Every year, right after Halloween ends, the very minute that the clock strikes 12 and November begins, something awful happens. Every single human being in America is gripped with a sudden and furious urge to do one thing: listen to Christmas music. Now, I don’t hate Christmas music. In fact, I love songs like “Last Christmas” and “Mistletoe”; but when I have to hear the words “Santa Baby” or “Jingle Bell Rock” before November 2nd, all I want for Christmas is to assault Santa. So, here is a list of 4 amazing albums to keep you busy before Christmas.

Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

Pet Sounds is a fantastic album with masterclass songwriting and flawless execution. The record is packed with radio hits like “Wouldn’t it be Nice,” “Sloop John B.,” and the ever-iconic “God Only Knows.” Diving deeper into the album, however, one can find songs like “Here Today” that perfectly capture the excitement and fear of a new love from the perspective of an ex-lover. The song “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)” is a testament to the powerful songwriting, as the sadness the song evokes will leave nearly anyone in tears. Choose any song off the album, and you will find something amazing.

Weezer by Weezer

Now, for those of you who aren’t Weezer fans, you might be asking, “Which one?”. The band has six self-titled albums, all of which vary widely in terms of their quality. But the best is undoubtedly their debut: better known as The Blue Album. There is not a single song on this album that fails to meet the mark. Of course, “Say It Ain’t So” and “Buddy Holly” are undeniably iconic, but the rest of the record is filled to the brim with excellent material. “In The Garage” offers an anthem to nerds and geeks around the world with its perfect contrast of gentle verses and loud, distorted choruses. “Surf Wax America” is a ridiculous song about someone surfing to work and then eventually drowning. The two songs “No One Else” and its somewhat spiritual sequel, “The World Has Turned And Left Me Here,” paint a picture of an overbearing boyfriend losing his girlfriend and missing her. The two songs wonderfully contrast each other, with the first being rather upbeat and happy, while the second sits in an air of melancholy and sadness. And of course, who could forget the 8-minute closer, “Only In Dreams.” The perfect ballad for every person who’s crush will probably date them only in their dreams.

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins

Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is a crazy ride orchestrated by none other than Billy Corgan. The hundreds of guitar layers that are present on each song give them punch and a scale of epic proportions; the guitar solos will give you goosebumps and have you wishing you could sing along to them; Billy Corgan’s powerful vocals will have you screaming along with him at the top of your lungs. The instantly catchy singles “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and “1979” are amazing: the former will have you scream at the world and all its problems, while the latter will leave you in a nostalgic bliss. “Zero” is an aggressive force of anger that assaults your ears the minute it comes on, while songs like “To Forgive” bring forth the sadness and trauma of Corgan’s childhood most vividly and painful way imaginable. “Stumbleine” is a beautiful quiet song that breaks up the album and makes for one of the best moments on the album. While the record is incredibly long, sitting at just over 2 hours, every minute is terrific.

Feel Something by Movements

Feel Something is a relatively recent album but was entirely overlooked by the mainstream: it is a shame that not many people listened to this album, as it is incredible. The album kicks off with one of the catchiest guitar lines you’ll hear on the song “Full Circle”; Patrick Miranda starts singing, and the drums kick in shortly after: by now, you’ll be instantly hooked. Miranda’s gentle voice hovering above the distant drums creates a perfect atmosphere of isolation and loneliness that drives the themes of depression present on the song. As the song ends, it seems impossible that they will consistently hit such a high bar: but oh my god, they do just that. Songs like “Daylily” convey their depressing and sad undertones in the most enjoyable way possible. When you’ve had a rough day, this song will be here to encase you in its distant melancholy and pervading sense of hope, conveyed excellently through the reverb-heavy production, amazing lyrics, and sensational dynamics. “Deadly Dull” tells a heart-wrenching story of Miranda’s grandfather’s struggles with Alzheimer’s disease. “Third Degree” is a passionate love song about the attraction of toxic relationships. “When you decide to leave, I can write about my scars,” says Miranda. While this album is not a happy one, it is amazing for those days that you just want to eat a bowl of ice cream, curl up, and sleep.

There you have it. This is a lot of music to sift through, more than enough to last you till Christmas. So please, I beg you, don’t play any more Christmas music.