2011's been a bumpy ride for Forever The Sickest Kids, to say the least. Not only did the Dallas-based emo-pop powerhouse lose its record label after the shutdown of Universal Motown Records, but this year also saw the departure of two band members (guitarist Marc Stewart and keyboardist Kent Garrison). Now a foursome in search of a new label to call home, Forever The Sickest Kids is taking it all in stride and treating us to a heart-tugging (and self-released) new Christmas single, "Mistletoe Is For Quitters."
Despite the defiant, kiss-off-y title, "Mistletoe Is For Quitters" is one of the Warped Tour veterans' most mellowed-out tracks to date. Stripped down to just acoustic guitar and sugarplum-sweet harmonies, the song swipes its chorus from Bing Crosby's "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and tells the tale of a brokenhearted boy trying to win his ex back before it's time to hang up his stocking. Singer Jonathan Cook sounds so choked-up at moments, you just want to fix him a nice warm cup of peppermint cocoa and tell him it's all gonna be OK. Here's hoping Santa brings a killer 2012 for all the boys in the band.
+ Listen to Forever The Sickest Kids' "Mistletoe Is For Quitters."