1. Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You 2. Wonderful Christmas Time 3. December Will Be Magic Again 4. Christmas Was A Friend Of Mine [Ambient Redux] 5. Driving Home For Christmas 6. Thank God It's Christmas 7. Christmas In Hollis 8. Last Christmas THE GIFTED CHILDREN WEBSITE THE GIFTED CHILDREN ON FACEBOOK DOWNLOAD FROM BANDCAMP |
Rochester Indies The Gifted Children take some 80s Christmas classics out for a spin. I think they're at their best when completely reimagining the songs as on the Shoegazey and Dream Poppy "Wonderful Christmas Time" and "Christmas In Hollis". Their Loungey Chill "Last Christmas" works well, too. Happy to see someone cover Kate Bush's "December Will Be Magic Again," but I would have liked to see them get a little crazier with it. All in all, not a bad little record to name your price for. Poke around a bit and you'll find Volumes 5 & 7.
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DOWNLOAD FREE AT CIGAR BOX NATION 1. Waiting for the Wise Men by Jim Morris 2. Sleekit Santa by C# Merle 3. Silent Night by Mark Jeghurs 4. Steve's Christmas Log by Jamie MacBlues 5. Christmas Credit Card Blues by Clint Lavens 6. A Cold and Snowy Night by CDA Ramirez 7. Wickerbee the Wannabee by Chuck Otto 8. Bug's Xmas Song - Have a Thought for Christmas by Buggy 9. Christmas Wishes by Eric Denton 10. Christmas Comin' Round Again by Glenn Kaiser 11. Christmasses Long Ago by Derek Rose 12. Doin' Shots with Santa Claus by RTZ Guitars 13. Into the Light - a Song for Advent by Henry Lowman 14. Love Love Love for Christmas by Mississippi Crawler Andries D 15. Coventry Carol (Trad. 15th Century) by Robert Killen 16. Away in a Manger by Henry Lowman 17. I Had A Beer With Santa Claus Today in My Lonely Christmas by Big Fat Tom 18. Kickin' the Snow Off My Boots by RTL CBGs 19. Kampusnacht by James Conder 20. Merry Cigar Box Christmas by James O Lunsford 21. Oh Yes It's Christmas by Smilingdog One of my favorite annual holiday collections of the last few years is "A Cigar Box Nation Christmas". Cigar Box Nation is a place where musicians who build and play instruments out of cigar boxes gather together and compare notes, swap stories, share songs. If you've never turned a cigar box into an instrument, but would like to try it, you'll find plenty of people there more than happy to help you on the journey. Honestly, hang out for a while and you get the feeling that these cigar box musicians and instrument makers are like kids who get to celebrate Christmas every day. And the instruments can range from the simplest you can imagine to concert ready electric guitars (here's a tip for you; if you're making your first one, start with the simpler designs). Since 2009, Cigar Box Nation's denizens have been putting together these Christmas music collections featuring cigar box instruments--for their own enjoyment and the enjoyment of anyone who stops by. They've always been free and they all still are. The music runs the gamut from Bluegrass to Blues to Hard Rock, although this year's set is heavy on Blues. It's amazing what you can do with a cigar box guitar (acoustic or electric) or banjo. Some of these folks are professional musicians and some are just hobbyists, so you get a full range of sound quality (although one basic rule they employ is that you have to be able to hear it; good rule). Unlike some postings in past years, I've actually had the chance to listen to the "2016 Cigar Box Nation Christmas". This year's collection is a relatively (for them) modest 21 tracks (last year's, in comparison, was 31). You'll find that's just about one song (3 or 4 minutes) too long for a single CD. The members, this year, were pushing each other to submit original songs, so the majority of these tracks are, indeed, as homemade as their instruments. Jim Morris opens the set in style with an original Folk Gospel number (with Celtic overtones), "Waiting For The Wise Men". I actually had to go back and read the discussions to make sure it was original because it sounds so much like all those old Folk carols, I initially thought it had been with us for a couple hundred years. Just a great, great song. My favorites, though...some tracks that truly blew me away...were C# Merle's "Sleekit Santa" and "Silent Night" by Mark Jeghurs. C# Merle's number feaures a Jazz flute playing over a Blues cigar box guitar/bass bed. Of course, I'm a sucker for flute, anyway, but the Jazz-Blues pairing works so much better than you'd imagine it would if someone (like moi) tried to explain it to you. But even "Sleekit Santa" was no match for Mark Jeghurs' Delta Blues "Silent Night". Oh, sure, you think you know "Silent