Don't know much about the good Lord, but this 2006 novelty is great fun, a slightly less manic Napoleon XIV take on Santa Claus. "It's all so overwhelming for my milk-and-cookie brain," he laments, as he describes how none of the jolly elf's story checks out factually, and yet he wakes up on Christmas morning and there everything is. A look at his MySpace page reveals little else about Weatherby except for what is almost certainly a fictional biography.
May 2009 Archives
Don't know much about the good Lord, but this 2006 novelty is great fun, a slightly less manic Napoleon XIV take on Santa Claus. "It's all so overwhelming for my milk-and-cookie brain," he laments, as he describes how none of the jolly elf's story checks out factually, and yet he wakes up on Christmas morning and there everything is. A look at his MySpace page reveals little else about Weatherby except for what is almost certainly a fictional biography.
For real music fans, The Archies were shorthand for the whole concept of plastic pre-fab pop rock designed to separate teens from their money back in their late 1960s heyday. Of course, one must put the whole phenomenon in historical perspective. The Archie comic strip and comic book was popular back then, a half-hour animated series was spun off from the comic, and because in the 1960s it was assumed that all teens wanted to be in rock bands, the animated show put the main characters in a band. No doubt inspired by the success of the Monkees (not to mention the producer they had in common, Don Kirshner), the producers released actual records by the band, including such hits as "Bang Shang-a-Lang," "Jingle Jangle" (not a Christmas song) and their biggest hit, "Sugar Sugar." The actual recordings were led by The Cuff Links' Ron Dante and featured such folks as Andy Kim and Brill Building songwriters Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry, co-writers of, among other big hits, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)." Skip 40 years later to 2008 and we finally get a Christmas album from "the band," featuring only Dante from the original sessions, augmented by Danielle van Zyl and Kelly-Lynn, no doubt the Betty and Veronica from the album title. With the Archie comic way past its pop cultural relevancy (though it's still drawn), it's questionable whether a new album by The Archies is going to make record buyers lunge for the racks. That said, the album, consisting of 10 evergreen carols and two originals, is actually well-made, relying on any number of 2008 pop readymades for the arrangements. In fact, "Sleigh Ride" and "Holly Jolly Christmas" would actually fit on most folks' Christmas mixes. The two originals, "Archie's Christmas Party" and "Christmas in Riverdale," aren't terrible, but their self-referential nature makes them fit only for an Archies Christmas special that probably isn't going to be made.
Not much to say after I tell you this is a punk rock Christmas album from 2008. These guys are studio players from Cincinnati, Ohio, and this is their first album. There's a dozen tunes here, all rendered with that nice speedy punk beat, but played cleanly. All are classic carols except the original "Christmas Without You," more of a midtempo ballad and a fairly radio-friendly one at that. I found the physical disc at CDBaby, but it's also downloadable from Amazon and iTunes.
This album's from 2002, but I just stumbled over it lately. Beatnik Turtle is a novelty show band with a bunch of albums to their name, plus a sideline creating a "song of the day," a service similar to They Might Be Giants' Dial-a-Song. They've been heard on Dr. Demento's show and have played at Second City, so this should give you an idea what's on offer here. There are strong melodies and hooks with fun-loving lyrics, set off with the occasional pilfered hook -- "Santa Doesn't Like You" starts out with the beat from "Addicted to Love" and the guitar lick that kicks off "Christmas Cake" reminds me of "Peace Frog" by the Doors. "Christmas Is a Vulture" is a take-off on protest music, "Tipped Over the Christmas Tree" is an inebriated-sounding bit of fake jazz, and "Coed Naked Drunk Christmas Shopping" starts out with some Spike Jones-like sound effects riffing before everybody gets dragged before the judge for, well, see title. "Christmastime (Turn to the Children)" is a parody of those songs that render the holiday as a time for children, complete with children's chorus. "Smokin' the Mistletoe" plays around with the "Rudolph" intro before going on to advocate for a holiday high, following the plot, if not the lyrics, from "A Visit From St. Nicholas." (The liner notes point out this is probably dangerous, kids, so don't try this at home.) And "Santa" is based loosely on John Lennon's "God," complete with the litany of Christmas traditions the singer "don't believe in" because "Santa is a concept by which we commercialize the holidays." All told, an enjoyable romp.
