Mistletunestag:www.mistletunes.com,2019-11-16://12024-01-10T18:54:38ZThe ho-ho-home of a rock 'n roll ChristmasMovable Type 5.2.9"Thrift Gift Christmas," Savory Flakes (self-issued)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2024://1.25842024-01-10T18:52:13Z2024-01-10T18:54:38ZThis Pittsburgh-based act dropped for 2023 this lo-fi indie power pop number about shopping for the holiday at thrift stores and wrapping the gifts in newspaper, although the dearth of newspapers out there nowadays suggests the singer would have to...Rudolph
This Pittsburgh-based act dropped for 2023 this lo-fi indie power pop number about shopping for the holiday at thrift stores and wrapping the gifts in newspaper, although the dearth of newspapers out there nowadays suggests the singer would have to scavenge them from the neighborhood recycling bins on trash day. Nevertheless, a cool number with a bit of XTC-style riffage and prominent bass to recommend it. Just noticed while checking out the Bandcamp page there's another song from 2021, "When Santa's Here," a more midtempo Kinks-styled number, and it's a free download. Grab these for your holiday fun.]]>
East Bakersfield Christmas, Mento Buru (self-issued)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2024://1.25832024-01-05T17:19:46Z2024-01-05T17:24:06ZAnother act I haven't encountered before is this seven-piece Southern California band that has been around since 1992, jamming together Latin alternative, ska, rock and reggae. In 2020 they dropped the EP in the title, and in 2023 they dropped...RudolphAnother act I haven't encountered before is this seven-piece Southern California band that has been around since 1992, jamming together Latin alternative, ska, rock and reggae. In 2020 they dropped the EP in the title, and in 2023 they dropped another titled East Bakersfield Christmas II, and between them we get a boisterous Christmas party experience. The first EP gives us knock-down versions of "Donde Esta Santa Claus" in English and Spanish, "Jingle Bell Rock," "What Child Is This," "Feliz Navidad," and a slow reggae take on "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)." Version two gives us a cool original, "Christmas Time In Bakersfield," a ska take on "Run Rudolph Run," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Mi Burrito Sabanero," and "Winter Wonderland" backstopped with "Llego La Navidad," the same song in Spanish. Grab both and playlist them as an album.]]>
Kosmo Comes For Christmas, Look Mum No Computer (Look Mum No Label)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2024://1.25822024-01-02T16:50:03Z2024-01-02T16:52:06ZSpeaking of synth-pop, this 2023 album is essentially a holiday romp through a really well-stocked keyboard sales showroom. Never heard of this act, it appears to be a one-man band who tours Europe with his music and whose website is...RudolphSpeaking of synth-pop, this 2023 album is essentially a holiday romp through a really well-stocked keyboard sales showroom. Never heard of this act, it appears to be a one-man band who tours Europe with his music and whose website is full of geeky wirehead-speak about building synthesizers and systems out of equal parts commercially available modular synths and Arduino hobbyist computing components. As for the music, it's more progressive-symphonic instrumental and less to do with rhythm sections and such, though it begs to have the volume slider pushed to the max. Song choice is familiar things like "Carol of the Bells," "Deck the Halls," "Sleigh Ride," "Little Drummer Boy," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "Mary Boy Child," "The Holly and the Ivy," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Silver Bells," "Greensleeves," "Winter Wonderland," and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." There's also a version of the John Lennon classic titled here "War Is Over," and "Do They Know It's Christmastime." The whole thing is sort of a cross between Kraftwerk and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.]]>
Last Christmas, Dragon Inn 3 (American Laundromat)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2024://1.25812024-01-02T16:34:47Z2024-01-02T16:36:26ZThis Missouri-based group has been around for five years and has two albums of modern-era synth-pop-rock out. In 2023 they dropped this EP featuring a faithful take on the Wham! classic and two other songs: "It's Christmas," a similarly upbeat...RudolphThis Missouri-based group has been around for five years and has two albums of modern-era synth-pop-rock out. In 2023 they dropped this EP featuring a faithful take on the Wham! classic and two other songs: "It's Christmas," a similarly upbeat synth-popper, and "Snowflake Music," a short instrumental featuring digital chimes and old-school 808 drum/bass machine. Cool stuff.]]>
