As we tend to do every year after Christmas, here are a bunch of free downloads we never got around to talking about. Some are good and some deserve a stocking full of coal, but here they are for you to check out for yourself.
One that I want to mention right up top is the 2015 Andy Cirzan album, "The Holiday Hangout At Hillbilly Holler". Andy is the collector who collectors collect and his little present will disappear forever at Midnight on January first. I had every intention of posting this earlier, but never got around to listening to it myself. I hear tell it's a collection of obscure rural and mountain music. Of the ten tracks, I'm familiar with precisely half. And only 2 of the cuts would I expect most Christmas collectors to know--"Santa's Little Helper" by Joe Poovey and "Christmas Doll" from Jim Eanes.
After you've downloaded Andy's collection, you should also pick up the Sound Opinions Holiday Spectacular. Sound Opinions is the radio show (on WBEZ Chicago) where Andy shares his yearly Christmas adventures and discusses the music involved. It also features music not included on Andy's mix--in this case, some more familiar Bluegrass, Country and rural Christmas music from The Country Gentlemen, The Cotton Top Sanctified Singers (with Half Pint Jaxon), The Huron Valley Boys, Dave Dudley, George Jones and more.
Download "The Holiday Hangout At Hillbilly Holler" here and the Sound Opinions Holiday Spectacular here.
I'm gonna mention another one up top, here. As you know (os should, if you've visited here enough), I have a nearly pathological dread of foul language. It's my radio training. If you've ever had your newscaster drop the F-bomb in the middle of a live broadcast (with no 7-second delay) and then, realizing what they had done, suddenly exclaim "Oh s**t!" on the still live no delay broadcast.... Well, yes, that's happened to me. I still get nightmares about the FCC coming in and dragging me away to Seven Dirty Words Prison. So I avoid, as much as I can, songs with such words in them. More often than not, I find such words unnecessary in even an anti-Christmas song. Truthfully, as I get older, I care less and less, but still... Anyway, there is a free download available of a Rock song by Butch Walker (who I've generally liked as an artist). The title will tell you all you need to know--"Santa'Self (F*uck Your Christmas Party)". It's been one of my favorite new songs this past week and I'd feel bad if I didn't give you a chance to get it, too. So here's the link and we'll speak of it no more. 'K?
Speaking of foul language, there will be no more posting on Facebook. Ever. Those people--by which I mean the idiots who keep changing how/what/whether you can post, etc., etc, etc.--are assholes.
Now on with the rest of our Boxing Day mess--in no particular order.
One that I want to mention right up top is the 2015 Andy Cirzan album, "The Holiday Hangout At Hillbilly Holler". Andy is the collector who collectors collect and his little present will disappear forever at Midnight on January first. I had every intention of posting this earlier, but never got around to listening to it myself. I hear tell it's a collection of obscure rural and mountain music. Of the ten tracks, I'm familiar with precisely half. And only 2 of the cuts would I expect most Christmas collectors to know--"Santa's Little Helper" by Joe Poovey and "Christmas Doll" from Jim Eanes.
After you've downloaded Andy's collection, you should also pick up the Sound Opinions Holiday Spectacular. Sound Opinions is the radio show (on WBEZ Chicago) where Andy shares his yearly Christmas adventures and discusses the music involved. It also features music not included on Andy's mix--in this case, some more familiar Bluegrass, Country and rural Christmas music from The Country Gentlemen, The Cotton Top Sanctified Singers (with Half Pint Jaxon), The Huron Valley Boys, Dave Dudley, George Jones and more.
Download "The Holiday Hangout At Hillbilly Holler" here and the Sound Opinions Holiday Spectacular here.
I'm gonna mention another one up top, here. As you know (os should, if you've visited here enough), I have a nearly pathological dread of foul language. It's my radio training. If you've ever had your newscaster drop the F-bomb in the middle of a live broadcast (with no 7-second delay) and then, realizing what they had done, suddenly exclaim "Oh s**t!" on the still live no delay broadcast.... Well, yes, that's happened to me. I still get nightmares about the FCC coming in and dragging me away to Seven Dirty Words Prison. So I avoid, as much as I can, songs with such words in them. More often than not, I find such words unnecessary in even an anti-Christmas song. Truthfully, as I get older, I care less and less, but still... Anyway, there is a free download available of a Rock song by Butch Walker (who I've generally liked as an artist). The title will tell you all you need to know--"Santa'Self (F*uck Your Christmas Party)". It's been one of my favorite new songs this past week and I'd feel bad if I didn't give you a chance to get it, too. So here's the link and we'll speak of it no more. 'K?
