Category:

Stubbys House of Christmas

THE BEATLES - 1963 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

12/31/2010

A big tip o the hat to Mistletunes for unearthing this one. Like so many things on iTunes, this is impossible to find even IF you're specifically looking for it. After I got the news at Mistletunes, oh boy, I tried every search term I could in the actual iTunes player, but this one never showed up. Only by clicking on the "view in iTunes" link in the page provided by Mistletunes was I able to reach and download this one. Some downloaders are complaining that this was edited from the original. I have the original bootleg and I'll give them a comparison at some point. For now, I'm just happy to see any of this stuff seeing an official release and the digital light of day. You know iTunes, so I wouldn't count on The Beatles 1963 Christmas Message being free (or even around) for long (they show it with a release date of 12/23), so pick it up immediately.

RAVENHILL - A VERY RARE RAVENHILL CHRISTMAS SUPER SINGLE

12/25/2010

Yep, that's what they're calling it. Two tracks on this free download from the Illinois Indie rockers. "Little Drummer Boy" gives the drummer a chance to show his stuff a little bit before the rest of the band gets their shot. "Away In A Manger" is an acoustic "backstage" sort of thing. The songs are pretty good, but nothing compared to Ravenhill's non-holiday work. Since you're headed over to Bandcamp for the Christmas single anyway, might I recommend you take the opportunity to listen to "Ladies And Gentlemen, I Present To You..." Or just pick up the two Christmas songs. Your choice. But, you know, they're both free. Just sayin'.

RICKIE LEE JONES - THREE CHRISTMAS GEMS

12/24/2010

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
3. Oh Holy Night

Every year for a while now, Rickie Lee Jones has posted these three songs as a free download on her web site, her little holiday gift for fans. Since the first couple of years, though, she's limited the download window to just a few days. Last year, the songs were gone by December 27. Just FYI.

This year, the songs are still free downloads. But if, like me, you have a preference for hard copy, they've now been pressed to CD as "Three Christmas Gems". Head to Rickie's web site and download your free Christmas cheer and/or buy the CD.

JUDGE JACKSON (featuring BILLY BOB THORNTON) - CHRISTMAS TREE

12/23/2010

Don't know if you can remember all the way back to December 1. Yeah, way, way back there. We told you about the XO For The Holidays III compilation. At the time, the 11th track was absent. Well, it's been restored. Judge Jackson's "Christmas Tree" featuring Billy Bob Thornton is once again a part of the XO download Christmas album. So, if you only got ten tracks before, go back and get the 11th that was your due. It's there for you to be had.

DEATH ON TWO WHEELS - JINGLE BELL ROCK

12/22/2010

Our friend Ken Kessler at The Sounds Of Christmas alert us to this freebie. The Indie rock group out of Atlanta, Death On Two Wheels, placed a song on Ken's compilation "Sounds Of Christmas, Volume 2" earlier this season. Feeling festive, I guess, they recently dropped their version of "Jingle Bell Rock" on us. And they're giving it away at Bandcamp. Death On Two Wheels slow the song down some and give it a bit of a southern rock accent. I'm not a big fan of "Blue Christmas" the song--their contribution to TSOC2--but I can definitely get behind "Jingle Bell Rock" in almost any arrangement. Head to Bandcamp and have your email address handy.

BFM - ROCK AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

12/21/2010

BFM is a Swedish boogie band playing classic rock in the style of bands like Status Quo. "Rock Around The Christmas Tree" isn't in any way related to Brenda Lee's classic. This is something written by BFM guitarist and vocalist Daniel Larsson. BFM stands for "Big Fat Mama" and this is actually the second go around for the group. They were a band back in the 90s, but split up to pursue other projects. One night, their assorted bands were gathered for some event or other and they reconnected, deciding to rekindle the magic spark they felt they'd had all those years ago. You can download "Rock Around The Christmas Tree" free at Bandcamp. If you like what you hear, there's an entire album from the band right there on Bandcamp that's also free.

DONNIE IRIS - THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS

12/20/2010

Donnie Iris does "The Hallelujah Chorus" like it's never been done on "Ah! Leluiah!", one of the year's best holiday albums in my humble opinion. As Scott Mervis of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said, it's "Mormon Tabernacle Choir meets Queen, with a little bit of rock 'n' roll grit". Damn, wish I'd said that. Donnie and Mark Avsec layered 81 separate tracks of Donnie singing all the vocal parts. It took fully four months to record that one song. Hard work pays off, however, and the result is stunning. Right now, Donnie is giving everyone a chance to download this amazing track for free. Just head to his web site and click where it tells you and, voila, you'll be spending Christmas with 81 Donnies. Read our full review of "Ah! Leluiah!" here.

CLOCKWORK NOISE - LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS

12/20/2010

Ireland's Clockwork Noise get all wrapped up in Christmas. For the second year in a row, the rock band is laying some seasonal spice on y'all with a free Christmas download and video. This year's effort is a cover of Mud's classic "Lonely This Christmas". You can download it free from the band's home page. The boys take the ballad in a Power Pop direction rather effectively. Look a little deeper in the Clockwork Noise archives for 2009's lo-fi take on "Blue Christmas".

KULA SHAKER - SNOWFLAKE

12/10/2010

Psychadelic Rock band Kula Shaker are joining in the holiday fun with a pair of brilliant Christmas crackers. First, they out-Beatle the Beatles on "Christmas Time Is Here Again". I know it's blasphemy. But, if the Beatles had really thought that song was going to last forever, I think they'd have done it up like Kula Shaker does. But, for me, the real sugarplum was "Snowflake"--a song that reminded me of some of my favorite stuff from the 60s AND some of my favorite stuff from the 80s and 90s. A little bit of surf guitar at the start, a screaming organ, a classic New Wave beat, 90s attitude, full wailing rock in the break. Wow. Great stuff. Pick it up free on the official Kula Shaker web site. (Does anybody really care about Crispian Mills famous parents? I didn't think so.)

BUFFALO KILLERS - SECRET SANTA

12/5/2010

Here's a rock band out of Cincinnati with an interesting freebie. A little downbeat, musically, but very classic rock. Reminded me a tad of Neil Young. I liked it. Quite a bit actually. You can listen to "Secret Santa" and other tracks from Buffalo Killers on Facebook, or just the other tracks on MySpace (no "Secret Santa" on MySpace? I guess MySpace is dead), stop by the group's home site (which I think is a little cooler than some I've visited--maybe it's just that little spinning CD in the corner) at your leisure, or just head straight for the download. No email address required.