup also includes the cast recording Voices Of The Gilded Age: The Christmas Album, aron!’s christmas dream EP, Steven Page’s Steven’s Greetings and the Infamous Stringdusters’ Dust The Halls Vol. 2.
A Wider Range of Holiday Sounds
The list shows how holiday releases remain a vehicle for artists across different genres and career stages, from traditional pop and big-band arrangements to bluegrass and alt-R&B. For listeners, that means the season’s new music is not limited to one style or to established Christmas performers.
Several entries also connect the releases to broader audiences or existing work: Morissette’s album brings together previously issued seasonal songs and new collaborations, while The Gilded Age cast recording draws on performers with musical-theater backgrounds. Stevens’ compilation pairs familiar material from his earlier holiday catalog with a new track, making it relevant to both longtime listeners and people looking for a point of entry.
The release calendar is useful for planning, but it should be read as a snapshot rather than a complete account of the season. Dates and availability in the roundup reflect what Stereogum listed at publication; listeners should check the artists’ or labels’ channels for current details.
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Stereogum frames the roundup as an annual Halloween-week feature, pointing to the recurring practice of artists announcing Christmas music before Halloween has passed. The article uses that timing as its premise, while also offering a straightforward guide to the projects and their release schedules.
The releases cover both new material and familiar forms. Stevens’ record revisits his extensive Christmas output, while Page’s album combines original songs and standards, including some songs he previously performed on Barenaked Ladies’ 2004 holiday album. The Infamous Stringdusters’ Vol. 2 follows their 2020 release Dust The Halls: An Acoustic Christmas Holiday! These connections help explain why some of this year’s albums are continuations or collections rather than entirely new seasonal concepts.
““Gen Z’s answer to the crooner.””
— Stereogum, describing Ryan Peter Murphy
Release Dates and Availability
The source is a preview-style roundup, not a post-release audit. It does not confirm whether every listed project arrived on its scheduled date, and some entries are marked “out now” while others have future release dates. Current availability may have changed since publication.
The supplied article excerpt also ends partway through its entry on the Infamous Stringdusters, so it does not provide the complete roundup or all release details. No sales, streaming figures, chart results or audience response are given. The descriptions of musical quality and likely appeal are the publication’s assessments, not independently established facts.
Check the Listed Release Calendar
The next step for readers is to check the artists’ official pages and streaming services for updated availability, particularly for albums listed with October, November and December dates. Stereogum’s guide places the earliest listed digital release on Oct. 30 and the latest physical release on Dec. 4.
As the holiday season progresses, confirmed release announcements and the records themselves will clarify which projects arrived as scheduled. The roundup does not identify a further event, chart milestone or follow-up report.
Key Questions
Which new Christmas release is listed earliest?
Stereogum lists Niia’s Christmas With Niia for digital release on Oct. 30. Its physical edition is listed for Dec. 4.
What is new on Sufjan Stevens’ Christmas compilation?
The 16-track Worst Christmas Ever! includes “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better),” which Stereogum describes as Stevens’ first new holiday song in 15 years.
Which artists are named as guests on Alanis Morissette’s album?
The roundup names Brandi Carlile, Joy Oladokun, Amythyst Kiah, Trans Voices, Steve Martin and Martin Short. It says Carlile and Martin appear on the preview version of “Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem.”
Are all the albums already available?
No. The guide includes records described as out now alongside releases scheduled for later dates. It does not confirm whether each project was ultimately released on schedule, so current availability should be checked with the artists or labels.
Source: stereogum.com
