Category: Pop Rock

Stubbys House of Christmas

SMALLTOWN POETS - CAROL OF THE BELLS

12/16/2018

The Smalltown Poets have released a couple of excellent CCM Christmas albums--2011's "Smalltown Poets Christmas" and "Christmas Time Again" in 2014--but they've been all quiet on the Yuletide front since then (although, as a CCM band, pretty much everything they record could be tied to the spiritual aspect of the holiday). But the band has returned with a holiday single for 2018. They describe their version of "Carol of the Bells" as what they would imagine it would sound like if Queen and Radiohead decided to record a Christmas single together. That's not too far off the mark, though it misses without the presence of a Freddie Mercury. Now had they recruited Marc Martel to join them on the vocals.... Truth be told, I think they came up with the description after they'd recorded it and listened to it, not before they laid out the arrangement. And it's a fine rendition of "Carol of the Bells" that, I think, sounds like The Smalltown Poets. And there ain't nothing wrong with that. You can get this one free, in exchange for your email, from Noisetrade.

STEVE KAROS - MELT THE HEART OF A SNOWMAN

12/12/2018

It's no secret. I love a good Pop song more than most. And, by Pop song, I mean a song that sounds like the hits I listened to in the 60s and 70s...preferably something with a little Bubblegum flavor. Steve Karos is ordinarily a singer of Kids music--under the name Sing Along Steve--so he's obviously in touch with his inner child. But he's released "Melt The Heart of a Snowman" under his own name, as he does with his more adult songs.

To me, "Melt The Heart of a Snowman" sounds like an early Neil Diamond composition sung by...I dunno, Jay & The Americans? Tommy Roe? Ron Dante? Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge? I'll get it, eventually. I'm almost there. But the point is it has that feel. And it's got a cute story and clever lyrics that are adult, but not really adult. Know what I'm saying? Could be a teen love saga...just one that includes office parties. It's just a good Pop song.

By the way. I'm not up on my ugly sweater protocol. Is the idea to have the ugliest of ugly sweaters or to have one that's just ugly enough to be ugly? It's sort of relevant to the song. "Melt The Heart of a Snowman" by Steve Karos can be purchased from CD Baby, but, as of this writing, you can download it free at Soundcloud.

THE JAC (& The CHRISTMAS CREW) - DECEMBER

11/29/2018

The JAC is back! JAC in the house! (What'd you expect? JAC in the box?)

Every year, Joe Algeri, one of our favorite makers of musical mirth and merriment, drops off a Power Pop pleaser to kick off the countdown to Christmas (mmm. Thought I was gonna be able to work in the word "candy cane" there. And "curmudgeonly". Ooh, that's a good word, "curmudgeonly".). I seem to recall I used to write some very unfunny absurdities to mark the occasion, but I don't write as well as I used to (on the bright side, I'm every bit as unfunny). Thank goodness, Joe does (write as well as he used to, I mean). Now, normally, Joe's Christmas cards are set for delivery on December 1. But we're giving you a little head start because I've got a bunch of doctor stuff this week and, besides, Joe said I could.

This year's holiday ginger snap is "December", a tale of a man who sounds like he's living on a desert island. But it only feels that way because of the girl who left her tattoo on his heart. "It's a jolly time of year for most/Except for those with affection for a ghost." Still, it's probably worth mentioning that Joe lives in Australia where December is pretty much a summer month. Somehow, knowing that makes lines like "no warmth in too much sun" more meaningful to me. Context.

Ah, screw context. Joe makes great music with jangly guitars and poetic lyrics and a sound that's like catnip to me. And you know you feel the same. You do. Admit it. So just go download "December" already. What, you're going to wait two more days to be polite? I didn't. Somebody offers you a great song for free, you take it and say, "Thank you, sir, may I have another?"

Speaking of which, Joe Algeri has got quite the catalog of festive favorites, many of which are included in "I See Things Differently: Greatest Xmas Hits, Vol. 1 2001-2012". You know, in case this is your first time here or you missed a few. The Christmas stuff is free, you know--Joe's gift to us all. As Joe hasn't yet accumulated enough for Vol. 2, you'll have to pick those up individually. You're very intelligent; I'm sure you can figure it out. Trust me. Every last one is a masterpiece. Joe told me so, himself. Head straight to Bandcamp for the whole lot.

Oh, and as long as you're going that way anyway... It seems Joe's been holding out on us as he also produced (and played on) a Christmas single for Herb Eimerman and never said a word. That bastard! Herb's the bass player for The Christmas Crew and also has quite a catalog of solo work. "Don't Ask For More" has the sound of an old Byrds tune (thanks, in no small part, to Joe's Rickenbacker) and, like "December", it's free.

