Don't ask me what the that title means. I don't have a clue. I think it means I'm tired.
A little warning for all y'all. Been having some computer issues the last day or so. My usual browser is completely unusable and the one I'm using ain't too hot, neither. My brother--who knows these things better than I--thinks it might be the vid card which, as it happens, is part of the mother board on this model. Yep. I might be up the Swanee River without a paddle before you know it. I'm probably due for a new one anyway, but I can be slow taking care of these things. So if I suddenly disappear for more than a few days, well...it's probably that. The site itself won't go anywhere--just might not get updated until the new machine is in place.
Now on with the show.
A little warning for all y'all. Been having some computer issues the last day or so. My usual browser is completely unusable and the one I'm using ain't too hot, neither. My brother--who knows these things better than I--thinks it might be the vid card which, as it happens, is part of the mother board on this model. Yep. I might be up the Swanee River without a paddle before you know it. I'm probably due for a new one anyway, but I can be slow taking care of these things. So if I suddenly disappear for more than a few days, well...it's probably that. The site itself won't go anywhere--just might not get updated until the new machine is in place.
Now on with the show.
Pre-orders are now LIVE for Marc Broussard's forthcoming Christmas album, "Magnolias & Mistletoe". We told you about Marc some time ago. But, if I'm reading his description correctly, it sounds like Marc's kept things fairly traditional, other than on the two originals on the album. As Marc's biggest selling point with me is his ability to fuse many different styles (R&B, Blues, Rock, Cajun, etc.), I personally think that's a mistake. I was looking forward to a full on Cajun Gumbo. But Marc maintains that the songs stand on their own and just require the appropriate amount of respect. And he does have a great voice. Not how I would've gone, but what do I know? I guess we won't know the full story until we hear the full album. Looking forward to the two originals and, for me, "O Holy Night" will tell much of the tale.
Man, I'm just going to end up sounding like a Gloomy Gus, today. KC & The Sunshine Band's "Sunshine Christmas" comes out tomorrow. So far, only two songs are available for preview--"The Little Drummer Boy" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". And the big question I had while listening to 30 seconds of each (cause that's all we have, so far) is what happened to Disco? I get excited when I hear an artist with a unique style or sound is doing a Christmas record because I want to hear them do what they do--whatever style or sound they made their name on. I am thrilled, personally, that KC is back on the scene and I'll just bet he puts on a helluva live show, but....
KC's last project was an album of nostalgic covers of old Top 40 tunes. I didn't get a hint of Disco on that one. But, I figured, he's covering old Pop/Rock tunes and, while it'd have been a hoot to hear them Disco-fied, I can understand not doing so. But there's no excuse--to me--for not doing Christmas songs in the style that made you a star to begin with. Like Marc Broussard, he seems to have gone another way. Unlike Marc Broussard, KC's voice is not exceptional. In fairness--in both cases--we haven't been given much to sample to draw any real conclusions. Could be those two songs are the only non-Disco tracks or it could be that some of the originals are more reflective of KC's old sound. But, right now, I'm not encouraged. Is it too much to ask to Shake, Shake, Shake a little Christmas Booty? I wouldn't have thought so. I mean, I know that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it. There seem to be three originals on "Sunshine Christmas"--and one even has "dancing" in the title--so fingers crossed y'all.
KC's last project was an album of nostalgic covers of old Top 40 tunes. I didn't get a hint of Disco on that one. But, I figured, he's covering old Pop/Rock tunes and, while it'd have been a hoot to hear them Disco-fied, I can understand not doing so. But there's no excuse--to me--for not doing Christmas songs in the style that made you a star to begin with. Like Marc Broussard, he seems to have gone another way. Unlike Marc Broussard, KC's voice is not exceptional. In fairness--in both cases--we haven't been given much to sample to draw any real conclusions. Could be those two songs are the only non-Disco tracks or it could be that some of the originals are more reflective of KC's old sound. But, right now, I'm not encouraged. Is it too much to ask to Shake, Shake, Shake a little Christmas Booty? I wouldn't have thought so. I mean, I know that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it. There seem to be three originals on "Sunshine Christmas"--and one even has "dancing" in the title--so fingers crossed y'all.
 | 1. The After Christmas Song 2. Jingle Bell Boogie 3. The Little Drummer Boy 4. Let's Go Dancing With Santa 5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 7. A Sunshine Christmas 8. Last Christmas 9. Do You Hear What I Hear? 10. Carol Of The Bells 11. Go Tell It On The Mountain 12. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Reprise) |
The band Train hasn't even given us a 30 second sample of "Christmas In Tahoe", yet. But, then again, the release is still a month away. And the track list is somewhat encouraging. Train went largely contemporary in their choice of covers, though the album does include "O Holy Night" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas". Beyond that, we get covers of "2000 Miles", "Happy Xmas", "This Christmas" and The Band's "Christmas Must Be Tonight". Add in an Elvis tune, a Motown classic, and Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody" and you've got an itinerary that hits most of the high notes. There is one title that figures to be an original--"Wait For Mary, Christmas" (ouch)--plus Train's soft drink soundtrack, "Shake Up Christmas" (which, for my money. they could have left off the disc). Assuming it's the Tracey Thorn song, kudos for covering "Tinsel & Lights"--the one cover of a song that hasn't seen hundreds of covers already. Look for "Christmas In Tahoe" on November 13.