Speaking of foul language, there will be no more posting on Facebook. Ever. Those people--by which I mean the idiots who keep changing how/what/whether you can post, etc., etc, etc.--are assholes.
Now on with the rest of our Boxing Day mess--in no particular order.
THE SOUL CAPTIVES - STRANGE MANOR CHRISTMAS (volumes 1-8) (Indie Alt Rock & Ska)
THE STEREO SOUL MOVEMENT - IT'S A SMOOTH CHRISTMAS: HOLIDAY MUSIC Vol. 6 (Indie Folk Pop)
THE WAVE CHANGERS - SURFIN' XMAS EP (Surf Rock)
KATIE FERRARA - THE JOY THE SEASONS BRING (Indie Folk/Pop)
THE FIVE STRINGS - O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (Traditional/Religious)
CHARLIE'S HAND MOVEMENTS - SECRET SANTA (Indie Pop)
THE DANDY WARHOLS - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/SILENT NIGHT (Alt Rock)
AGGRESSIVE CRANES - THE NEXT EPISODE (OF CHRISTMAS) (Jazz)
AGGRESSIVE CRANES - KWANZAA SONG (Jazz)
MORTAR & PISTOL - SNOW COVERS ALL, Vol. II (Lo-Fi Indie Folk/Americana)
GASOLINE BROTHERS - CHRISTMAS SONGS (Power Pop/Alt Rock)
SHINEBRIGHT - RED (Acoustic) (Indie Pop/CCM)
THE OOPS KITCHEN - MERRY XMAS! (Indie Alt Folk)
SEED - ANGELS SING (Alt Rock/Christian Metal)
THE STRANGE ECHO - JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS (Indie Pop)
VARIOUS - A VERY OHIO CHRISTMAS (Alt Rock from 2010)
VARIOUS - MERRY CHRISTMAS, GOOD NIGHT 5 (Indie Folk/CCM)
JOHN VALLIS - MERRY XMAS MR. SCROOGE (Indie Brit Pop)
FUTURE OF FORESTRY - ADVENT ANTHOLOGY SAMPLER (CCM/Ambient Pop)
NIIA - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (Indie Folk Pop)
NIIA - THE CHRISTMAS SONG (Indie Folk Pop)
ALEX PAREPKO - JAZZY CHRISTMAS EP (Jazz in Russian!)
THE STEREO SOUL MOVEMENT - IT'S A SMOOTH CHRISTMAS: HOLIDAY MUSIC Vol. 6 (Indie Folk Pop)
THE WAVE CHANGERS - SURFIN' XMAS EP (Surf Rock)
KATIE FERRARA - THE JOY THE SEASONS BRING (Indie Folk/Pop)
THE FIVE STRINGS - O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL (Traditional/Religious)
CHARLIE'S HAND MOVEMENTS - SECRET SANTA (Indie Pop)
THE DANDY WARHOLS - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY/SILENT NIGHT (Alt Rock)
AGGRESSIVE CRANES - THE NEXT EPISODE (OF CHRISTMAS) (Jazz)
AGGRESSIVE CRANES - KWANZAA SONG (Jazz)
MORTAR & PISTOL - SNOW COVERS ALL, Vol. II (Lo-Fi Indie Folk/Americana)
GASOLINE BROTHERS - CHRISTMAS SONGS (Power Pop/Alt Rock)
SHINEBRIGHT - RED (Acoustic) (Indie Pop/CCM)
THE OOPS KITCHEN - MERRY XMAS! (Indie Alt Folk)
SEED - ANGELS SING (Alt Rock/Christian Metal)
THE STRANGE ECHO - JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS (Indie Pop)
VARIOUS - A VERY OHIO CHRISTMAS (Alt Rock from 2010)
VARIOUS - MERRY CHRISTMAS, GOOD NIGHT 5 (Indie Folk/CCM)
JOHN VALLIS - MERRY XMAS MR. SCROOGE (Indie Brit Pop)
FUTURE OF FORESTRY - ADVENT ANTHOLOGY SAMPLER (CCM/Ambient Pop)
NIIA - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (Indie Folk Pop)
NIIA - THE CHRISTMAS SONG (Indie Folk Pop)
ALEX PAREPKO - JAZZY CHRISTMAS EP (Jazz in Russian!)
