In honor of three big calendar-changing holidays this week - Rosh Hashanah, the Islamic New Year, and the Autumnal Equinox - we're listening to two New Year songs! The lively tune of "Gonna Make It Through This Year" by Great Lake Swimmers disguises some darker lyrics, while the complexities of "New Year's Prayer" by Jeff Buckley are full of light.

Episode 138: New Year's Hopes and Prayers

This week we get back into some Hanukkah songs! Grab your partner, do-si-do, and tune in to hear our thoughts on "Happy Joyous Hanukkah" by the Indigo Girls and "Hanukkah Dance" by Woody Guthrie!

Episode 139: Latkes and Line-Dancing

This week, by popular demand, we return to the nigh-inexhaustible subject of music about sex and Santa Claus. Fortunately, "Back Door Santa" by Clarence Carter is far from the worst song in this sub-genre we've covered, and we pair it with another tune that sounds better in execution than in concept, the sultry but sweet "Hanukkah Lovin'" by Michelle Citrin.

Thanks to Matt, Alan, and anonymous for the requests!

Episode 140: Taxonomy of Santa Sex

We're tying up some loose ends on our request list, putting the unused pairs for last week's pick together - and it's always better when we're together, right? Jack Johnson's rendition of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and The Ramones' "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" may not seem like they have much in common at first glance, but they both make feeling bad sound pretty good.

Thanks again to Alan and Matt for the requests!

Episode 141: Hark! Ho! Let's Go!

Your hosts Ian & RJ review and rank every Christmas, Hanukkah, winter, holiday, et cetera song.

All of 'em. Even the bad ones. Especially the bad ones.

HARKpodcast