1. The Nutcracker Suite 2. Jingle Bells 3. Carol Of The Bells 4. Deck The Halls 5. Angels We Have Heard On High 6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 7. O Little Town Of Bethlehem 8. Swingin’ Joy (“Joy To The World”) 9. Take A Break Guys (“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”) 10. O Holy Night 11. The Amens DOWNLOAD FREE FROM SIRIUS XM |
Looking for some free Brian Setzer Orchestra this Christmas season? Well, you're in luck as the folks at Sirius XM radio have cobbled together this little collection for you, in cooperation with Surfdog Records. You can download the tracks a la carte, if you only want a few, or get the whole collection in a zip file (don't forget to download the jewelcase insert). Batteries not included.
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The Bartlett is a live music venue in Spokane, Washington. Not a huge place, but not a hole-in-the-wall either. A nice mid-size bar and live music place. It appears they have some appetizers at the bar, but I'm not sure what. I do know they've managed some pretty well known acts...David Bazan, Polyphonic Spree, Bonnie Pribce Billy, The Cave Singers, and more.
They opened in 2014 and, I guess to help get the word out, they put out a little free Christmas EP on Bandcamp at the end of the year. This is year 3 for "Bartlett Christmas" so now it qualifies as a tradition. My mind is telling me that the first year's was fairly folksy (but my mind does lie...a lot). Last year's collection was memorable for a couple of less folksy numbers...Wonder's "Cathedral Pearls" and Loomer's Shoegazy cover of XTC's "Thanks For Christmas". Volume 3 is a nice mix of both the Indie Folk and Indie Rock. I instantly fell in love with Folkinception's "358 Days", which demonstrates that lots of people dread Christmas for lots of different reasons. The kid who has to give up his bed for a week to his Uncle, the man who lost the woman he loved to his brother. It's been 358 days Since this godawful year began All I really want for the very next one Is for Christmas to just go away That's followed by a winning bit of Synth Pop from Lavoy, "Merry Christmas I Miss You". Americana from Prarie War and Jenny Anne Mannan is balanced by the Alt Rock of Violet Catastrophe. Mini Murders offer up a Dream Pop "Under The Ice" and the festivities close with Curran Long's heartfelt Indie spin on "I'll Be Home For Christmas". The balance offered by this year's "Bartlett Christmas" makes it a worthy entry, even if it weren't free...which it is. Grab it from Bandcamp. And pivk up the first two volumes while you're there. I love this. The video is entertaining as hell. So watch it first and read about the tune after (I don't have much to say, anyway). Too many great songs this year but, boy, most any other year.... Genius. Genius, I tellz ya. Fireflake is a bit of a renaisance man. He sings, he dances, he writes, he produces. Born in Austria and having spent years in England, his initial inspiration was Jim Steinman (the guy who wroye all the Meatloaf hits). In addition to a flair for storytelling, Fireflake likes mixing genres in unique ways and "Simply Christmas" stands as a testament to that. Download "Simply Christmas" free from Fireflake's music page (MAC users, right click on the download button). If you scroll down, you'll see a bunch more free Christmas tunes free to download. The only one I tried, so far, was "Christmas Is", which is very Steinman.
Chet Farnsworth is Joe and his friend Chris (no last names, apparently), with a little help from their friends. Now Joe, I have to tell you, is someone whose wavelength I immediately "get". Used to work in radio, Check. Did long-ass Christmas marathons on the air. Check check. Big big fan of the Suburban Sprawl and Santastic comps and missing them desperately. Check and.....aren't we all? So Joe and I could probably sit down and talk about Christmas music for days. Or radio. Or, I'm guessing, any number of other topics.