DODIE CLARK - SMILE AT SNOW (Indie Pop/Folk Pop)
JENNIFER PAIGE - HOLIDAY EP (Indie Pop)
VARIOUS - HOLIDAYS (Electro Pop)
SUGARDRUM - MERRY CHRISTMAS (Indie Folk)
DANIEL DE BOURG - THE CHRISTMAS SONG (Pop Soul)
A DRIFT - MERRY XMAS (WAR ISN'T OVER) (Indie Folk Pop)
LEA LOVE - ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS (Soul/Jazz Pop)
MACANTO - DEAR SANTA (Alt Rock/Pop)
MACANTO - THE BEST GIFT (Jazz Pop/Traditional)
AMY STROUP - YOU MAKE THE COLD DISAPPEAR (Indie Pop)
RANA FARHAN - CHRISTMAS BLUES (Jazz/Blues)
PAPER LIONS - HOLDING OFF CHRISTMAS (Alt Pop)
THE NUCLEARS - NUCLEAR WINTER WONDERLAND (Alt Rock/Punk)
EMILY BONES - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (Uke Pop)
TARYN HARBRIDGE - CELTIC CHRISTMAS MEDLEY (Irish Folk/Traditional)
VALAITIS BROTHERS - WITHOUT YOU (THIS CHRISTMAS) (Alt Pop)
CHRISTMAS MORNING - HYPER POTIONS (Future Bass/Electro Pop)
IDES - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (Alt Pop)
BEAR WITH ME - VERY BEARY CHRISTMAS (Pop Rock)
MEN CONSTRUCTED BOYS - REINDEER KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD (Hardcore/Christian/Alt Rock)
STRANGELY ALRIGHT - I BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS (Power Pop/Classic Rock)
JENNIFER PAIGE - HOLIDAY EP (Indie Pop)
VARIOUS - HOLIDAYS (Electro Pop)
SUGARDRUM - MERRY CHRISTMAS (Indie Folk)
DANIEL DE BOURG - THE CHRISTMAS SONG (Pop Soul)
A DRIFT - MERRY XMAS (WAR ISN'T OVER) (Indie Folk Pop)
LEA LOVE - ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS (Soul/Jazz Pop)
MACANTO - DEAR SANTA (Alt Rock/Pop)
MACANTO - THE BEST GIFT (Jazz Pop/Traditional)
AMY STROUP - YOU MAKE THE COLD DISAPPEAR (Indie Pop)
RANA FARHAN - CHRISTMAS BLUES (Jazz/Blues)
PAPER LIONS - HOLDING OFF CHRISTMAS (Alt Pop)
THE NUCLEARS - NUCLEAR WINTER WONDERLAND (Alt Rock/Punk)
EMILY BONES - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (Uke Pop)
TARYN HARBRIDGE - CELTIC CHRISTMAS MEDLEY (Irish Folk/Traditional)
VALAITIS BROTHERS - WITHOUT YOU (THIS CHRISTMAS) (Alt Pop)
CHRISTMAS MORNING - HYPER POTIONS (Future Bass/Electro Pop)
IDES - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (Alt Pop)
BEAR WITH ME - VERY BEARY CHRISTMAS (Pop Rock)
MEN CONSTRUCTED BOYS - REINDEER KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD (Hardcore/Christian/Alt Rock)
STRANGELY ALRIGHT - I BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS (Power Pop/Classic Rock)
MONEY - A COCAINE CHRISTMAS AND AN ALCOHOLIC'S NEW YEAR (LIVE) (Indie Dystopian Rock)
VOGON POETRY - WHEN WE WERE YOUNG (Synth Pop)