The Queen of Soul hasn't done much Christmas music before. She sang "Winter Wonderland" during her Columbia Records days in the 1960s, and she did a version of "O Christmas Tree" for Very Special Christmas 2. There's also a YouTube of her singing "Go Tell It on the Mountain." So this 2008 disc is her first-ever holiday album. It's pretty much what you'd expect from an R'nB diva -- scratch that, THE R'nB diva. Which is to say, it's a helping of old-school soul, a helping of gospel, and not a lot of contemporary touches, other than a bit of talk-in and talk-out of the title track, done as a duet with her son Edward. As for that title track, yes, it's the Donny Hathaway classic. She also does the O'Jays "Christmas Ain't Christmas," but that's pretty much it for soul Christmas songs, although she does the David Foster tune "My Grown-Up Christmas List," originally done by Natalie Cole and Amy Grant. The rest is mostly classic carols. She puts her stamp on the traditional "Ave Maria" and goes to church for "The Lord Will Find a Way." She also brings her own perspective to a reading of "The Night Before Christmas" to close the album. This is a disc that older listeners will appreciate more. My wish would have been to cut a Christmas album on Aretha in the early 70s, somewhere between her Fillmore West and Amazing Grace concerts, to get something a little grittier for the holidays. This was only available at Borders in 2008.
Updated post: This 2008 EP was originally offered as a disc called (Not Just Until) The Season Ends with two fewer songs via the artist's website. Karlzen is a longtime solo alt-folk-rock troubadour with several CDs to her credit. Her version of "Run Rudolph Run" appears on the You Sleigh Me compilation, one of the very few, if any, covers of that done by a female vocalist. The version here sounds like a different, heavier rock performance. This EP, released in 2003 and advertised as a limited edition of 200, also includes her own original, "(Not Just Until) The Season Ends," which also made an Atlantic compilation of plain pop performances. The new title song is a country rocker in which the singer complains about having to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." It's a sharp little number, but it's a few years late to be the theme song for the annual "War on Christmas" that, ironically, appears to be advertised mainly by the folks who claim to be Christmas' biggest supporters. Another song on the new version is "It's Christmas Once More," a nice acoustic rocker that appears to be another original. Along with yet another compilation contribution, a slow-drone version of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," she adds rocked-up performances of "Auld Lang Syne" and the Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling," both nice crunchy renditions you won't be embarrassed to play to your taste-tipper friends.
The Sixpence None the Richer singer knocked off this extended EP in 2006 during her solo career phase. It doesn't sound much different from Sixpence's work, but those who like one will like the other. Two original songs, the title song and "Eternal Gifts," are achingly sincere, and she does a version of "Maybe This Christmas" from the Nettwerk series of compilations that was originally performed by Ron Sexsmith. Covers include a duet with Gabe Dixon of "Baby It's Cold Outside" and her version of "Last Christmas," fairly faithful to the Wham original. A version of "O Holy Night" rounds out this collection. Update: Ken Ingram flags my lack of show tunes knowledge. I had "Hard Candy Christmas" as an original but it's actually the song from "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."
Wild Billy is actually better known in his native England as an artist than a musician, one currently going through a bit of critical reappraisal a la Robert Crumb. This is not to downgrade his musical career, though, as he has been around since the late 70s punk upheaval, first in the Pop Rivets and later in such bands as Thee Milkshakes and Thee Headcoats. Out of some 100 albums he's made in that time, this is his first Christmas recording. You garage fans are gonna love this; it's so lo-fi you'll think it was recorded in the 60s rather than in 2007. Most of the songs are original, though there is a cover of The Sonics' "Santa Claus," Link Wray's "Commanche" somehow becomes a holiday song, "Merry Christmas Fritz" throws in bits of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "Mary Mary," and "A Quick One" appears to be the Who song with eggnog on the lyrics. The title song was also a single, more punk of the title vintage than garage, concerns his dad kicking in the TV and collapsing into a coma, but not before wishing a merry, eh, Christmas to all. "Knick Knack Paddywhack (Chuck It in the Bin)" concerns the season of commerce, and poverty is examined in "A Poundland Christmas." Play this back to back with The Fleshtones.