Night", but I guarantee you've never heard this. This "Silent Night" is merely based on the one you know. It is a completely original song--original music (well...Delta Blues), original lyrics. Awesome squared and my pick for the collection's best. "A Cold And Snowy Noght" by CDA Ramirez is a stripped down Progressive Rock tune--another highlight. Eric Denton's "Christmas Wishes" is a wonderful Americana Christmas instrumental that legitimately makes you feel like Christmas. Glenn Kaiser's "Christmas Comin' Round Again" is perfect front porch Blues. I enjoyed Big Fat Tom's contribution, which I'd call Vince Guaraldi inspired Pop. And the one song that bothered me a little was Derek Rose's "Christmasses Long Ago". And it bothered me because it's on the cusp of being a great song, but it needs some collaboration--someone to tighten up the lyrics and music a bit. Do that, record it in a professional studio, and you've got a Jimmie Rodgers Folk Pop hit (the "Honeycomb" dude, not the other one). Of course, you have to remember that most of these folks are not professional songwriters and performers. Some of the music and words are probably very much off the cuff. But these are people having a blast and that always shines through. And, every year, a few of the tunes on "A Cigar Box Nation Christmas" will be among my absolute favorites of the season. Mark Jeghurs' "Silent Night" is going straight into the Stubby's Hall of Fame (or it would if there were one). I'm pretty sure all the old volumes are still available as well, but I don't have links handy (check the Stubby's archives; you'll probably find most of them). Poke around at Cigar Box Nation and you'll find some nice Christmas videos not on this collection. But, first, grab the free download of the "2016 Cigar Box Nation Christmas".
1. Bacio - I Can't Wake Up At Dawn
2. Ages - Kafeklubbin' 3. The Only Ghost In Town - Snowfall 4. The Classic Brown - The City, The Country and Me 5. Joy Riding - Empty Fingers 6. By Surprise - Cult of Seasonality 7. It's A King Thing - Israel and the New Breed 8. Mark Martucci - Maybe It's Still Christmas 9. Aspiga - Momentary Flashes 10. Chainsaw - Good Friend (free) 11. Dave Damm - An Audio Christmas Story Christmas, 2008 12. Endor Endor - The Meek 13. The Not Fur Longs - We Wish You a Marley Christmas 14. The Pizza Carolers - Meet Me In Dilworth Park 15. Only On Weekends - Christmastime In Kingston Falls 16. Somerdale - Merry Christmas Time DOWNLOAD FROM BANDCAMP
It's year 17 for the Arbor Christmas collection and, damn, if this ain't the best one yet. If "I Can't Wake Up At Dawn" from Bacio don't light your Christmas fire, well....what the heck is wrong with you?
The "Arbor Christmas" collections showcase some of the finest Indie music in Southern New Jersey. Like Santa's elves, they work on this project all year long and then there's a live show that's pretty much the biggest celebration of the season and there are actual CDs, there (and nowhere else ever again). This year's show is TONIGHT at the Holy Saviour Gymnasium in Westmont, NJ (generally 7-11). Oh, yeah, this is all for charity, yo (the money goes to The Arbor Foundation, run by The Life Raft Group, in support of those with GIST and their families and survivors, in memory and name of Jon Montague, whose idea the show originally was). Jon passed away of GIST (a cancer that attacks the GI tract) after the first two shows, but everyone had pledged that, for Jon, the show would go on. And go on it has. And when I say show, I mean show. In the early years, bands were confused, thinking they'd play full sets and that it was just music. But, every year, they write a show--an S-H-O-W, show--an original script which usually has something to do with Christmas and the year just passed. Holy Heck, I can only imagine what they'll be doing this year. For the rest of us, we get the benefit of a free collection of great Christmas music, pretty much all of it original (I'd have to check, honestly). If you're late to the party, all 17 volumes are still available, though, beyond the year of release, there is a price for the albums (in the interest of helping to raise money for The Arbor Foundation). As for this year's, I went through real quick and can't say there was anything I didn't like. Seriously, I'd hate to even mention one track, lest I not mention the others. But that opening track is killer. And it's all uphill from there. If I'm not mistaken, track 11 sounds like a bit of one of the earlier shows. Maybe not. Anyway, get this at Bandcamp and name-your-price. Feeling especially charitable? Go buy some of the other volumes of "Arbor Christmas". You really can't go wrong.