"Thank you, sir, may I have another?" Next year, kid. If you stop calling me a bastard. Next year.

RADIO NOWHERE - DECEMBER GIRL

9/29/2018

Of late, I've been in the mood for snappy. You know, I never called a record "snappy" until I saw "That Thing You Do". I was like, "Oh, yeah. Snappy." Now I use it all the time. Anyway, this song isn't really a Christmas song. But it is about a "December Girl" and that's good enough for me.

Radio Nowhere is another one of those names I wish the artist had googled first, because there are a lot more Radio Nowheres than you'd think--many of them bands. But, in this case, were I on a panel deciding who would get sole custody of the name, I'd award it to Mike Baker and this Radio Nowhere. Because, somehow, it just feels right.

Radio Nowhere is Mike Baker, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Oakland, California. After a gig where his job was testing guitars for Guitar Player magazine, Mike decided he wanted a little more. He was on a mountain biking excursion with Steve Bowman, the original drummer for Counting Crows. "In between crashes, he told these hilarious stories about opening for the Rolling Stones. I screwed up the courage to play him my demo, he really liked it and offered to help me put a band together.”

And put together a band they did. It included members of Primus, Mazzy Star and the bands of Chuck Prophet, Peter Gabriel and Jackson Browne, plus Jeff Labes on the keys (the cat who played the piano on Van Morrison's "Moondance"). They called the band Slim and cut the album "Interstate Medicine". The album was a critical success and the band they'd put together joined Mike onstage for the performances.

Of course, everybody was waiting for a follow-up. But, while Mike had some songs to record, he was also busy as a session player. And, at some point, he just decided that, if you want something done... He ended up teaching himself a multitude of different instruments because "there was just no one else around." Engineering and production skills followed and Radio Nowhere was born. "A friend told me that we sound like the missing link between Lyle Lovett and Led Zeppelin." On "December Girl", at least, I think Radio Nowhere sounds like a cross between Lyle Lovett and Marc Bolan. Cuz it's snappy, see? There's a good sense of humor to the song (and many of Mike's other tunes) as well. Capricorn you say? My, that's fascinating.

"December Girl" is free at Bandcamp. But don't stop there. There's more free music to be had, including a 9-track version of "Interstate Medicine". Go getcha some.

THE BRIXTON RIOT - WINTER'S COLDER (WHEN YOU'RE GONE)

9/17/2018

A couple years back, there was a great tune put out by a New Jersey Power Pop band that got some buzz after Christmas ("after" because the band--The Brixton Riot--officially released it on Christmas day). Truly, there has probably never been a finer musical expression of a kid going down the hill on a sled than "Flexible Flyer". And, as I say, after Christmas 2016, at least in my little circle of Christmas music friends, there was plenty of "Hey, did you hear this song from Brixton Riot? Man, it's awesome and you gotta check it out." But, Christmas being over, it didn't get much farther than that.

Well, the boys from Jersey were at it again, last Christmas, coming up with an all-new classic-to-be, "Winter's Colder (When You're Gone)".

Like it's predecessor, "Winter's Colder (When You're Gone)" was released on December 25. And the place where you could have heard it first was on Jon Solomon's annual 25 hour Christmas music marathon on WPRB, Princeton (this year will be Jon's 30th year, if I'm remembering correctly). The Brixton Riot recorded the tune exclusively for Jon's show. All of which I find pretty amazing. With the song being the most amazing.

The Brixton Riot have been staying true to the music for over a decade, now. They've got the sound down, the music is irresistible, and they know how to hook. The subject matter of "Winter's Colder (When You're Gone)" may not be new, but the lyrics are extremely well conceived and written (a trademark of The Brixton Riot's original music, at least judging from the songs on their most recent album "Close Counts"; really, there aren't a lot of Indie bands that write lyrics as well as they do).

But wait, there's more! The Brixton Riot also recorded a Christmas track exclusively for Signal To Noise on WFDU, Teaneck. It's a cover of The Jacobites "Teenage Christmas" and it serves as the flip of this digital "name-your-price" holiday single.

Get 'em all! Collect the whole set! If Power Pop is your thing (and even if it's not), if you dig bands like The Lemonheads and The Replacements (and even if you don't), run right over to Bandcamp and download "Winter's Colder (When You're Gone)", "Teenage Christmas", "Flexible Flyer", and "Holiday In The Sun" (did we not mention that one?) from The Brixton Riot. Buy "Close Counts" while you're there (at least stream it). Then turn up the volume and party like it's Christmas.

LOST COSMOS - MERRY CHRISTMASTIME

12/22/2016

Another band from Austin. I swear that town would fall apart without the music industry because everybody there is in some band or another. You drive through at McDonalds and sing your order (and they sing back the cost).

