Category: 2010

CHARLES BRADLEY - EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS

11/6/2015

After finding the free HoneyHoney Christmas download at Amoeba Records, I noticed they've got quite an extensive catalog of free downloads--61 pages, in fact. I didn't have time to go through all of them, but a quick hit on the "Holiday" button to the left and I found this sizzling Charles Bradley track "Everyday Is Christmas (When I'm Lovin' You)". From the Dap Tone stable of artists, Bradley is a bit of a throwback to the days when Soul and R&B were pure, hot, true, and irresistible. If you didn't know better, you'd think this was a track from a sixties James Brown Christmas album. But it's from 2010 (so there; now you know better).

I bought the 45, myself, so I really don't need the free download. But, if you haven't added this one to your collection, yet, you DO need the free download.

On the same page, you'll also find free Christmas downloads from The Superions, Beach House, Paul Simon and Brandi Shearer (to name a few). Time's a-wastin'. Go get 'em.

LORNA - CHRISTMAS SONGS

8/11/2015

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I don't know how this group has escaped me for all these years (and, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure that they did...lacking a proper site search engine and all). But, man, am I ever glad I finally found them.

Lorna is a UK Dream Pop group who have been together since the late 90's. The six-piece outfit are fiercely independent, recording their songs "live" in their own home studio and playing out seldom. As the musical trendiness of the industry as a whole blows better known acts to and fro--trying to keep up and somehow always a step behind--Lorna just keeps doing what they do...turning out little masterpieces and hypnotic slices of heaven. Vocals are provided by the husband and wife team of Marc Rolfe and Sharon Cohen-Rolfe. And instrumentation includes flute and viola, as required (I'm a sucker for that sort of thing). Their most recent full album release is just out--"London's Leaving Me"--and that's another gorgeous set. The song "Like Alistair Sim" from that album was last year's contribution to a Christmas charity effort, "Christmas In Slab Square" (another great album we missed last year and available for streaming on Soundcloud). The band draws comparisons to Belle & Sebastian, Teenage Fanclub and even the Cocteau Twins. But Lorna is in a class all their own. If those others are painting masters, Lorna is Rembrandt. This really is the most freaking beautiful stuff you've ever heard.

The songs on this collection were recorded in 2005, 2010 and 2012. When Lorna records their Christmas music, its always a charity effort. But, being as the newest songs here are from three years ago, they're currently available as straight-up free downloads. The last two songs on the Soundcloud playlist can be downloaded free via Bandcamp.

Lorna doesn't need to go the obvious route--sleigh bells and kitchen sink production--to make you think "Christmas"; the songs just feel like Christmas...a bit of sadness, a dash of hope. This is what Christmas Dream Pop should sound like. It's like watching individual snowflakes fall to the ground in perfect slow motion.

I give credit to any band willing to offer up a song for Hanukkah, as Lorna does with "Shalom Chaverim". But my personal favorites are "The First Person To Arrive" and "Building Beautiful Buildings". Try those two and tell me you haven't just discovered new levels of joy (and possibly sadness) in your Christmas soul.

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The FREE List

Here we hope to direct you to some of the Christmas music on the web that can be yours absolutely free. We will not direct you to mp3 or sharity sites, here, but only to artist sites, label sites, and other authorized and unquestionably legal locations.

CHARLES BRADLEY - EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS

LORNA - CHRISTMAS SONGS

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