On a whim, I decided to do "12 Days of Miserable Christmas Songs" - you know, those tunes that exult in the loneliness, heartache, and selfishness characteristic of our most maudlin American holiday. I posted one a day starting on 12/13, going through Christmas Eve.

Loser Makes Good, Everclear

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, Elmo & Patsy

Sister Winter, Sufjan Stevens

Do They Know It’s Christmas?, Band Aid

Spotlight on Christmas, Rufus Wainwright

Wish You Well, A Fine Frenzy

Christmas Without You, Tommy Page

Millie Pulled a Pistol on Santa, De La Soul

My Birthday Comes on Christmas, Spike Jonze

¡Happy Birthday Guadalupe!, The Killers

Merry Christmas from the Family, Robert Earl Keen

Fairytale of New York, Pogues