1. The Diamond Center - Christmas Is Here
2. Soft Science - Marshmallow World 3. Bummer & Lazarus - A World Without Christmas 4. Josh Goodman - Christmas In The Valley 5. Bright Ideas - When You Think About Christmas Time 6. 2014 - You Gotta Love Christmas 7. Dylan Barnes - O Holy Night 8. Red Hot Fire - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 9. Knock Knock - White Christmas (Fog Version) 10. Charles Albright - White Christmas Minority 11. Gangee - Festivus (For The Rest Of Us) 12. The Strange Party - N(eg)ativity 13. Andy Tate - All I Want 14. Dylan Barnes - White Christmas 15. Danny Offer - The Christmas Party 16. Kittens Having Kittens - It's Warmer When You're Near 17. The Crow Canyon Boys - You Left Me On Christmas 18. The Enlows - Winterman 19. Matt Crap (from The MOANS) - Scary Christmas To All (And To All A Ghoul Night) 20. White Women Love Jazz - Yule Shoot Your Eye Out 21. The Ninja Family Orchestra - Jingle Bells DOMESTIC HONEY BLOG 22. Dylan Barnes - Carol Of The Bells FREE DOWNLOAD FROM BANDCAMP 23. The Croissants - Corn Cob Pipe PURCHASE CASSETTE FROM BANDCAMP 24. Tell el-Armana - First To Arrive 25. Han's Father - Christmas On Tatooine 26. The Caganers - (Poo Poo) Caga Tio 27. The Four Eyes - The Christmas Mash 28. Dylan Barnes - Silent Night
Remember this one? "A Christmas Comp For You From Sacramento" was the subject of a post we did years ago called "Stubby's Holiday Screw-Up". Feel free to look back at laugh, if you have a free moment. Earlier this year, the guy who put this together contacted me (having just learned that we had featured him back then). He had long wondered, he said, how people from all over the place had ever heard about this very, very local project done for fun. Well, he seems to think Stubby's had something to do with it. Maybe, maybe not. But the BIG news is that the comp is FREE TO DOWNLOAD AGAIN! YAY! And they had a new supply of cassettes, but they've been selling well and I see they're down to 3 remaining. If you must buy, run right over. If a free download'll do ya, well, hell, run right over. You never know when I'm going to screw up again. And, rather than write it up new, here's what I originally said about the album before I screwed up.
I have to say this is one of the most fun collections of Christmas music I've heard this year [2014]. Domestic Honey is, according to his profile, "just a dude in Sacramento that tricks his friends into recording stuff he can put out." It was as recently as September that this "dude" (Cody Scott) decided to go for it--get a bunch of local Sacramento musicians and bands to write and record Christmas music. So they definitely made good time. The music covers the Indie waterfront, with most of it tending toward Rock and Pop (but there's lots of variety). With so little time to pull it together, there's a raw sound to the compilation, with a few tracks in the Lo Fi range. And every song has its charm. This reminds me of a lot of early Indie Pop and Indie Rock. The spirit's there. I can't even tell you the highlights. It's easier to tell you the tracks I don't like......there were none. On a collection of 28 tracks, do you know how hard that is to pull off? It's a million to one shot. The songs are mostly short (some clocking in at under a minute) and Dylan Barnes' organ interludes are a special added delight.
