Christmas Party

Christmas Party is the sound of a band letting their hair down in the middle of their most creatively fertile period. While The Walkmen are often associated with a certain New York sophistication: think tailored suits and vintage upright pianos in grand halls, this EP finds them in a cramped, beer-soaked basement. It is a holiday record for people who find traditional carols too saccharine and department store playlists too sterile. Instead of bells and whistles, you get the clatter of a drum kit that sounds like it is being played with kitchen utensils and a piano that has seen better days. The magic of this release lies in its lack of pretension. Hamilton Leithauser’s voice, one of the most distinctive instruments in 2000s indie rock, is pushed to its ragged limit here. He is not singing for a microphone; he is singing to be heard over the din of a party. It is festive, yes, but it is a specific kind of festivity: the kind that happens at 2:00 AM when the guests have all stayed too long and the conversation has turned toward nostalgic shouting. It is an essential addition to any collection because it captures a side of The Walkmen that their polished studio albums often obscure, the raw, garage-rock heartbeat that fueled their early years. Owning this EP is about embracing the beautiful mess of the holidays. It is the perfect antidote to the over-produced, perfect Christmas aesthetic. It feels human, slightly out of tune, and entirely alive.