These guys go back to the 70s New York punk scene and are still out there bashing out their "super rock" garage sound, adding a holiday disc to their repertoire for 2008. They kick off in style with "Hurray For Santa Claus," the old B-movie hit, and swing into "Six White Boomers," a Rolf Harris song, which sounds an awful lot like AC/DC, appropriately for a song about Christmas kangaroos(?). "You're All I Want For Christmas" is a nice ballad, "Super Rock Santa" is as advertised, "Christmas With Bazooka Joe" means lots of gum in your stocking, "In Midnight's Silence" is about the Nativity, and they also take on "Run Rudolph Run." These guys have really kept the bug-zapper burning in the garage for three decades, and if that's your speed you should check some of their recent discs as well. Update: Martin Johns corrects me on which songs are covers, like "Boomers," "Mr. Santa Claus" and "You're All I Want For Christmas," previously done by such folks as Brook Benton and Frankie Laine.
This up-and-coming R'nB singer just completed a great year, with several hits, two Grammy nominations, guest shots on TV with the likes of Prince and Sergio Mendes, and an acting stint in the film "Leatherheads." So here she is with a full album of Christmas goodies, a mix of the familiar and five originals. And praise be, "This Christmas" isn't the Donny Hathaway song -- a rarity for a soul Christmas album in the modern day. It's one of the originals, a similar take lyrically with the subtitle "(Could Be The One)." The originals that open and close the album, "I'll Go" and "Thank You," are more religious than holiday-oriented, and "What a Wonderful World" isn't Christmas, though it seems to turn up on Christmas albums more and more. Her version of "Children Go Where I Send Thee" is a strong contemporary gospel performance, and she does a nice job on the evergreen blues "Please Come Home For Christmas" as well. All told, a strong modern soul record.
Or, as I titled it after first listening, "A Grey's Anatomy Christmas," in honor of the roster of young alternative divas featured here. Not that this is a bad thing, as the "Grey's" musical directors have pretty good taste. But it's the direction you might expect for this 2008 charity compilation benefiting Susan Komen For the Cure, the breast cancer-fighting organization. Hotel Cafe is an L.A. venue that features many of the folks on this record, and wouldn't you know, some of them have even placed songs on "Grey's." Some names here are familiar; Colbie Caillat's "Mistletoe" was reviewed here as a single last year, as was KT Tunstall's "Sleigh Bells," and though Fiona Apple's sweet "Frosty the Snowman" has been around for a few years, I think this may be my first copy of it. Elsewhere on this CD, Nicole Atkins does an imaginative take on "Blue Christmas," Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson team up to write and sing "Winter Song," Lenka offers the sprightly original "All My Bells are Ringing," Meiko's "Maybe Next Year (x-mas song)" may sound more like Fiona Apple than Fiona does, and Katy Perry, the "Ur So Gay" girl, strips down "White Christmas" to the essentials. Also on hand here are Brandi Carlile, Holly Conlan, Alice Smith, Priscilla Ahn, Kate Havnevik and Catherine Feeney, and just about everybody on here appears on "Auld Lang Syne."
The Tex-Mex trio who are one of Willie Nelson's favorite bands dropped their first Christmas CD for 2008, and if you're familiar with their close harmony and solid guitar playing, you'll be happy to hear that style applied to a CD's worth of holiday tunes, including two originals. "I've Longed For Christmas" starts things off well, even if they resort to the kiddie choir on the very first song, and "She'll Be My Everything For Christmas" is a solid midtempo ballad with a touch of Everly Brothers vocally. Rudolph makes two appearances, once with his red nose in a nice rocked-out rhythm and again in the Chuck Berry classic. Their "Carol of the Bells" is a witty amalgam of the standard arrangement with an overlay of Mexican folk playing and Spanish percussion, with just a touch of the Santana sound on lead guitar. Given their background, you'd probably be disappointed if they didn't do "Feliz Navidad," which they do in a nice shuffle, the same arrangement as the single demo they did a couple years ago but a more finished-sounding version. All told, a nice rocking holiday disc.