What I really like about Joe (I mean aside from the free Christmas music) is his mindset. He knows what he's doing and he knows why he's doing it. He says--and I love this--"Christmas music is like childrens' music for adults." He prefers secular music because you can be snarky and winking, goof on commercialism through a medium that has done a great deal to drive that commercialism, and its all ultimately disposable. Plus he gets to play all kinds of instruments he probably isn't qualified to be playing. While some might disagree, he thinks of his Christmas music more as "outsider" music than "novelty" music. And I get him 100% on that (but I'm still going to include a novelty tag on this, just cuz). What we have here--the "Free Christmas" EP--was recorded in 2014. Chet Farnsworth is working on a new one, but it won't be finished until pretty close to Christmas (or possibly after). The "star" of "Free Christmas" is "Captain's Sad Christmas", which, playing off the idea and sound of a Salvation Army Band, has a sort of Fellini-esque circus feel to it. I love it. The middle two tracks are both very short. "A Car For Christmas" is listed at 13 seconds, but it isn't even that long. Still, there might not be a more amusing 9 or 10 seconds in the Christmas canon. And "Pulled Pork" is a Reggae tune, delicious (pun intended) in its rhythms. I'm still trying to figure that one out, but I've got this part down: I'll take the one And you take the other and we Pull on the pork and Pop goes the Barbeque That could be the official song of the Carolinas, right there. Anyway, "Free Christmas" is a fun trip to take and you don't even have to pack your good clothes. And the title ain't no lie. "Free Christmas" is free. Here's the zip. If that link doesn't work, just punch the one at Soundcloud. You're going to want to be there anyway to follow the links to download the "Tinsel Time" EP, "Songs About Christmas and Food", and "Christmas On The Couch". All free. You're welcome, America. Sometimes, things get lost in the shuffle. You come across a cool tune, set it aside because other things are happening, and the next thing you know, it's buried at the bottom of a pile of "stuff to get to" that you never get to. I meant to share this one with you a long time ago. I think the group even sent me an advance stream before the official release (just checked and, uh, yep, they did). So all I can say in my defense is...... (I'm thinking, I'm thinking)....... better late than never? The Statuettes are out of Salt Lake City. Michael Gross, who does most of the vocals and songwriting for the Statuettes, used to be in the Brobecks and that name sounds awfully familiar to me. The band released their third full-length, "Modern Despondence", earlier this year. With song titles like "This Is The End", "Bad To Worse", "The End of Everything" and "I'm Still Nothing", you can see why the album has that title. (I recommend "The End of Everyting"--I liked the groove on that one). "For The Holidays" is less about being home for the holidays than it is about your ex being home for the holidays. I mean, you know, you split up with the hometown girl, but you aren't seeing anyone currently, and the good times were good, and, well, its Christmas. The reasons for the breakup are starting to get fuzzy as you're seeing the ex through Christmas colered glasses. As you're fantasizing about getting together just for the holidays (hey, if you were looking to commit, you'd probably still be together in the first place), your mind starts down the road to a "Same Time Next Year" situation (for those too young to remember "Same Time Next Year", it was about a couple of happily married people who nonetheless have an affair after a chance meeting and decide--still happily married--to meet up at the same time each year for roughly 30 years). Anyway, The Statuettes have a nice Pop Rock vibe to them on "For The Holidays". A better Gin Blossoms is what came to my mind for this song, although that comparison sort of melts away pretty fast when you hear some of their other stuff (which tends more towards guitar driven Indie Rock). They also had a nice synth riff in there that made me think of someone (but who it is is always just out of reach of my mind) and the piano play is also excellent. You can buy "For The Holidays" pretty much anywhere you can buy downloads. Or, for the moment at least, you can snag it free from Bandcamp.
This tune by London solo artist Chris Ilett was around in 2014, but this is either a new recording of it or a better master because the old one sounded a little muddy. We also didn't get a radio edit back then. So, while I have a vague recollection of someone writing it up back then, it almost certainly wasn't me because I tend to be nervous about language (a lot more so then than now).
"Let's Get Drunk (This Christmas)" is your fairly standard tale of joy and seasonal happiness, with close family gatherings, Santa, snow softly falling...... Uh, yeah. No, it ain't that (obviously). But the tale is still fairly standard. The kid, who is no longer young enough to remotely be called a kid, who has little to show in the way of love or career--anything good really--sitting in the pub rather than go home to the family. Sure, the whole year sucks, but it's worse at Christmas because the family never lets you forget how much your life sucks...even when they think they're being supportive ("he's got potential he just hasn't found"). Nicely done lyrics on this one and, musically, I dunno, somehow even the worst music in the UK always sounds better than even the best music in the US--especially Christmas music. So you take this Indie Alt Folk Rock tune, which is pretty darn good and...I just want to move to England so I can stop listening to American radio. This time of year keeps coming too fast Another reminder, much worse than the last That you still got nothing to show - ho ho Let's drink to Christmas, let's numb the rage The spite and the fear they get better with age But at least you have somewhere to go - ho ho Well now, this year, I found the love of my life It's all over now and she's somebody's wife So I'll drink til I can't feel my toes - ho ho I am so pleased that you're doing so well But my life is [expletive] and I'm going through hell I'll just get [expletive] up on gin hoping it flows - ho ho You get the idea. It's subtle, but you get it (yes, "subtle" was sarcasm). For the raw not suitable for airplay version, download here. For the radio edit, download here.