MICHAEL ALDI KURNIAWAN & ACS - THE CHRISTMAS SONG (Indie Folk Pop/Traditional from Indonesia)
WHISPERS OF A NIGHTENGALE - A COLD DEAD WINTER'S NIGHT (Dream Pop/Shoegaze)
SHADES IN A DARK ROOM - SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR MISSING ELDERLY PHILANTHROPIST (Post Punk/Alt Folk)
VARIOUS - A CO-PRESENT CHRISTMAS (Alt Rock/Alt Folk from Ireland)
BANDREW - THE NAUGHTY LIST (Alt Rock/Weirdness)
VARIOUS - BALTIMAS 12 (Assorted Indie)
FAUX FAWN - TURTLE DOVES (Alt Folk)
HELLO SHANNON - O HOLY NIGHT (Indie Folk Pop)
NEW STARZZ - SEASON OF LOVE (Alt Soul/Hip Hop)
GLOSS - GIFTS RECEIVED (Dream Pop/Shoegaze)
VARIOUS - BARTLETT CHRISTMAS 1 (Indie Rock/Indie Folk)
VARIOUS - BARTLETT CHRISTMAS 2 (Indie Rock/Indie Folk)
ZERO DOUBT - DA REASON (Hip Hop/Modern Gospel)
JEFFREY PHILIP NELSON - CHRISTMAS PLEASE (Americana/Indie Folk)
DANIEL YOUNG - YEAH, THIS IS CHRISTMAS (Alt Rock)
ROOTS DIGITAL - ANALOG CHRISTMAS (Lo-Fi/Soul/Reggae)
CANDY CIGARETTES - NAUGHTY OR NICE (Indie Rock/Dream Pop)
ANTHONY FISH - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE (Pop Punk)
MATTHEW CRANLEY - WHITE CHRISTMAS DREAMIN' (Jazz/Bossa Nova)
AWESOME CITY LIMITS - CHRISTMAS MEDLEY (Alt Rock/Rock Folk Fusion)
VOGON POETRY - WHEN WE WERE YOUNG (Synth Pop)
MICHAEL ALDI KURNIAWAN & ACS - THE CHRISTMAS SONG (Indie Folk Pop/Traditional from Indonesia)
WHISPERS OF A NIGHTENGALE - A COLD DEAD WINTER'S NIGHT (Dream Pop/Shoegaze)
SHADES IN A DARK ROOM - SERIOUS CONCERNS FOR MISSING ELDERLY PHILANTHROPIST (Post Punk/Alt Folk)
VARIOUS - A CO-PRESENT CHRISTMAS (Alt Rock/Alt Folk from Ireland)
BANDREW - THE NAUGHTY LIST (Alt Rock/Weirdness)
VARIOUS - BALTIMAS 12 (Assorted Indie)
FAUX FAWN - TURTLE DOVES (Alt Folk)
HELLO SHANNON - O HOLY NIGHT (Indie Folk Pop)
NEW STARZZ - SEASON OF LOVE (Alt Soul/Hip Hop)
GLOSS - GIFTS RECEIVED (Dream Pop/Shoegaze)
VARIOUS - BARTLETT CHRISTMAS 1 (Indie Rock/Indie Folk)
VARIOUS - BARTLETT CHRISTMAS 2 (Indie Rock/Indie Folk)
ZERO DOUBT - DA REASON (Hip Hop/Modern Gospel)
JEFFREY PHILIP NELSON - CHRISTMAS PLEASE (Americana/Indie Folk)
DANIEL YOUNG - YEAH, THIS IS CHRISTMAS (Alt Rock)
ROOTS DIGITAL - ANALOG CHRISTMAS (Lo-Fi/Soul/Reggae)
CANDY CIGARETTES - NAUGHTY OR NICE (Indie Rock/Dream Pop)
ANTHONY FISH - MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE (Pop Punk)
MATTHEW CRANLEY - WHITE CHRISTMAS DREAMIN' (Jazz/Bossa Nova)
AWESOME CITY LIMITS - CHRISTMAS MEDLEY (Alt Rock/Rock Folk Fusion)
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