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It says here The Side Burns are from Honk Kong. Funny, they don't sound Jewish. I keed I keed. The Side Burns, at least on "Silent Night", play an Elvis Presley style of Rock, so there's Country and Rockabilly mixed in there. And, truth be told, it almost sounds like they're poking a little fun at the Big Guy (Elvis). But whether you take "Silent Night" seriously or as a goof, it's not bad (well, once you get past the first minute where they're going a cappella--that part I could live without; we'll fix that in editing...I keed I keed). Some people like to close their holiday headtapes with "Silent Night", so here's another log for the fire. Oh, and the cover art's great (remember that kids; cover art is half the battle). It's name-your-price on Bandcamp.
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Back when I worked in radio, there was a Jingle company, Drake-Chenault, that would put together these great presentation records to sell you on their production packages. Drake-Chenault was very expensive and the small market stations I worked for couldn't afford their Jingles. But we loved the presentation records, which would often open with a bit of radio theater before the guy with the deep perfect voice would take over to introduce the assortment. Long and seemingly random story, I know, but one year Drake-Chenault's radio theater piece featured a radio station that switched formats to Punk Country (complete with ads for "S*#%-kicker Boots, the boots for kicking s*#% in corners"). There was no such thing as Punk Country, at the time, so this was all very funny back then (and, let's face it, "s*#%-kicker boots" would be funny any time). Now, Punk Country is actually a thing.
And, phew, finally getting to it, London's Dexy describe themselves as a Country Punk band (close enough). Don't know if that's true or not, just based on this single, "Xmas Lights", but I do love the sound. It's definitely at the crossroads of Alt Country and Indie Pop. "Xmas Lights" is not unusual in subject matter--a guy pining for his lost love at Christmas--but the music really lifts this one from ordinary to fantastic. Not that the lyrics don't have their moments.
I'm throwing out all the candles,
Pushed your presents back under the bed I read your letters And each sweet little word is ringing out Like a song in my head that I can't stand It's another Christmas alone again...
You can get "Xmas Lights" by Dexy for the price of your email at Noisetrade.
 Country music has evolved so much through the years, that you sometimes wonder if you're talking about the same thing as the next guy. There was a time when Country music was raw and real. Then it moved uptown and got a string section. And, one day, you woke up and Country music was essentially Pop music with a steel guitar.
I was never a big Country fan. My father was. But I do find myself enjoying the Indie Alt Country that's out today. Seems to me they've gone back to the roots...ditched the horns and strings and high class production for a bit more of that original Country flavor. I loved this new song from Bonnie & The Barrows from the first note to the last. To me, this is what a Country Christmas song should sound like. Great vocals from Liz Wawak and Collin Marks, guitar, bass and drums...that's all you need on a Country song. Nice easy rhythm. Sad sound that's still hopeful. Doesn't hurt that hey give a shout out to David Bowie in the middle. Adds some authenticity, somehow. And, if "Christmas Brand New" doesn't click with you, lend an ear to "You've Got The Problem (I've Got The Gun)" from their January EP "Tammy Wynette's Mysterious Death". I'm gonna have to rethink my relationship with Country, cause I like this band a whole lot. Who'd have thought the best new Country act in America would come out of Chicago? "Christmas Brand New" is name-your-price over at Bandcamp.
Always loved these guys. Last Train Home were an Americana band back before they had a name for it. So you'd get a lot of "Country Rock" and "Southern Rock" and "Alternative Rock" and "Folk Rock" or "Roots Rock". Notice how all those have "Rock" in 'em? Well, I suppose it kinda works in a slightly skewed universe, but Americana fits just right. The song leading off "Holiday Limited", "Home For Christmas", was a frequent flyer on out of the way Christmas comps. Check your collection; you've probably got it on some Indie collection or other. That's not a criticism. I think its genius. Most local artist comps are for charity and they're usually regional. So, hey, Jersey just called and want a Christmas song. Maryland just called and they want a Christmas song. Colorado just called.... You get the idea. Everybody wins. Last Train Home released this full Christmas album in 2003 and, needless to say, its out of print now. So the group's label--Red Beet Records--is doing everyone a solid and making the full album available for free. And it's just too good to pass up (unless you already have it). Here's the Last Train Home Facebook page, in case you want to catch them live sometime. Great band. An American classic.
Medicine Show Music is a Country label and promotion house based in the UK (Scotland, to be precise) and we covered a few of their Christmas collections last year. Whether or not there's a full Christmas collection this year, there is certainly a Christmas single.
David Starr, who is based in Colorado, is a veteran of what we these days call the Americana scene. Not long ago, we'd have called it Country Rock. We might have even called it that California Sound, since it fits right in with groups like Souther Hillman & Fury or Poco. Indeed, David has shared the stage with Fury, as well as with John Oates, John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Kenny Edwards (Linda Ronstadt) and the Guess Who, to name a few. His 2015 record "Love & Sabotage" featured guest appearances from Oates, Furay, and Steve Cropper. "Doing Christmas Right" is a tale of finding the true meaning of the season after years of getting it all wrong. It's smooth and sweet and easy on the mind and good for the soul. The cover, by the way, shows David's Colorado store, Starr's Guitars. Get "Doing Christmas Right" as a free download from Bandcamp. |
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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