"Baby It's Christmas," Bananarama (In Synk)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2024://1.25802024-01-02T16:20:48Z2024-01-02T16:22:53ZBananarama were queens of the British New Wave starting in the early 80s, with multiple hit singles and collaborations with such folks as Fun Boy Three. Over time they evolved into a cabaret disco act with lesser, though not insignificant,...RudolphBananarama were queens of the British New Wave starting in the early 80s, with multiple hit singles and collaborations with such folks as Fun Boy Three. Over time they evolved into a cabaret disco act with lesser, though not insignificant, chart success in Europe. In 2010 they dropped this EP, which is just five mixes of the same holiday song. I probably wouldn't have chanced upon this if I hadn't seen that a career retrospective is dropping in March 2024 including this song. But if you've got a theme playlist for 80s new wave stars, you might want to add this to it.]]>
Santa Is On Her Way, The Krayolas (Box Records)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2024://1.25792024-01-01T19:04:53Z2024-01-01T19:06:57ZThis San Antonio, TX band has a strong reputation in that part of the country, occasionally being called "the Tex-Mex Beatles." This 2023 album makes a great case for that, as these guys are a polished, power pop rock outfit....RudolphThis San Antonio, TX band has a strong reputation in that part of the country, occasionally being called "the Tex-Mex Beatles." This 2023 album makes a great case for that, as these guys are a polished, power pop rock outfit. Don't know why the title song plays with genders, but it doesn't hurt anything on this strong album opener. Another great song is "Christmas With My Dad," a tour down memory lane with a backbeat. They cover "Run Rudolph Run" and also give us a "Tex-Mex Rudolph" version of the familiar carol featuring Tex-Mex celebrity keyboardist Augie Meyers, and parody the Ramones on "I Wanna Be Your Santa." Two other originals, "Home" and "She So Baby" are great tunes though not exactly Christmas oriented, and there's nothing holiday styled about their cover of "I Hear You Knocking." The album wraps with acapella versions of the title song and "I Wanna Be Your Santa," and I will tell you straight up that this is a minor rock Christmas classic even if you just distill it down to the most holiday oriented tunes. Click the cover to grab it from Amazon. Shouldn't leave without noting that this compiles some tunes from previous years, and you can get a better picture of that by browsing their Bandcamp page.]]>
Father Christmas EP, Dave Davies (Red River)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2024://1.25782024-01-01T18:14:42Z2024-01-01T18:21:32ZKinks guitarist and occasional writer for the band Dave Davies dropped a live EP in 2023 that includes a verstion of the band's 70s classic "Father Christmas," as the title will no doubt inform you. Three additional live cuts are...RudolphKinks guitarist and occasional writer for the band Dave Davies dropped a live EP in 2023 that includes a verstion of the band's 70s classic "Father Christmas," as the title will no doubt inform you. Three additional live cuts are non-Christmas, but Kinks completists will want this, especially as there's vinyl available in addition to downloads and streaming.]]>
"Tell 'Em It's Christmas," Buckcherry (Sand Hill)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2024://1.25772024-01-01T18:12:54Z2024-01-01T18:14:18ZThis hard rock band from the 90s has been on the Christmas bandwagon before, and they're back for 2023 with this solid old-school hard rocker that'll remind you of the pre-disco 70s. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am, and they rhyme...RudolphThis hard rock band from the 90s has been on the Christmas bandwagon before, and they're back for 2023 with this solid old-school hard rocker that'll remind you of the pre-disco 70s. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am, and they rhyme "Christmas" with "wish list." Download or stream this at your leisure.]]>
"Happy New Year (Cheers To You)," George Nipson (self-issued)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2023://1.25762023-12-31T19:01:55Z2023-12-31T19:12:24ZGeorge Nipson is actually Mark Horn, a guy with a long history in the music business that includes albums of kids' music as well as a 1978 solo album called Someday that sells for stupid money in collectors' circles. The...RudolphGeorge Nipson is actually Mark Horn, a guy with a long history in the music business that includes albums of kids' music as well as a 1978 solo album called Someday that sells for stupid money in collectors' circles. The PowerPop blog notes that Mark changed his name because his real name belongs to a stupefying array of other artists who would likely appear before him in searches of streaming sites. At any rate, feel free to download or stream this from any of the usual sources, as it's a neat year-end power pop tune. (I believe the crowd noises are added on and that this is a studio recording, btw.)]]>
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," Billie Eilish (YouTube)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2023://1.25752023-12-31T18:56:37Z2023-12-31T18:59:36ZLast year we posted a bootleg video of Billie doing this, but for "Saturday Night Live" in 2023 she performed it again, with much better sound quality and arguably a better performance. Enjoy....Rudolph
Last year we posted a bootleg video of Billie doing this, but for "Saturday Night Live" in 2023 she performed it again, with much better sound quality and arguably a better performance. Enjoy.
