Rivers Cuomo of Weezer and ex-R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck have written songs for the first-ever Christmas album from The Monkees.
Christmas Party is due out October 14th, and the title track was co-written by Buck and R.E.M. touring musician and Minus 5 bandmate Scott McCaughey. They play on that song as well as a cover of "Jesus Christ" by Big Star.
Cuomo contributed a song called "What Would Santa Do," Andy Partridge of XTC wrote "Unwrap You at Christmas," and Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and author Michael Chabon teamed up to write "House of Broken Gingerbread."
The album features vocals from all three surviving Monkees -- Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork -- along with Davy Jones vocals from the band's vaults on "Silver Bells" and "Mele Kalikimaka."
- Be warned -- they covered "Wonderful Christmastime" on this album.