This 2008 compilation pulls together a bunch of bands who play in this style -- think rockabilly, add a heaping helping of the Cramps and maybe season with a little Iggy Pop -- to give us their version of Christmas. It gets off to a misleading start with Rev. Horton Heat's "We Three Kings," which isn't bad but also isn't really all that psycho. The second cut by The Tabaltix, "Don't Believe in Christmas," is more in line with the title, applyling that style to The Sonics' classic tune. Los Gatos Locos take on the Kinks' "Father Christmas," The Coffin Draggers medley "Jingle Bell Rock" into "Jingle Bells," turning the latter into a real thrash-fest. That tempo is picked up again by Bamboula with "I'm Getting Pissed For Christmas," an ode to drinking beer on the holiday. Knock Galley West get into the evil elf mode with "Gunslingin' Santa," The Coffin Caddies celebrate "Halloween on Xmas" (paging Tim Burton), and The Vaudevilles "Shot My Baby For Christmas." An interesting compilation with some good tunes, a few weak ones, and a reasonable intro to psychobilly if you haven't been down that road before.
Just discovered this EP on its 2008 re-release, though the band notes on its MySpace page the disc was originally released in 2006. Strangely enough, the title song isn't performed on this brief collection; what is here is surf-rock versions of "Greensleves," "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies" and "Our Favorite (Christmas) Martian," which to my ears sounds like a takeoff from the theme to the TV show of the same name. Their "Feliz Navidad" brings in a bit of Latin rhythm, and their original "Road Kill Christmas" has a bit of Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks to it. Nicely done.
You know those fake bands you saw playing on the beach in those 1960s surf movies that usually included some of the film's characters? Imagine one of them come to life and you've got the Barbary Coasters. They've got that West Coast small combo pop-rock sound down pat, vintage instruments, cheap organ and all. More remarkable is that this 2008 Christmas album consists almost entirely of originals, though "Twistin' Bells' is just an instrumental "Jingle Bells" and "I Want a Monkey For Christmas" is simply new lyrics to "Roll Over Beethoven." That tune appeared on a Double Crown compilation, in case the description sounds familiar. The band still gets credit for its authentic period sentiment, with song titles like "Frosty's Beach Party," "Wild Snowshoeing Weekend," "Ho Ho GTO," "Apres Ski A-Go-Go," and "Will You Still Love Me (After Christmas Break)?" As I have fond memories of that musical period, I'll probably be playing this a lot.
We covered Yulenog 3 last year, and sure enough here's no. 4. This year's album adds the conceit of political satire on top of the holiday fare, promising tunes for both sides of the partisan divide. It kicks off with a slapdash "All I Want For Christmas," then goes into "Coal For Christmas," which is about the fossil fuel situation. Santa has a bit of an identity crisis here, as the next two songs, sung by Sam Kulik, are "Santa's From Iran," a bit of dissonant funk, and "Santa Claus is a Jew," a folky bit of satiric irony that revisits the fossil fuel situation. Kuruna returns with "Snoopy's Christmas," Weird Al's "Christmas at Ground Zero," Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster's Holiday," the infamous "What Can You Get a Wookie For Christmas" and a falsetto "Santa Baby." Charles Evans stops by with "Obama For Christmas (Not For President)," the first holiday song featuring our new president as far as I know; it's kind of jazzy but the singing is a bit off-key. Kuruna also does a quick "No Christmas For Old Men," an homage to the Coen brothers, and revisits "Island of Misfit Toys." The satirical aspect isn't all that satisfying to my mind, since they seem to abandon it frequently, but you'll probably enjoy what sounds like a fairly spontaneous attempt to make a Christmas album.