]]>
"The Magic of Christmas Time," Jon Mullen (YouTube)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2023://1.25742023-12-31T18:50:55Z2023-12-31T18:54:19ZNot too much to say about this one, these Detroit folks put together this Christmas song and video for 2023, with a young Kym Ward on backing vocals. A bit on the amateurish side, but if anybody with chops wants...Rudolph
Not too much to say about this one, these Detroit folks put together this Christmas song and video for 2023, with a young Kym Ward on backing vocals. A bit on the amateurish side, but if anybody with chops wants to cover this in the future, they should by all means, because it would make a great power-pop holiday ode. No independent audio I'm aware of.
]]>
Christmas Collection Vol. 1, Don't Call Me Ishmael (Droma)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2023://1.25732023-12-30T19:49:38Z2023-12-30T19:52:35ZFollowing a tip on a Christmas album, I ended up disappearing down a rabbit hole. This album, for 2023, is a CD containing 14 tunes recorded at various times over the past few years. English rockers Don't Call Me Ishmael...Rudolph
Following a tip on a Christmas album, I ended up disappearing down a rabbit hole. This album, for 2023, is a CD containing 14 tunes recorded at various times over the past few years. English rockers Don't Call Me Ishmael appear to have a history with this time of year, with several past EPs and albums of holiday-themed indie rock. Meanwhile, they dropped a fresh set of tunes on the EP Ghost of Christmas Past for 2023, which is download only, as three of these four songs are on the CD -- "The Ghost of Christmas Past," "Christmas In July," and "Jaded to Merry." The fourth song, "Clementines," is described as a reimagining of their past song "It's Christmas (Let's Pretend We're Fine)," which is on the CD. Meanwhile, back on the disc, we also have "I Won't Hesitate (This Christmas)," "Big Kid at Christmas," "My Christmas (Is Better Than Yours)," "From Lapland (With Regret)," "Morning December 25," "Mary and Joseph," and covers of "White Winter Hymnal," "All Alone at Christmas," and "Pipes of Peace." Grazing the Bandcamp page will allow you to pick and choose among these songs, or collect the full set.]]>
"Christmas Isn't Christmas," Bon Jovi (Island)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2023://1.25722023-12-30T19:30:57Z2023-12-30T19:32:19ZSomehow missed this dropping in November 2023, the long-running 80s rockers from Jersey giving us a solid new Christmas song with the flavor of long-running favorite "Please Come Home For Christmas," not to mention similar lyrical content. Download or stream...RudolphSomehow missed this dropping in November 2023, the long-running 80s rockers from Jersey giving us a solid new Christmas song with the flavor of long-running favorite "Please Come Home For Christmas," not to mention similar lyrical content. Download or stream it at your leisure. ]]>
For the Holidays, Knifeplay (self-issued)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2023://1.25712023-12-30T19:22:24Z2023-12-30T19:23:52ZI just heard about this Philadelphia band's cover of Counting Crows' "A Long December," which apparently only dropped two days before Christmas 2023. I discovered that this is just the latest in an ongoing series for this band, which has...Rudolph
I just heard about this Philadelphia band's cover of Counting Crows' "A Long December," which apparently only dropped two days before Christmas 2023. I discovered that this is just the latest in an ongoing series for this band, which has previously dropped new original Christmas songs in each of the last four years and is compiling them under the title For the Holidays. All these tunes are pensive mid-tempo indie-rock numbers and each of the originals is a gem.They include "Is It Snowing, Wherever You Are?," the lengthy "Christmas Lullaby," "Peace In Winter" and "Love Lives In Our Hearts, At Christmastime." Nice work, and 100 percent of the earnings from this go to Broad Street Ministry, which provides food and clothing to Philadelphia's homeless. Should make a note to check back each year for as long as this goes on. Visit them on Bandcamp.]]>
Christmas Jollies I and II: The Extra Jolly Edition, various artists (Soulmusic)tag:www.mistletunes.com,2023://1.25702023-12-29T17:21:40Z2023-12-29T17:34:16ZHey, remember Christmas Jollies? The Salsoul disco Christmas album from the late 1970s produced by Vincent Montana of MFSB fame? It's been reissued and remastered a number of times over the years, but for 2023 it's gone full box set...RudolphHey, remember Christmas Jollies? The Salsoul disco Christmas album from the late 1970s produced by Vincent Montana of MFSB fame? It's been reissued and remastered a number of times over the years, but for 2023 it's gone full box set edition, a 3-CD set featuring the original album, some outtakes, and an entire second album called Christmas Jollies II done by a different producer, but definitely in that 70s disco realm. I consider it a niche interest item myself, considering how cornball the original album was to my less mature ears, but given how the popular music scene of the last 20 years has consisted of young artists slicing and dicing various versions of past musical genres, maybe we're due for a suburban couples-swapping soundtrack revival. Your call.]]>