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Nothing different here--just two Christmas classics covered well by a British Rock band. But I don't just like different; I also enjoy a great Rock Christmas song or two done up great by a straight up Rock band. Did I say two? Yes, I did. In addition to "Merry Christmas Everyone", Verses also covered "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" and both are available as free downloads from Soundcloud. Neither were recorded this year. "Merry Christmas Everyone" was originally released in 2013, I believe, and "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" was recorded and released last year. But both disappeared after Christmas in those years. So, for however long they last this go around, it might be a good idea to grab them. And, with any luck, Verses will be back with a new tasty holiday pudding next year. Follow the band on Facebook.
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"I must say Joe's bravado and sheer stupidity never ceases to amaze me."--Mal Hope, rock music critic (allegedly)
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First, a quick PARENTAL ADVISORY as "Holiday On Mars" does contain one "s" word (although it clearly belongs and you've certainly heard far worse on basic cable).
It's not really officially the Christmas season until that Power Popping fool Joe Algeri makes an appearance. Joe's been making annual Christmas records since long before Jesus was born (although they seemed to lack any real substance in the pre-Christ years). In fact, many religions hold that Joe was the very first Rock musician...in that he played music using only rocks. One day in the era of cavemen, Joe was setting up for a big gig for all of the members of his cave tribe. The biggest stone slipped and, though many of the tribe tried to stop it, that stone just kept rolling along. And thus were born the Rolling Stones. To lose the stone was tragedy enough, but it had rolled over the foot of one member of Joe's rock band. Thereafter, that band member would be remembered as the first rock musician to get stoned. Joe next invented the bass...er, base...something he put under the stones to keep them from rolling. It's been many years since then and I won't bore you with Joe's discovery of electricity. Suffice it to say that it's a hair-raising tale. About every other year, I take a stab at trying to be as witty as the "liner notes" for Joe's annual Christmas record (which create the mythos of the recording sessions), but I always fall well short. At my best, I'm merely a half-wit. Joe (aka The JAC) doesn't need the humor, though, because these Christmas treats are always so damn good. The latest is "Holiday On Mars", a spacey Rock number that features 12 musicians from 5 different countries (The Christmas Crew) and, this year, a theremin (cuz you can't do a space age Rock tune without a theremin). The tale of the taping and all the credits and lyrics are at Bandcamp. Also at Bandcamp is Joe's collection of past Christmas delights, "I See Things Differently", though none from the before Christ years (at that time, cavemen were more concerned with preserving their lives than preserving audio tapes; who knew Radio Shack would be extinct in 2000 years?). It's there for you to be had, astronauts and astronettes. But, first, Joe had a few words. A portion of "Holiday On Mars" is in French. They had just finished recording that part of the song when...well. you know. I'll let Joe put it in his own words (with which, FWIW, I agree completely).
"Given recent world events, a song that laments the frenetic pace of modern life and the irritation of a commercialized festive season might seem like nothing more than a whine about very first world problems. We had just finished the French part of “Holiday On Mars” when the tragic events of Paris unfolded...
But the terrorists can just go screw themselves; I wasn’t going to change this year’s Christmas song for any reason. We will remain free to sing about whatever we damn well please including embracing, promoting, ignoring or even criticizing any religious practices and traditions. Peace to you this festive season, enjoy the holiday on Mars." |
The FREE ListHere 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. Archives2010 FREE List Categories
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