OK. First and, to me, importantly, the vocals, here, are provided by Mahalia De Perkins. I always what to see the voocalist get a full credit because A) they're the ones you will identify the song with and B) (and pissing off musicians everywhere) vocalists usually have to work a lot harder. Like I said, other musicians don't always see it that way. But I've seen it up close. And you know what? You break your guitar, you go get a new one. What do you do if you break your voice? You get a job at McDonalds, basically.
Stephen Brennan gets the top billing, here, because he wrote the song and provides most of the music. Also in the mix is Niall McLaughlin on bass. "Lonely Christmas Tree" is being offered as a free download via both Soundcloud and Bandcamp in the hopes that some generous souls will donate to Cancer Connect NI. Took me a while to figure out that NI was Northern Ireland. Anyway, here is where you go to donate. Stephen and friends aren't asking for a lot and all the money raised goes straight to Cancer Connect NI on Christmas Eve. A dollar here, a dollar there...it adds up. So don't be a Scrooge. I'd put "Lonely Christmas Tree" in an Indie Folk Rock vibe, though some might argue the Folk part of that. The Christmas Tree in the title is more of a metaphor for people who may be spending the holidays alone. I could go either way on the song. Musically, I like it well enough. The lyrics are a bit too....something for me. Your mileage will most certainly vary and, in the end, the purpose of the song is to do something for others. And that's not only commendable, it's a part of what Christmas is about.
Every year, Joe Algeri (aka The JAC) offers up another slice of Power Pop Christmas heaven. It's usually accompanied by a nice piece of dry wit explaining how the new track came to be, the hazards overcome, the in-studio fights over artistic direction. It's brilliant stuff, really. Here's a small taste of this year's:
Unusually, it was smooth sailing thereafter even though Stefan was highly suspicious that the drums on the final mix didn't really resemble what he played on the take. There were also protests from Lars who played a traditional Icelandic Langspil which now sounds like an 80s synth. However, Herb's bass sounded like a bass because Mr. Producer never forgot that black eye from 2009. So Joe does something special for Christmas and, most years, I try to match Joe's wit in the write-up. You see, that special kind of dry wit is a specialty of my family. Might be genetic, I don't know. My mother was, and my brother is, especially good at it. And, at family gatherings, we crack each other up with stuff that draws stares and threats of physical violence from others. That's when the trouble usually starts...when we take it ourside. We've been kicked off planes (not mid-flight, thank goodness) and I got a very nasty haircut, once, from a barber who thought (wrongly) that I'd somehow insulted his heritage (even though he didn't understand what I'd said, he was sure it was insulting and aimed at him and his ancestors). This isn't me trying to be witty; these things really happen to us because most people don't get our kind of dry wit. So I try to be as witty as Joe (or the credited author, Mal Hope) and it never works out. It's frankly time I admit that, at best, I'm a half wit and, at worst, I'm witless. And I do believe I've used that line before. I'm no more proud than I am funny. But, anyway, it's nearly 8 o'clock in the morning. I haven't slept in something like 22 or 23 hours (and the worst of that is I got absolutely nothing down). And, because I wanted Joe's new tune to be at the top of this page today (and the blog insists on posting things in the order written), it is, of course, the last thing I'm getting to and I'm completely out of gas (insert your own joke here). Joe's been at this Christmas song game for, what, 15 years now? He truly is a genius. Usually, he'll toss in some unusual instruments like a sitar or a theramin or something. But "Christmas Without Maria" doesn't seem to have any of that. It's just a good old fashioned jangly Rickenbacker guitar straight ahead Power Pop Christmas tune (just like the ones we used to know). And I'll tell you where my currently mushy head was at, listening this morning. I started looking at the cover art and thinking, "I wonder if this song is about Vincent Van Gogh." (Now, even Joe is scratching his head and saying WTF?) There's