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WELCOME UNDERGROUND

10/10/2012

We've got a new addition to our list of Festive Friends to the right. Christmas Underground is run by one of our favorite readers here at Stubby's and a man with as much knowledge of holiday tuneage as anybody on the Internets. The focus of the Underground is Indie releases that, in many cases, were set loose upon an unsuspecting world without much fanfare and without a large press run, vinyl 7" goodies, and compilations and promotional releases from eclectic Indie labels. In other words, stuff you might have missed. Skip right past the post on Glasvegas--I think we all saw that one coming--and you'll learn about some Christmas music even I've never heard of. Yeah, OK, I got my "Magistery Christmas" alright, but what's this "Kitty Kitten Kristmas" and how'd I miss that one? Head over to Christmas Underground sometime and let Jim walk you through some of the best and worst of what's out there.

I could waste y'alls time, right now, and tell you about the third Glee Christmas album (yeah, they're really doing it...and STILL no Chanukah track) and other such junk, but I'll spare you. Singles post on deck. Promise. Oh, and, hey, a new addition to the Free List, too. Just sayin'.

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KNOXVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA - CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

10/8/2012

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I've been hoping against hope to find the time to give "Christmas Time Is Here" from The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra the full review it so richly deserves--and I still hope to do so as soon as I can--so I've been remiss in failing to post anything short of that. But, lest you miss out on one of this season's true delights, let me at least give you the heads up.

Though I grew up a Top 40 kid--a "bubblegum child" as I'm known to say--when I'm listening to music for my own head, these days, Jazz and Blues are my genres of choice. I approached this album with just a bit of trepidation due to the word "Orchestra" in the group's moniker. But, trust me, the emphasis here is on the Jazz.

The KJO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization born in 1999 and dedicated to spreading an appreciation of Jazz to listeners far and near. Among the delightful and inspiring ways they do this is with free performances in Knox County schools. Man, I wish someone had introduced me to Jazz when I was in school. Of course, they also put on concerts for the general population, including six annually in downtown Knoxville. The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra is made up of 17 of Eastern Tennessee's finest musicians and they routinely perform with Jazz greats and world renowned artists. Tomorrow, for example, they'll be performing at the Bijou with the living legend of Jazz clarinet, Ken Peplowski.

"Christmas Time Is Here" covers a lot of stylistic ground, from classic Swing, to Hard Bop, to Gospel to Blues and beyond. The song list, the arrangements, the solos, the album is/are entirely sensational from beginning to end. KJO takes well worn carols like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Do You Hear What I Hear" to places you've never been before, but places you'll want to visit again and again.

If I had one minor disappointment, it would be that I felt guest vocalist Jill Andrews was under utilized. But, while everyone here shines like the glorious star at the top of your tree, Dan Trudell absolutely makes this album with his astounding work on the Hammond B-3. I've said it before and I'll say it again: nothing says Christmas quite so much as the Hammond B-3 organ and Trudell offers up some of the tastiest and swingingest organ play since Jimmy Smith went Cookin. What Trudell does with "Go Tell It On The Mountain" has to be heard to be believed. Whoa! This KJO version of that number will blow your mind, spin you around, and then blow your mind again. And, lest you think otherwise from my remarks so far, this swinging set isn't lacking in the holiday spirit department either.

Right now, "Christmas Time Is Here" is showing as a digital release on Amazon. But I've left it red on our list because I do believe there will be hard copies before the season ends--at KJO performances if nothing else. Here's hoping. Just check the KJO site from time to time to see whether or not I guessed correctly on that one. The digital release is due November 1. If you dig Jazz--and perhaps especially if you don't--"Christmas Time Is Here" is a full holiday buffet that will leave you as happily fulfilled as the perfect Christmas dinner.

Not the full review I'd like to do, but it'll have to do for now.

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
2. Let It Snow
3. Deck the Halls
4. O Little Town of Bethlehem
5. Go Tell It On the Mountain
6. I'll Be Home for Christmas
7. Do You Hear What I Hear
8. Russian Dance
9. Jingle Bells
10. A Not-So Silent Night
11. Christmas Time Is Here
12. Children Go Where I Send Thee

KJO WEB SITE
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HITTING THE TARGET

10/4/2012

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In addition to the annual sale of Taylor Swift's 2007 Christmas EP, Sheryl Crow's "Home For Christmas" (which used to be a Hallmark exclusive), and last year's trio--the bonus tracks version of Michael Buble's "Christmas", the expanded version of Carole King's "Holiday Carole" and Ginuwine's "A Ginuwine Christmas", Target is currently showing two new Holiday Exclusive discs.