This long-standing metal band from Canada jumps into the Christmas fray for 2008 with a long-player that for now is available only online or at Wal-Mart stores in Canada. It's well-played but fairly monochromatic; mid-tempo to uptempo crunch is the rule here. Song selection is predictable too, mostly rock standards, hitting Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" and John and Yoko's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," though "Christmas Time Is Here Again" is not the Beatles song, but an original. Other tunes include "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Jingle Bells," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Silent Night," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and, possibly the best performance here, a rendition of Bob Seger's "Sock It To Me Santa." Good mainly for metal fans.
The proprietor of Twelve Months of Christmas curated this collection of alt-rock-pop to benefit Wayside Waifs, a Kansas City animal shelter. I haven't heard of most of these people, with the exception of the reclusive R. Stevie Moore, who offers a rocked-out "Joy to the World" with the occasional bark from the backing singer. Aside from that, "Christmas Time Is Here" by The Harvey Girls, "Jingle Bell Rock" by Ray Carmen, "Ukrainian Bell Carol" by Lord of the Yum-Yum and what I believe is a Scandinavian carol, "Jolaljosin" by Worm Is Green, the majority of these tunes are originals, starting with the title tune by ShiSho, which is a bit of kid rap-sing that isn't bad for a disc opener. Zen Doggies throw a bit of cheap synthesizer into "Oh Santa," What About Frogs tells the story of "The Cat Who Controls Christmas," and Euchrid Eucrow sticks with animals in "A Horse is Not Just For Christmas." Thee Majesty does "I Like the Holidays," a spoken bit over a "Silent Night" music bed talking about improvised decorations, including a Nativity scene made from an array of cast-off dolls. Mercurial Rage does a neat synth-pop "It's Christmas," and Ethan Waters offers a nearly stream-of-consciousness "5AM Christmas Pawn Groove," a suite of disjointed but catchy tunes that will make you go "hmm." Available as disc or download here, along with samples of all the 20 or so tunes.
Jones was on the Christmas tip earlier with his own hip-hop holiday joint, and now he's back in 2008 for another go-round with his gang as well as actor/comic Mike Epps. Folks (like me) who were expecting a tie-in with the movie of the same title will be disappointed, as the story line for the album is thuggery on the holidays in general, with no references to Billy Bob Thornton's drunken criminal Santa. Leaving that aside, there's a lot of rapping and singing of standard carols as well as plenty of original material featuring Epps in his own version of a bad Santa, or just a general gangsta on the holidays. It's not bad, but if you've heard a lot of hip-hop, there are no surprises here.
This is Brian's second Christmas album, the first out in 1998 and this one a decade later in 2008. As Brian's a mature R'nB singer, you'll probably find this album to be as much pop as soul, as it relies on pop and older soul readymades to back up his still-considerable voice. He performs mostly classic carols and pop holiday tunes here, with "Let It Snow" and "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" being the uptempo numbers, the rest falling into various shades of ballad, though "The Christmas Song" treads closer to a slow jam. "Christmas You and Me," "Bless This House" and "Who Would Have Thought" are the original tunes on this album. Well made, but more for an older crowd. UPDATE: Forgot to note that Josh Groban makes a guest appearance on "Angels We Have Heard On High."
We've had hip-hop Hanukkahs on the site before, though they were fairly tongue-in-cheek. This one isn't playing the combination for laughs so much, although you can be forgiven for thinking that, as Cohen is the brother of "Ali G" himself, Sasha Baron Cohen. It's a collection of traditional folk songs for the holiday, many rendered in a kind of klezmer-funk fusion, making room for traditional instruments behind modern percussion and bass, and throwing in a bit of reggae and rap as well. "Hanukkah Oh Hannukah," "Dreidel," "Ocho Kandalikas," "My Hanukkah," and more all get this sort of treatment. As this Cohen brother (not to be confused with a Coen brother) is a composer and DJ, it's the approach you might expect. Coming along for the ride are international singing stars like Yasmin Levy, Jules Brookes, Y-Love, Dana Kerstein and Idan Raichel. All told, it's a lively compilation and an enjoyable listening experience.