Zombie lovers, there's a track for you from Matt Crap of the Moans. Star Wars fans, you're covered. And there's Lo Fi Alt Bluegrass from The Crow Canyon Boys. Or maybe its Punk Bluegrass. Who even knew there was such a thing? Electronica? Yeah, we got that from White Women Love Jazz (and, ok, that was my least favorite). Bummer and Lazarus rework a Peter & Gordon classic into "A World Without Christmas". The Four Eyes give a spritely Alt Rock version of "The Monster Mash". And the "Silent Night" closing is priceless ("Dylan, keep going damn it, I'm not done"). "A Christmas Comp For You" has got something for just about everybody. Now, true enough, I like more things than I don't. But I think even the biggest Grinch is going to find at least 6 or 7 tracks, here, that they absolutely love. And, if you can't find just one--just ONE--song, here, to use on your mixtapes, I dunno; I'd have to guess you're too conventional for my taste. It's free, for crap sake. Just download it and try it on for size. You'll find "A Christmas Comp For You" on Bandcamp.
I've been so busy, I haven't had time to check in with any of the Advent Calendars (except for Lie In The Sound, cuz I love those people). One of the longer running and more interesting Advent countdowns is the Alternativ Julekalender, which is "hosted"(?) by Arne, Jonny, and Stian and has been since 2007, I think. They are the people behind the Scandanavian Indie label Riot Factory. From the first of December to the 25th, they post a song a day to Soundcloud that you're free to download. Usually the old calendars remain available, too. It's remembering to check every day that sometimes becomes the issue. And it's fairly typical for me to catch it on day one, catch up right around the middle, and then go back and catch up again around New Years. But you know, if we forget to check, they might stop doing it. And nobody wants that. They post some fascinating stuff, some of it in Norweigian (but lots in English)--from sweet Indie Pop to very Heavy Metal and everything in between and on both sides. It's very cool. Will you like it all? Maybe not. But its one of those things where, if you pay attention, you will come out with a few "this is my new favorite of all time" cuts. And isn't that why we're all here? We'll try to remember to update this post as we get more. Just click on "Advent Calendar" on the categories menu to your right to get back here (or to any others we post). I'll note that a couple of these do not appear to be downloadable at the moment (just Days 6 and 10, right now), so perhaps they're including streams or maybe you only get one day to download those. Hey, I'll take 10 out of 12 any day.
Up top is my favorite so far this year. The group As He Said with an original song about coming home, "Quiet". I liked the song so much, I immediately hit up their other Soundcloud tunes and then headed out to their Facebook page. The group ranges from Indie Pop to Alt Rock to Synth Pop and back to Dream Pop. They say their lyrics are very intimate and vulnerable and the sounds are whatever the four of them come up with. Whatever they're doing, they need to keep doing it. It's trippy and lush and wonderful. As He Said should soon be releasing their first ever EP--hopefully something I can buy from here in the States. Remember the name. As He Said. And, if you want some more beautiful Christmas music from As He Said, check the video on their Facebook page for "Nordnorsk Julesalme", which translates to North Norwegian Christmas Psalm. Too bad I can't embed it here. Really and truly beautiful.
1. Tre Små Kinesere - Nedsnødd på Julaften [Snowbound On Christmas Eve]
2. Drango - Carrol of the Bells 3. Gourm£t - Bare God Mat (m Harry Mayne) [Just Good Food] 4. Tapewind - Away in a Manger 5. Pom Poko - Lemon 6. FOG (Frukt og Grønt) - Auroras Rolle 7. Dear Esther - Papillon 8. Black Moon Circle - The Sun Is Coming Back 9. As He Said - Quiet 10. Samū - Sundown 11. Herman Wildhagen - All I See 12. Moon Like Bell - We Don't Swim 13. Christoffer Øien - I'll Be Home For Christmas 14. Kristoffer Lo - Alternativ Julekalender 2016
This was a 2014 release from Marian Call, a Contemporary Folk artist who is, at last report, based in Alaska (that's "based", not "baked"). And she's got a range well reflected in "Yippee Ki Yay"--everything from an operatic rendition of "Ave Maria" to the Parental Guidance Suggested played for laughs title cut (we all know what word follows "Yippee Ki Yay", don't we). If you like your Christmas songs apocalyptic, Marian offers up "The Last Song In The World". "Magnificat" is a fine original Folk song and Marian's cover of Joni Mitchell's "River" isn't the most beautiful version I've ever hears, but its up there.
"Yippee Ki Yay" from Marian Call is available on CD, if you like, but the digital version, at the moment, is "name-your-price" at 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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