On October 16, Target will offer an exclusive version of "Christmas Spirit" by Richard Marx, featuring 4 additional tracks. 2 weeks later, on October 30, Rod Stewart's "Merry Christmas Baby" will arrive with 3 bonus tracks. As of yet, there's nothing at Target to indicate what the bonus tracks may be (as in whether or not they are even holiday oriented). Ordinarily, I'd do a little more sleuthing to see if someone somewhere else has said, but, as earlier stated, I'm just a little pressed for time these days.

Meanwhile have a listen to Christina Perri's new song "Something About December" from her holiday EP "A Very Merry Perri Christmas", due out October 16. I was somewhat skeptical about Perri's entry into the holiday sweepstakes, but she's winning me over with this one.

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WAR ON CHRISTMAS

10/3/2012

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And not just any old War on Christmas. "WFMU's War on Christmas".

One of our most loyal of readers, Jim, hipped us to this exclusive compilation that can ONLY be yours for a pledge of $100 to listener-supported non-commercial Free Form radio station WFMU. It's part of the station's 31 Days of October fund raising drive and it's only one of the items of swag your pledge could profit you. The CD also comes complete with an MP3 disc, just in case that's your preference.

Now, I'll be 100% honest with you. If you're only paying the $100 to get the CD (and I've done so myself on more than one occasion), you're NOT going to get your money's worth. No single CD--I don't give a flyin' fig how rare it is--is worth that much. Not even the long lost recordings of the Beatles, Jim Morrison & The Doors, and Jimi Hendrix combined. But, if you happen to be in a position to afford $100 and you believe in Free Form radio, and you look at the CD as a perk of a contribution you might have made anyway, then it's a good deal. I happen to LOVE Free Form radio. I think it is the only way radio should ever be. But it rarely is. WFMU is one of the very few and certainly the most high profile. I'm also not all that financially secure at the moment (though I've still spent way too much on Christmas music this year), so it may end up I'll just send in $15 and get me one of them thar bumper stickers. But I do believe in Free Form radio and I've certainly taken advantage of WFMU's remarkable "Beware of the Blog" (and you know you have, too). So even a small pledge is a nice thing to do. Cause its nice when nice happens to nice.

It would be nice, too, if we had a track list. But we don't. We do know that the CD features the cover art of Mayuko Fujino and includes an exclusive unreleased mix of Big Star's "Jesus Christ", plus tracks from James Pants, Klaus Naomi, the Reigning Sound and more. So head on over and see what it's all about. And maybe you'll add your city to WFMU's Marathon Map.

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THE ROOM AT THE TOPP OF THE STAIRS

10/2/2012

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EDIT/UPDATE: I've added the details on the coming Sufjan Stevens album just below OliviaNewtonJohnTravolta.

The real post title would be "The elephant in the room", but that's a bit too political, at the moment, and not nearly as enticing as The Room At The Top of the Stairs (and this damn web thing won't let you correct title typos...so "Topp" it is).

Anyway, you probably noticed we've been running at about half-speed all year and I do apologize, but I didn't want to be making excuses. You might just have thought I was being lazy or getting old or otherwise occupied. Some of that is likely true, no doubt. I considered not doing this at all this year, but I figured me at half speed is better than me at zero.

I got a real cute thing I could say, but some people in my family circle value their privacy. So, as vaguely as I can manage, there are health and family matters, and family health matters, going on behind the scenes. It's kind of briefly and unexpectedly escalated this week and I can't really even hang out half speed right now. I'll do what I can when I can and that's all I can do. Below is a piece of a piece I was working on before the shan hit the fit. Not much, but its something. I've also added in the Olivia/Travolta news, which I owe to David over at Imwan. Peace.

So Universal briefly pulled the Olivia Newton-John/John Travolta album--Amazon even posted a release date of December 31, 2020. But that was all, apparently, because it was "supposed to be a secret". Gotta be honest, and this goes for the federal government as well; this pathological NEED to control information absolutely is unwarrented and a sickness--it does you more harm than good...in both the short and long run.

