Lots and lots of folks record this New Year's anthem, but hardly anybody makes it the linchpin of a single release. Well, this band did, complete with multiple verses from the original Robert Burns, rather than singing the same one over and over again. It starts out all slow and ballady, but then swings into a nice rootsy rock 'n roll groove. It's free, download it from here.]]>
It's the third go-round for this series of rock Christmas collections -- actually the fourth if you count the fact that Volume 1 had to be reissued with a different track listing after a couple of songs flunked the rights clearance dance. As mentioned before, the "Garage Band" of the title is misleading, as there's not much of what we identify today as the garage sound. But as long as you're aware of the difference, this 2011 compilation isn't a bad collection. "Xxxxmas" by Harley Fine, the cover of "Father Christmas" by Garrigan and "Christmas In July" by Darling Czar are the songs that most live up to the album title, with Fine's tune a funny reference to X-rated entertainments on the holiday. The Human Beinz with Miss Angie contribute a power-poppy "Christmas Story," that band's Sal Crisafi offers a straight cover of John Mellencamp's version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," and the band returns with Booker T's "Time Is Tight (Christmas version)," which appears to be accomplished with the aid of a bell solo near the end of the song. Paul James McHenry also goes a bit poppy with "Snap Your Fingers (If You Like Christmas)." Pat Horgan & Thunder Road offers the self-explanatory "Garage Band Christmas Blues," and Blue Road with Jimy Rogers also go to the blues with their version of "White Christmas" and "Merry Christmas Baby." If you liked the earlier entries in this series, you'll probably enjoy this one as well.]]>
Hard to believe it's the sixth edition of this new Christmas tradition featuring this bunch of like-minded deejays working their turntable-computer-beatbox skills on the Christmas repertoire. And like always, it's free to download. Highlights from this year's compilation include "Santatage," with Divide & Kreate mashing Otis Redding, the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC together; "Party Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Dj McFly bringing LMFAO together with Brenda Lee; A Plus D vs RIAA brings us the genius "Crimson & Chanukkah," which brings Joan Jett's cover of Tommy James and the Shondells together with a cover of Adam Sandler's holiday hit; Voicedude puts his 2012 prediction on the line with his version of "You're a Loser, Newt Gingrich," and also does "Let's Get Our Fa La La On," in which Marvin Gaye meets the Osmonds, Boyz II Men and The Beeb; ATOM brings Fats Domino, Peggy Lee and Bjork together on "Wonderland Walker"; DJ Flack's "Marshmallow Vanilla Fudge World" combines the band in the title with Brenda Lee over a reggae beat; and Mojochronic, he of the "Yuletide Zeppelin" mashups, gets Andy Williams to "Pump Up the Holiday" with Technotronic. I mentioned last year that the Jackson 5ive "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" gets a bit too much mashup love; well, it's here again, I'll let you find it after you download the latest collection. ]]>
This is a charity compilation produced by Bob Crawford of the Avett Brothers to raise money for the Vickie Honeycutt Foundation, a cancer-fighting organization. Bob's daughter Hallie is being treated for leukemia at St Jude's, which no doubt led to this benefit disc. It's a fairly mellow affair, featuring mostly covers like Nick and the Babes' "Christmas Time Is Here," Paleface's "Fairytale of New York" and the Wood Brothers' take on "Rebel Jesus." The Brothers themselves do "I Thank God," from a Sam Cooke album of spirituals but not a particularly holiday-oriented tune, and Jessica Lea Mayfield takes on Roger Miller's "Little Toy Trains." David Mayfield does John Hartford's "On Christmas Eve" and David Wax Museum (great band name) offers the traditional "La Rama." Originals include "Rambling Door to Door" by the Overmountain Men, Jim Avett's "The Brightest Star," and Mark Crozer's "Next Christmas." A nice array of Americana acts, though the whole project is more country than rock.
Once again our Dutch friends have posted an EP for the holidays, their third. The 2011 collection finds the band getting some help from The Left-Handed Orchestra, who are credited with three of the eight songs on here -- "Snowman," a kind of sinister creature in their telling; "Sunshine For Xmas," a rather downbeat synth-popper for the sunny title; and "Thomas Ulrich Reginal Key," the latter a parable of sustainability more than a holiday song. That Band contributes the instrumental "Snowflake," the winter warning to our avian friends "Don't Forget the Birds," the ode to companionship "Long Time No See," the harmonica-led year-end summary "Waste of Time," and "Where Can I Buy a White Christmas," an indictment of materialistic desires during the holidays. They've got an indie-pop sound, sometimes sparse and this year sometimes augmented with horns, and this will remind you of such folks as The Very Most or Low. When you go to the Bandcamp page to grab this, you'll also have the opportunity to download the previous two collections as well. (The "name your price" feature can be 0.00 euros, or you can cut the guys a little slack.) ]]>
For 2011, Christian singer Jamie gives us this four-song EP featuring the title song, which is a textbook solid modern pop-rock Christmas song about getting all your friends and family together for the holidays. "O Come O Come Emanuel" gets an interesting hot-off-the-dance-floor arrangement, rather a departure from the usual reverent renditions this song usually gets, especially from Christian artists. Then comes a sweet cover of "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" followed by "What Child Is This," with the help of Abandon Kansas, a big production number climax to this short but satisfying collection. ]]>
The soul singer channels Michael Jackson on this 2011 song, a modern r'nb fast number that will get everybody on the holiday dance floor. It actually has a taste of that 80s-90s sound, which goes with the singer's style very well.]]>