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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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I haven't had a lot of time to check in with our Festive Friends, lately. So, this morning (well, my morning, which starts after Noon), I figured I'd sneak a peak. Christmas A Go Go had this great track from The Grapes & Friends right on top. As they pointed out, this seasonal Austin outfit is channeling Hall & Oates on "Ms. Claus", and doing so quite effectively. But then I head over to Soundcloud and find that Christmas Underground has put together an entire collection (stream only) of seasonal singles from The Grapes & Friends. So how have I missed these guys all these years? Or have I just forgotten stuff I used to know? These questions will have to wait for January. Meantime, you definitely want "Ms. Claus" from The Grapes & Friends. And it's free from Soundcloud (note: you might want to properly label it after you download).
The first of, hopefully, many holiday samplers has arrived--this one from Paste Magazine. As Lie In The Sound correctly notes, the Paste Holiday Samplers had lost a little luster in recent years, but they've put together a solid package for 2018. Yes, I fully expected to see selections from the excellent albums from JD McPherson and Rodney Crowell as they've been everywhere this year (and the great thing for them is that, even if they gave away every track for free, you'd STILL want to buy the CDs...they're that good). Other major acts pitching in include The Mavericks and Old 97's. But we also get selections from the Soulful dishes being served up this year by P.J. Morton and Aloe Blacc. And, for Indie fans, there's great music here from Say Sue Me, Lola Kirke and Taken By Trees. And let's not minimize the selections from Lucious, The Gregory Brothers, Squirrel Nut Zippers, and Caroline Jones. Gee, I think that's everybody. Not a throwaway in the bunch, though some tracks will appeal more to one audience and others to another. But very nice balance on that score. Well done, Paste! Keep up the good work.
The Flatmates were an 80s Pop Punk band from Bristol in the UK that took their inspiration from 60s Girl Groups. Silent through the 90s and the aughts, a new line-up is back on the road and in the recording studio.
This is just a pleasant Spector-esque Indie Pop number, presented here for no other reason than that it says it's available through the end of 2017. So we're all over ten months late. Grab "Come On Santa" by The Flatmates before it melts away. 
We've had some great Surf oriented stuff this year, what with Wonderlux and Double Crown's 4th, and some strays, here and there. Here's a nice vocal tune to throw into the mix (more Beach Boys or Jan & Dean than Ventures).
Loop Line is the Minnesota/Arizona Indie Rock band that likes to drop off a Christmas song almost every year. The internets make such a collaboration possible. I think I first learned of them with the 2014 Dream Pop single, "Lights On The Tree". Then, last year, they blew us all away with the Power Poppy "Christmas In Space". But I don't know that I was aware of the 2012 single, "We Know Santa's Real"/"I Want A Surfboard (For Christmas)", which is roughly in the same Surf Rock vein as this year's tune, "Christmas In July (In December)". They're all free, so there's no time like the Christmas present to catch up at Bandcamp. Never been to Arizona, personally. But I did spend a couple of weeks in Minneapolis in July of Godonlyknows what year. And, trust me, there's no surf, sun and sand in Minneapolis in December. Nor even July, really. Minneapolis is a very cool city. But its a very cool city, if you catch my snow drift. Just sayin'. Because of their annual heaps of snow, Minneapolis has actually developed a city where, for the most part, you can get where you need to go without ever going outside. Everything, in the downtown district I was in, is connected. Loved that about the place. Anyway, grab "Christmas In July (In December)" from Loop Line and enjoy.  Who wouldn't be up for a funky feel good Christmas song like "GorillaBot Santa"? Oh, I know what you're saying out there. "But, Stubby, you tell us all the time how you hate goofy novelty records." That's very true. I'm glad you were paying attention. But there's nothing goofy or novelty about "GorillaBot Santa" (well, except for the video...that is kinda goofy). No, this is just a throwback to the era of blue-eyed Funk, and these guys are spot on with that. What's more, they aren't talking about a Gorillabot Santa. That would be silly. They're asking Santa to come play with their band, GorillaBot. What was that about masks and costumes? I really haven't got the slightest idea what you're referring to. Haven't you ever seen a monkey and robot getting down before? Well, if you'd lived through the disco era, you would have. But, anyway, I'm glad we could set the record straight. Now let's rewind and play it again. Play that funky music, white boys (and pink gorillas). Lay down the boogie and play that funky music til you die. Grab "GorillaBot Santa" free on Bandcamp. Honestly, I can't stop listening to this.
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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