America's favorite fake pundit steps away from the desk to host the greatest Christmas special of all time (just ask him). It is quite a hoot, as Colbert takes off on the old-school Christmas variety special that used to clog the airwaves at Christmas time back in the day. As one of the features of such shows was a cast of big stars "coincidentally" wandering onto the set, Colbert follows the blueprint with the help of Elvis Costello, John Legend, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Feist and Jon Stewart. Colbert himself gets things going with "Another Christmas Song," a big-band song about writing the perfect Christmas carol, and wraps up with "A Cold Cold Christmas," a song of lost love. Toby Keith sings "Have I Got a Present For You," which is the ultimate War On Christmas song (listening, Papa Bear?). Feist cracks us up with "Please Be Patient," a take-off on "Angels We Have Heard On High" in which supplicants praying are told "an angel will be with thee shortly," complete with an interlude of tinkertoy hold music. Willie Nelson sings "Little Dealer Boy," which riffs a tiny bit on the Bing 'n Bowie medley while offering some righteous bud to go alongside the frankincense and myrrh. Legend gets in a little Al Green rhythm with "Nutmeg," the perfect accent to your holiday eggnog. At least I think that's what he's singing about. Stewart sings "Can I Interest You in Hanukkah," which triggers the requisite alert, and Elvis Costello gets out of doing a Christmas song by bringing along his show-closer "What's So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding," here done by the whole cast. I should note that Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne was a co-writer of the original songs from this show along with David Javerbaum of "The Daily Show." The show's on DVD but there's a soundtrack disc as well. From 2008.
Just got hold of Vol. 1 this year, and for 2008 we get Vol. 2, another collection of Bay Area bands contributing Christmas songs to benefit MusiCares, the Grammy Foundation's fund to aid needy musicians. As last time, these alt-pop-rockers give us a wide selection of covers, some fairly faithful to the originals, others reimagined in a variety of ways. The Lovemakers' "Melekalikimaka" is a cover of the Beach Boys song of the same name, incorporating backing vocals from the Boys' early song "Hawaii." "Do They Know It's Christmastime" by Apside takes the Band Aid song and applies a bit of a country shuffle to it. "Happy New Year" by The Matches covers Tilly and the Wall, The May Fire turn "It's a Marshmallow World" into a dirge, Overview puts a bit of Eastern drone and stomp behind "I Believe in Father Christmas," and Scissors For Lefty lay down a fairly disorienting backing for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Topping things off is a hoedown version of Mel Torme's classic "The Christmas Song" by I the Mighty that turns into a rock rave-up at the end. Another great effort from the folks at Talking House.
Released in 2007, this collection from Bay Area bands is intended to benefit MusiCares, which helps indigent musicians with their needs. It's a fairly professional bunch of local bands in the alt-rock vein. The set kicks off with a clattery "Holly Jolly Christmas" from Scissors For Lefty, Built For the Sea takes "Baby It's Cold Outside" out of the cocktail lounge and turns it into a rock anthem, The Trophy Fire builds an alt-folk arrangement around "White Christmas," and Bray gives up the white-boy funk for Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas." More funky beats from Austin Willacy back up "Santa Claus Is Back In Town," Kelly Gulbranson offers up Jackson Browne's "Rebel Jesus," and Mud (not the 70s British band, I'm sure) does an amped-up "Father Christmas," the Kinks song. Most imaginative choice of song goes to The Hundred Days with their version of "Walking In the Air," from the 1982 British short film "The Snowman." The song gets a bit of U2 in the arrangement, though the vocal is buried a bit. Poor Bailey rocks up "The Chipmunk Song," Push to Talk takes the tempo down on "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," and Elephone takes us out with "Auld Lang Syne." Plenty of mix disc candidates here and not too shabby to listen to all the way through.