Lost Cosmos is a new project of musicians who have been friends for a while, but are finally free to start their own thing together. And their own thing is a nice Power Pop outfit with lots of jingle jangly guitars and this song, at least, had me thinking a bit about the Byrds. Lost Cosmos are currently mixing and mastering their debut EP, which will be dropping in 2017. But just to give folks something before the New Year, they cut "Merry Christmastime", which you can downlod free via Soundcloud.

GANG CLOUDS - WILL YOU SEND ME AN OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS CARD (THIS YEAR) / SAY NO MORE

12/19/2016

Cool! Indie Pop from France. Have I mentioned lately how much I dig Christmas music from far away lands? Gang Clouds are a band that, at various moments, may call up compaisons to Arcade Fire and the Beach Boys.

"Will You Send Me An Old-Fashioned Christmas Card (This Year)" is an exuberent love letter to the season, played and sung as exactly that. "Say No More", I'll admit, took me til the second listen to appreciate it properly. You really have to listen to it all the way through to appreciate it properly. Once you do, you'll flash back to your pre-teen years, waiting up for the fat man (no, not your Uncle Jimmy). And that anticipation builds and builds and then...you fall asleep. Again. Man, I promised myself that wasn't going to happen this year.

Good stuff. And free from Bandcamp. Also good cover art; that's what drew me in. I keep telling people that's important, but nobody listens to me.

VARIOUS - ARBOR CHRISTMAS, VOLUME 17

12/17/2016

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

The Arbor Christmas Show cast performs at the Audubon Auction House in 2012 | Photo by Mark Martucci | markmartucciphoto.com

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.

SAN TELETONE - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

12/16/2016

This Indie (Intergalactic) Rock group takes its name from their city of residence, San Teletone, CA. I know a lot of people are played out on "Little Drummer Boy", but I'm not. And this is a good enough version. But, mostly, I'm digging the video--primarily for concept. You say you have nothing to give people for Christmas? Or maybe you just forgot about that one person (or kinda hoped they'd forget you...but they didn't). Ain't nothing wrong with a hug. Probably a better gift than most store bought crap anyway. Certainly better than a stinkin' drum solo. So lend an ear to San Teletone and, if the spirit moves you, head over to Noisetrade for "Little Drummer Boy". The single, like the hugs, is free.

VARIOUS - VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS SAMPLER

12/16/2016

Phil Wickham – Christmastime
Phil Wickham – Better Than Life
MercyMe – Go Tell It On The Mountain
MercyMe – God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
Laura Story – Emmanuel
Laura Story – Who But Jesus
Sara Groves – O Holy Night
Sara Groves – Your Reality
Phillips, Craig & Dean – The First Noel
Phillips, Craig & Dean – Throne of Praise

There has certainly been a proliferation of CCM artists recording Christmas music over the past 20 years or so. It may be hard to believe, but it wasn't that long ago that the most faithful Christian circles were openly disdainful of Christian artists recording contemporary music. About as contemporary as they wanted their Christmas music was Southern Gospel.

Many of the radio gigs I had back in the day included shifts "running the board" for specialty programs. What frequently happened with these shows was that the "host" would record all his voice parts ahead of time (mostly "live" commercials), leave a stack of records, and never actually be there for the show. And one such show was a program of primarily Gospel music. Well, at Christmas (and I'm talking about probably three weeks worth), what do you think I did? Hey, I stuck to the stack of records provided, I swear. But the tracks weren't specified. So I pulled out the hippest sounding stuff I could find--the music on those records that leaned closest to Pop or Rock or straight Country, or Gospel with clear Jazz infliences. Well, a weird thing happened. The "host" would get complaints from the older part of his audience, but the numbers in the younger demographics grew considerably. I got a very mild rebuke (after Christmas). But the point is the same conclusion the church ultimately accepted. If you want to reach people with music, you'll reach more if it's their music. Think "Sister Act". Right?

I don't know why I went through all that as the lead-in to this free download (for a limited time) from Free CCM. The website has gathered a diverse group of CCM artists and taken a few choice cuts from their Christmas releases, serving them up to anyone interested. MercyMe is clearly straight up Pop and Pop Rock ("God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" would have gotten me more than a mild rebuke, I promise you). I don't know anyone who doesn't like the Indie Folk Pop music of Sarah Groves. I was very fond of Phil Wickham's "Songs For Christmas", from which we get "Christmas Time". I'm less familiar with Laura Story and Phillips, Craig & Dean, but, again, you're talking about music that should be easily accessible to fans of Pop and Pop Rock. 10 songs in all. Not a bad return for your email address. Head here to get the set.