I'm going to have to stop doing these singles posts. I mean, sure, its worth it when you find something good. But the bad is a deep dank swamp waist high. Ugh.
First a couple of random notes. I see in the Twitter feed of Christmas Underground that Suburban Sprawl won't be doing their free Christmas collection this year. Seriously? That's like telling me Santa is dead. At least the old ones are still up. *sigh*
Reel Big Fish will indeed have a record out in mid-December. "Happy Skalidays" will contain 6 songs and the cover art is terrific. See? I have it on our list as a CD, but its probably going to be digital only, for the time being.
If you haven't been in the last day or so, there's lots of new stuff up on the Free List (get that new Kris Rodgers EP and the WJLP single especially). And you should definitely be following our Festive Friends because, so far anyway, there hasn't been a lot of overlap (partially deliberate on my part, though I love everything they've featured).
First a couple of random notes. I see in the Twitter feed of Christmas Underground that Suburban Sprawl won't be doing their free Christmas collection this year. Seriously? That's like telling me Santa is dead. At least the old ones are still up. *sigh*
Reel Big Fish will indeed have a record out in mid-December. "Happy Skalidays" will contain 6 songs and the cover art is terrific. See? I have it on our list as a CD, but its probably going to be digital only, for the time being.
If you haven't been in the last day or so, there's lots of new stuff up on the Free List (get that new Kris Rodgers EP and the WJLP single especially). And you should definitely be following our Festive Friends because, so far anyway, there hasn't been a lot of overlap (partially deliberate on my part, though I love everything they've featured).
Look who's back.
The Bay City Rollers, featuring Les McKeown on vocals, were huge in the seventies. But, at the end of that decade, Les left the group and that, combined with legal issues against their US label Arista and other problems, left the band a shadow of its former self. There was a Bay City Rollers out there, touring and recording (mostly re-recording BCR hits), but was it really the Rollers without McKeown? I couldn't speak to the rest of the group (as to whether they were with the classic Rollers), but McKeown has been leading them again for a couple of years now.
Reportedly, the band found "Rock N Roll It's Christmas Time" on a tape of unreleased demos recorded in the mid-seventies. My guess would be that this is a new recording of the song and not the demo, but anything's possible. Regardless, this definitely sounds like a Bay City Rollers Christmas song, unlike "Cuz Its Christmas" that was making the rounds a few years back. Amazon's got it beginning Monday.
Reportedly, the band found "Rock N Roll It's Christmas Time" on a tape of unreleased demos recorded in the mid-seventies. My guess would be that this is a new recording of the song and not the demo, but anything's possible. Regardless, this definitely sounds like a Bay City Rollers Christmas song, unlike "Cuz Its Christmas" that was making the rounds a few years back. Amazon's got it beginning Monday.
When I said wading through all the garbage was sometimes worth it, I had this single in mind. Up and coming R&B artist Alvin Frazier has just laid out the sweetest soul groove that sounds for all the world like a late sixties-early seventies smooth R&B record. "All I Really Want (For Christmas)" should definitely find a place in your collection. Trust me on this one; its a gem. Alvin seems to have the vintage Christmas soul magic touch as he arranged and produced "Christmas Time" for Cassandra Stewart and that one is reminiscent of the early Motown girl groups. Grab Alvin's single from Amazon or wherever fine downloads are sold.
The British Indie Folk trio Red Sky July will be dropping a new Christmas single December 7 (that's the UK release date, at any rate). "Christmas Time" isn't yet available for preview, but the group did release a four song Christmas EP in 2012, if you want to hear how they sound on seasonal music. In general, I'd say their approach and sweet harmonies reminds me a lot of the Emmy Lou Harris Christmas album.
Here's another British Folk group whose Christmas song isn't yet available for preview. Ringlefinch is a band of eclectic tastes and genres, but most of what I've heard I'd call Alt Folk and Folktronica. Their Christmas single is "Jingle Bells (Ringle All The Way)", which they describe as "a tale of hopes, symbols, and one girl's dream of a traditional Christmas in a modern world." The single should be available beginning December 5.
Now this one I like. "Santa Claus Is Gonna Make It Right" is a nice Soul Blues groove (with a bit of that "I Wish You Would" rhythm) that makes me smile. The Reverend Shawn Amos is a Blues preacher, singer and songwriter, and master of the Blues harp. He's also a former A&R executive for Rhino and Shout Factory, an expert in brand marketing, a contributor to Bloomberg TV, and the founder and CEO of Freshwire, a digital content studio. I think the man's got a future. But, really, I just want to hear the Blues. Give it to me, Rev. You can find the single on Bandcamp.
Jim tells me I've got the pulse of Swedish Indie this year. And maybe its true. I was surprised to see this one on CD Baby (and nowhere else). And, since I'm the only one who goes to CD Baby among the Christmas bloggers, I might be the only one who has seen it.
Intelligent Animal Minds started out as a classic rock styled band, but they found that too confining, so they started experimenting with other sounds and styles. Eventually, they dropped the guitars for synths and, currently, they're working in this Indie Alternative Pop Rock sound. Its kind of mellow and harsh all at once, which I think reflects their current view of the world. Certainly "Before The Mess" is a song about what Christmas should be about vs. what it is or has become. IAM sees a world where even the charities aren't about charity anymore. The ultimate message: "put Christ before the mess". Anyway, I really enjoyed this one. It was a nice pallet cleanser after listening to so many wannabes. "Before The Mess" struck me as original and heartfelt. as noted, its available as a download from CD Baby.
Intelligent Animal Minds started out as a classic rock styled band, but they found that too confining, so they started experimenting with other sounds and styles. Eventually, they dropped the guitars for synths and, currently, they're working in this Indie Alternative Pop Rock sound. Its kind of mellow and harsh all at once, which I think reflects their current view of the world. Certainly "Before The Mess" is a song about what Christmas should be about vs. what it is or has become. IAM sees a world where even the charities aren't about charity anymore. The ultimate message: "put Christ before the mess". Anyway, I really enjoyed this one. It was a nice pallet cleanser after listening to so many wannabes. "Before The Mess" struck me as original and heartfelt. as noted, its available as a download from CD Baby.
The Former X Factor contestants Sweet Suspense dropped their new Christmas single on Radio Disney Friday. The three girls who make up the group originally tried out for the show as solo artists but were all cut. Then someone saw the potential in putting them together as a group. While Sweet Suspense does have some Radio Disney appeal, their sound is more soul than bubblegum. "Just Another Night" arrives at iTunes this Tuesday and you can listen to the song in its entirety at Just Jared (yes.... they went to Jared).
Close it out, today, with the Ice Choir single we talked about earlier. The 7" is extremely limited, so I hope I get mine. You can try Cascine's shop and I hear Insound has it in stock now. Cascine is currently streaming the A-side, "It's Different Now", on Soundcloud. And it is freaking gorgeous. I want my copy. I want it. I want it now!
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