Anyway...cover art, track list, and a bit of story that--and it could just be me--verges on incoherent. The money raised is going to charities: The Jett Travolta Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre (it's Australian for "Center"). Lots of guest stars and one original song ("I Think You Might Like It"), written by the same dude who wrote "You're The One That I Want". And, let's face it, we're all going to buy this, aren't we? You know you are, so just admit it. For more info, head to ONJ's Facebook site.

1. Baby It’s Cold Outside
2. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (featuring Kenny G)
3. I’ll Be Home for Christmas (featuring Barbra Streisand)
4. This Christmas (featuring Chick Corea)
5. Silent Night
6. The Christmas Waltz
7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (featuring Cliff Richard)
8. Winter Wonderland (featuring Tony Bennett and The Count Basie Orchestra)
9. White Christmas
10. I Think You Might Like It
11. The Christmas Song
12. Deck the Halls (featuring James Taylor)
13. Auld Lang Syne/Christmas Time Is Here (Medley)

So Sufjan Stevens WAS up to something. Another Christmas Box Set, this one--"Silver And Gold"--featuring his private "family and friends" recordings from 2006 to 2010.

Not just Sufjan this go around, as this set features collaborations with
Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Richard Reed Parry, Clara Claus, Olivier Manchon, Marla Hansen, Raymond Byron Raposa, Gabriel Kahane, Daniel, Elin, Lilly & Ida Smith, C.J. Camerieri, James McAlister, Casey Foubert, David Stith, Alex Sopp, Vesper Stamper, Cat Martino, SayardEgan, Rosie Thomas, Sonya Hofer, Sebastian Krueger, Nathan Lithgow and Brian Wolfe (to name a few). 18 original songs and an assortment of Christmas classics as only Sufjan can imagine them.

This one drops digitally on November 13 (just $15 for the mp3). Asthmatic Kitty promises a limited edition CD Box Set, but no details on price or ordering that I can see. The big kahuna is a Vinyl LP Box Set, limited and numbered to 2000 with plenty visual treats, stickers, tatoos, posters, etc.--just $120 on the pre-order. Reserve your copy from Asthmatic Kitty or Bandcamp. And if you're heading over to Bandcamp, you might as well get the free download (while the free downloads last--remember Bandcamp has limits on those now) of "Christmas Unicorn". Dude, it's 12 and a half minutes long!

The National Jazz Trio Of Scotland isn't actually a trio. And it's not certain that this could properly be called Jazz, either. For the most part, the "trio" is Bill Wells, a frequent collaborator with Aiden Moffatt of the conceptual band Arab Strap. For this project, the "trio" also includes Lorna Gilfedder, Aby Vulliamy, Kate Sugden, and Gerald Black--all members of assorted Indie bands and projects in their other lives. And The National Jazz Trio Of Scotland is another conceptual project, this Christmas album the end result of a project Bill was asked to work on in 2010.

The Christmas album has a bit of the feel of a post-apocalyptic record, put together by someone with only vague recollections and stories of the real thing. The melodies are pulled apart and reconstructed with sampling and looping and other tricks of the trade. On some tracks, the sound is bizarre, bittersweet on others, and, on still others, the sound is almost spritely. At it's best, this is quite uniquely delightful. At it's weirdest, well, someone's going to call it "brilliant" but it won't be me. One thing "The National Jazz Trio Of Scotland's Christmas Album" is for certain, though, is different. And, here at Stubby's, we think that's a very good thing indeed, and to be celebrated. Worldwide release is November 16.

1. Oh Xmas Tree
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
3. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
4. Carol Of The Birds
5. Winter Wonderland
6. Jingle Bells
7. I Saw Three Ships
8. Good King Wenceslas
9. The Christmas Song
10. In The Bleak Mid - Winter
11. Oh Come All Ye Faithful
12. We Three Kings

It's Richard Marx. Hadn't written any copy for it yet. Don't really have time to today. Sorry.

1. Christmas Spirit
2. Christmas Song
3. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
4. O Come All Ye Faithful
5. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
6. Let There Be Peace On Earth
7. Silent Night
8. Christmas Mornings
9. O Holy Night
10. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
11. What Child Is This
12. White Christmas
13. Alleluia

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Forward>>

WELCOME UNDERGROUND

KNOXVILLE JAZZ ORCHESTRA - CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

HITTING THE TARGET

WAR ON CHRISTMAS

THE ROOM AT THE TOPP OF THE STAIRS

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