This transnational folk-rock group (they split their time between Ontario and Alabama) has released its second holiday disc in 2008, and it's more of the same following on from the first, mostly classic carols in their acoustic rock-folk style. That said, their cover of Sir Paul's "Wonderful Christmastime" adds a bit of martial drumming and folky drone that makes this a better-than-average interpretation of this song. The title song is the band's own original, a nice mid-tempo rocker that highlights Jen Slocumb's folk-diva singing style well. The other original is "Christmas in the City," another mid-tempo rocker. Just eight songs, but it's a keeper. As their previous holiday outing had only six songs, I'd bet that a future Christmas season will see both reissued on a single disc, especially if a major label picks them up eventually.
Previously on the Christmas tip with their original "The Christmas Song," the duo returns with four more Christmas songs on this 2008 download-only EP. They make "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" into a dirge, and add three originals. "Come On Santa" fits right with the vibrato- and echo-drenched sound they've honed over several albums, "Christmas Ghosts" is a ballad with whispery vocals that I'm still trying to parse, and "Christmas in Cleveland" rounds things out. Oddly, they left out their previous holiday tune, but it's easy enough to download that while you're downloading this.
I have no idea who these guys are, other than a bunch of people with access to musical instruments, but this is great fun. There are 28 cuts on this album, including eight different versions of "O Christmas Tree" tagged with various descriptions, from "Midnight Martini Mix" and "Hooked on Xmas Mix" to "Slap My Bass Mix" and "Dead Kringles Mix." Needless to say, they're different musical styles, the Kringles being punk, the Martini being lounge, and so on. "Switched On Bethlehem" is the little town carol done in "Switched On Bach" style, "Good King Wenceslas" wavers from electro-handclaps synth-pop to antique carol style, and "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" sounds somewhere between Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen. "Silver and Gold" is basically the voice of your annoying Uncle Elwin as producer, complaining about the band the way he might complain about the check-out girl at the supermarket. Much of this is various shades of synth-pop, but there's enough going on to get your attention and maybe even a few giggles.
We've had their EP and previous holiday single "Last Christmas Girl" on the site before, and for 2008 they rolled out this new song, mid-tempo power pop, that is part of a reformulated version of the EP that adds this song and subtracts the cover of the Cowsills' "Crazy Horses." If you missed out on the previous EP, here's another, better, shot at the same thing. They also offer this song free when you sign up for their mailing list.
Not that familiar with these guys, but this 2008 EP is quite the doomy take on the holiday; I could see Trent Reznor hanging tinsel to this. The title song is portentious, while "Wrought on This Holiday's Eve" is more upbeat musically, but still doomy lyrically. They also cover "What Child" and "Misfit Toys," and throw in another original, "Shiny Skin."
This is my first time hearing Patterson's work, and I'm impressed. It's very modern R'nB singing and songwriting. Not bad for a former denizen of "Kids Incorporated." "Holiday" and "Christmas at My House" are very Prince-like songs, with synthesizer work harking back to the Purple One's 80s heyday. He gets off an original arrangement on Stevie Wonder's "What Christmas Means To Me," though the vocal evokes the author's distinctive sound. "This Is the Season," "Peace and Joy" and "First Christmas" are original slow ballads, then he puts together a remarkable jazz-funk arrangement on "Angels We Have Heard on High." Patterson also does a fairly faithful take on Sir Paul's "Wonderful Christmastime," though he wrings the slapdash elements out of the original and puts a studio sheen on the proceedings. And "Little Drummer Boy" emphasizes the percussion, but in a modern R'nB way. This is my favorite of this year's soul Christmas crop so far. From 2008.
The Philadelphia home of the popular "World Cafe" radio music series rolls out music compilations from time to time, and this is the second of their Philly Local series, featuring only bands based in Brotherly Love-ville. It appears here because the last three songs on this 2008 disc are holiday-oriented originals. Hoots and Hellmouth offers "A Song For Solstice," a non-Christmas Christmas folk song; Dan May performs "Christmas in My Hometown," a folk-rock meditation on the title by a guy whose voice evokes a little bit of Gordon Lightfoot; and Fooling April gives us the piano-led ballad "Every Single Christmas." Nice work, though all three are on the slow side. The disc also features non-holiday fare from such folks as Mutlu, Amos Lee, Dr. Dog and The Hooters -- yeah, the same '80s band you're thinking of.
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