I don't know if this is going to work out or not. I mean me...trying to do a half-assed Christmas. I'm not really feeling it. I mean, sure, it's June. It's 92 degrees outside and my patio area is so overgrown with weeds that the snakes have made themselves at home (and I'm inclined to let them have it...it's either that or napalm).
Nothing's really speaking to me. Do I care that William Shatner still has that threatened, er, promised Christmas set coming? Can't really say that I do. I should be excited about Lindsey Stirling's upcoming Christmas set. That should be right in my wheelhouse. Eh. And, of course, Hanson will have a new holiday album this year. Loved "Mmm Bop". Absolutely loved it. I'm a Bubblegum child, after all. But even that isn't doing it for me.
Making the rounds, recently, there's still very little news. Most of what I see are re-issues. I mean, take a look at this. "Snazzy Jazzy Christmas" by the Original Jazz Cats. This is an album that some focus group practically designed with me in mind. It's Jazz. Pretty good Jazz. And there are cats on the cover. And they even had the Friskies to start the album with "O Holy Night". A Christmas album released in June is usually a re-issue (in this case, a digital re-issue) and it sounds kinda familiar, but I can't place it. And there's nothing on line about it or them. Still... not doing a thing for me. But you could do worse. And, hey, cats playing instruments on the cover...always a plus.
Nothing's really speaking to me. Do I care that William Shatner still has that threatened, er, promised Christmas set coming? Can't really say that I do. I should be excited about Lindsey Stirling's upcoming Christmas set. That should be right in my wheelhouse. Eh. And, of course, Hanson will have a new holiday album this year. Loved "Mmm Bop". Absolutely loved it. I'm a Bubblegum child, after all. But even that isn't doing it for me.
Making the rounds, recently, there's still very little news. Most of what I see are re-issues. I mean, take a look at this. "Snazzy Jazzy Christmas" by the Original Jazz Cats. This is an album that some focus group practically designed with me in mind. It's Jazz. Pretty good Jazz. And there are cats on the cover. And they even had the Friskies to start the album with "O Holy Night". A Christmas album released in June is usually a re-issue (in this case, a digital re-issue) and it sounds kinda familiar, but I can't place it. And there's nothing on line about it or them. Still... not doing a thing for me. But you could do worse. And, hey, cats playing instruments on the cover...always a plus.
If you're preference is the very traditional crooner style, Betsy Hammer's "The Wonder of Christmas" is available again. Did I say again? Yes, I did. This single was originally released in 2005. The good thing about that is that there are CD-singles of this one out there and you can probably score one cheap. Betsy's done a number of Christmas tunes over the years. Of the ones I'm somewhat familiar with, this was (IMO) her best.
I saw a listing for this album on Barnes & Noble and felt compelled to investigate.
Otava Yo is a Russian Folk group and, what with our current President selling out the country to puppet master Putin, perhaps we should all become acquainted with the music we'll be listening to from now on.
I actually get more requests for Russian Christmas music than you'd think. I don't know why. I do have a couple of albums in my collection, but I don't listen to them much. But, when I was in college, I remember a visit to a local used record store that resulted in the purchase of "Songs From The Russian Revolution" and we all got plastered that night and kept people from studying and sleeping as we hoisted our brews and sang along to "Ah Nastassia" (ours was less operatic than this one). As annoyed as people were, it must have stuck with some of them because the store sold 5 or 6 more copies of the record that month. No one asked the big question, though. Why does a used record store in a college town have so many copies of "Songs From The Russian Revolution" in the first place?
Otava Yo is a Russian Folk group and, what with our current President selling out the country to puppet master Putin, perhaps we should all become acquainted with the music we'll be listening to from now on.
I actually get more requests for Russian Christmas music than you'd think. I don't know why. I do have a couple of albums in my collection, but I don't listen to them much. But, when I was in college, I remember a visit to a local used record store that resulted in the purchase of "Songs From The Russian Revolution" and we all got plastered that night and kept people from studying and sleeping as we hoisted our brews and sang along to "Ah Nastassia" (ours was less operatic than this one). As annoyed as people were, it must have stuck with some of them because the store sold 5 or 6 more copies of the record that month. No one asked the big question, though. Why does a used record store in a college town have so many copies of "Songs From The Russian Revolution" in the first place?
Anyway, Barnes & Noble says "Christmas" by Otava Yo arrived on June 9. Amazon lists a release date of November 2016. But the record itself was actually released in 2011. I mean, if the band is to be believed (they are Russian, so it could be disinformation).
It's an import, so it's a tad pricey. But it's definitely a little different and you know how much I love different. There are song samples available on the band's website, if you're curious (and even if you're not). I think its at iTunes, too, if you're into that sorta thing.
It's an import, so it's a tad pricey. But it's definitely a little different and you know how much I love different. There are song samples available on the band's website, if you're curious (and even if you're not). I think its at iTunes, too, if you're into that sorta thing.
1. Sings, Christians
2. Rejoice,
3. This holy night
4. In Jerusalem early rang
5. freak carols
6. Heaven and earth
7. Christmas angel came
8. At dawn sky
9. Christ the Savior
10. Today Christ was born
OTAVA YO WEBSITE
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
2. Rejoice,
3. This holy night
4. In Jerusalem early rang
5. freak carols
6. Heaven and earth
7. Christmas angel came
8. At dawn sky
9. Christ the Savior
10. Today Christ was born
OTAVA YO WEBSITE
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
I'll tell you what, though. I am enjoying listening to non-holiday music for pretty much the first time in at least 5 years. One of my current delights is the new name-your-price (Bandcamp) single from The Ruffled Feathers. We first came across this Chamber Pop outfit in 2010, when they released their Christmas single, "The Highest Mountain" (thanks to a tip from Mistletunes). We even included it on our inaugural Stubby's House Christmas mix. Can't say that the new one, "Cadaverine", has the same sweet charm, but it's definitely a cool tune. Just sayin'.
Well, it will soon be July. Let's hope the Christmas spirit hits me before December. Some genuinely exciting news would help with that.
Well, it will soon be July. Let's hope the Christmas spirit hits me before December. Some genuinely exciting news would help with that.
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