only that one line--"paint the sky a different hue"--and that's obviously a metaphor.. Although this one...."a tearless cry / as we dance beneath the stars of why"...that sounds very Van Gogh to me. Well, Van Gogh or Prince, one of those two. So, anyway, I start to wonder if there was ever a Maria in Van Gogh's life. And, you know, there was. Clasina Maria Hoornik (commonly known as Sien) was a poor woman who got by any way she could, including working as a prostitute. She modeled for Vincent and, later, she and her daughter were taken in by Vincent, from about 1881 to 1883. Most of Vincent's family disowned him because of the relationship. Which is sad because here were two tragic figures who found a little bit (just a tiny bit) of happiness for a brief moment in time. Both would end up killing themselves. All of which has absolutely nothing to do with "Christmas Without Maria" (I'm fairly certain) by Joe Algeri (aka The JAC) with help from his "Christmas Crew". But that's what happens when your mind turns to mush from lack of sleep. So, if you're still reading what I'm wrting, you probably have too much time on your hands, or you're a doctor of psychiatry who is plotting your next book. Forget me and go grab "Christmas Without Maria", free at Bandcamp. If you're new to these here parts, there's more free JAC Christmas gold to be found there, too. And don't forget to read Mal Hope's latest tale of the tape....ing. Jeez, I really need to get some sleep, now.
Oh, yeah. After hours of going through the usual crap one finds on Soundcloud at Christmas (More EDM and covers of "This Christmas" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" than any human being should have to endure in a lifetime), you can't believe the smile that came to my face when I landed on this one. It's 60s Doo Wop Rock in German. And it's delightful.
The artist is Torsten Kudjer and he is from Germany (Ludwigshafen, to be precise). And he, apparently likes retro music--at least that's what it says on Facebook (I think). Its odd, though, because the first track I came to was "Christmas", which was much more modern Indie. I like that one, too, but I love "Weihnachtszeit". He's got a couple of older holiday tracks, too. "It Feels Like Christmas" is Funky 90s Pop Rock. And then there's a sort of a Indie Alt Rock vibe on "Home For Christmas" (featuring Susanne Dressel). His lyrics could use a bit of work, maybe (gotta take into account English as a second language), but the music is great feel good stuff. I honestly don't know if there will be a Stubby's House mix this year. I tend to doubt it. But, if there is, I sure needed a song like "Weihnachtszeit" on it. You can use that little toggle (down arrow) on the widget above to download it. What's that you say? You prefer your Christmas songs in English? Well, I prefer this one in German. But, for you....here it is in English (the English version is titled "Holidays". Why? I don't know). And, what the heck, just grab all of the Christmas singles from Torsten Kudjer on Soundcloud. Another British group, Ricky Cool & The In Crowd specialize in Swing style Rhythm & Blues in a fashion that brings to mind the 50s and 60s. About that time, too, Jamaican influence was woking into the UK music scene. The In Crowd version of "White Christmas", for example, is what would be called Blue Beat. I'm no musicologist or anything, but, to my ears, the difference between Blue Beat and Ska is that the former leans more to the Jazz side while Ska is clearly Punk influenced (and don't get me started on High Life). Anyway, I'm probably full of crap, so see what Wikipedia has to say about it. Ricky Cool, himself, has been a London music scene mainstay since the 70s. At that time, it was Ricky Cool & The Icebergs. Later on, it was Ricky Cool and the Rialtos. The Rialtos then became Robert Plant's original Honeydrippers. The group's current album is "Flamingo Nights". There's a great reggae version of "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly" and, if you're into Blues like I am, you should really check out "Must I Holler". The opening track, "Sounds Like Locomotion", is another one you need to hear. Great stuff! The Christmas song? Oh, right. I knew I was forgetting something. "White Christmas" is free until December 27th, in exchange for joining the Ricky Cool & The In Crowd mailing list at their web site (scroll down). |
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