But we do have an update on Rod Stewart's coming Christmas record (that would be the "Stewart" of our headline). Rod's been out there trying to drum up some excitement about his "Merry Christmas Baby" due October 30. He's not quite to the DefCon 1 level of hype Michael Buble brought us last year, but he's the closest we've got right now. Anyway, what we've got from Rod is a tentative track list. Gotta admit, that's pretty cool for the end of July. This is not the final track list and, please God, let that not be the final cover art.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Silent Night
Let It Snow
Merry Christmas Baby (duet with Cee Lo Green)
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
White Christmas
Winter Wonderland
When You Wish Upon A Star
Auld Lang Syne
We Three Kings
Red-Suited Superman
Now the "Scandal" of today's headline relates to one of my favorite groups of the 80s--Patty Smyth & Scandal. For my head, the songs "Goodbye To You", "Love's Got A Line On You", "The Warrior" and "Beat Of A Heart" are about as iconic as anything coming out of that decade, even if most of them weren't huge chart hits (you can keep the ballad with Don Henley, which actually was a huge hit). Very recently, Patty was spotted at New York City's Threshold Recording Studios where she was laying down the vocal tracks for an upcoming Christmas album. Turns out Patty and the group released a holiday single last year (that I totally missed) available exclusively through her web site (it was on NCIS and everything and I watch that show). It's a nice, moody, melancholy rendition of "Silent Night" which, if nothing else, establishes clearly that Patty's voice is as strong and beautiful as ever (how did I miss that one? Jeez!). You can still pick it up for the standard MP3 price of 99 cents via Patty's Internet home.
And now I really needs me a serving of classic Patty Smyth and Scandal. Hope you don't mind.
Finally today...Industrial. Of all the genres that don't get much pub or holiday music, Industrial is certainly one of them. Allmusic defines Industrial as an "abrasive and aggressive fusion of rock and electronic music". Some of it is exceptional--Nine Inch Nails is generally classified as Industrial Rock and they are pretty awesome IMHO; same thing with Ministry--but it is always challenging. And I know some of you are out there, literally dripping in sweat, about to actually pass out from the heat and thinking to yourself, "You know what would really hit the spot about now? Some Industrial Christmas music." Well, you, my friend, are in luck. The group 26z has just released a digital EP called "A Black Peter Christmas, Vol. 1". The EP contains some tracks the band has done for their fans over the last few years, plus some brand new, never-before-heard tracks. I'm not exactly sure what "The Persuasive Interest" is all about. But I recognize "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Baby". More or less. Well, OK, less, but the point is if you're truly looking for something completely different, you're going to want to check this one out on Amazon, iTunes or CD Baby. And the thing you need to know about this one is that 26z will be forever removing "A Black Peter Christmas, Vol. 1" from the market next year this time. So you have exactly one year from the release date of July 24th to get this one or forever hold your peace.
And, now, if you don't mind (and even if you do), I think I'm gonna give another listen to Patty Smyth. Don't wait up, I may be awhile.