| 1. This Christmas 2. Christmas Must Be Tonight 3. The River 4. Christmas Island 5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 6. Merry Christmas Everybody 7. What Christmas Means To Me 8. Wait For Mary, Christmas 9. O Holy Night 10. Shake Up Christmas 11. 2000 Miles 12. Tinsel and Lights |  |
One of Seattle's premier singer-songwriters, Kristin Chambers can seem a musical chameleon at times, bouncing from one style or genre to the next. The Indie Alt artist sounds equally at home on a soft and tender folk ballad as she does on a rocker or Blues number. "Snow Globe" is her first full length Christmas record and her fourth album overall. Drop your virtual needle on any of the samples at Amazon and you'll be amazed at her versatility. I know lots of people are tired of "Little Drummer Boy", but Kristin's take is infused with just enough Psych to make it one of the best modern versions of the song that I've heard. "Its Not Christmas (Without You Here)" sounds like Gospel Blues. And "Silent Night" is positively Country-fied. Toss in a total of five originals and an appearance from Neo-Swing master Casey MacGill (of "Eggnog" fame), and you have one of the more pleasant surprises of the season so far. You can get the digital version of "Snow Globe" now, if you like. Hard copy CDs will be available sometime in late November and you can pre-order those direct from Kristin. And you might as well get the physical CD because, if you order before December 1, your price for the hard copy is the same as the digital price (plus one penny). There's also an accompanying piano song book (illustrated) that you can order with the CD or a la carte, if you're interested.
 | 1. Christmas Eve 2. The Little Drummer Boy 3. Last Christmas 4. Home 5. It's Not Christmas (Without You Here)" 6. A Magical Guy (with Casey McGill) 7. Silent Night 8. Frozen Heart 9. Auld Lang Syne 10. The Christmas Song |
There's a new Contemporary Christian collection on the way October 23. "Bethlehem Skies" includes two brand new recordings, Bianca's "Winter Wonderland" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" from Family Force 5.
1. Winter Wonderland - Bianca
2. Jesus Savior (Radio Version) - Chris August
3. Hope Was Born This Night - Sidewalk Prophets
4. Behold The Savior - Meredith Andrews
5. Christ Is Come - Big Daddy Weave
6. Into The Silent Night - King & Country
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Family Force 5
8. O Come O Come Emmanuel - Everfound
9. Gloria - Jason Castro
10. Bethlehem Skies - Dara Maclean and Dave Barnes
11. What Child Is This - Francesca Battistelli
The Little Rockers Band hail from my old stomping ground on the Jersey Shore. They're a kids music band who also offer music lessons. And they draw a mention here because their forthcoming holiday album, "Yule Be Cool" includes 3 Hanukkah tracks. The Festival of Lights continues to be mostly ignored by artists of all stripes (though having a new Hanukkah song from Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings helps fill the void considerably), so I'm inclined to point them out whenever I see them. In keeping with the trend of kids music getting more contemporary, "It's Christmas Time Again" is a delightful Pop romp, worth checking out whether you like kids music or not. And "Snow Falls" is a sweet waltz that some crooner is going to cover (and cover well) one of these days. No listing for a hard copy CD just yet, but I imagine one will turn up on CD Baby when we reach the November 6 release date.
 | 1. This Is How It Feels At Christmas 2. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer 3. Feliz Navidad 4. Jingle Bell Rock 5. Hanukkah Is Here 6. Snow Falls 7. Frosty The Snowman 8. Dreidle Song 9. Holiday 10. 8 Little Candles 11. Let It Snow 12. It's Christmas Time Again 13. Christmas Message |
I'm going to step out of my comfort zone as we Christmas wrap this one up. I doubt its a secret that Classical music ain't my strong smoot. But, this really isn't about that, though the samples on Amazon were fetching. Released in September, "Christmas Carols: From Village Green to Church Choir"--performed by Vox Turturis, conducted by Andrew Gant--has that quiet contemplative 3 a.m. snowfall feeling I often talk about (though my personal preference for such moments tends more towards Jazz). And, as Classical albums go, you're going to find almost every song familiar. But, again, that's not why I bring it up.
Andrew Gant, you see, has also written an accompanying book, The Carols of Christmas. In it, Gant traces the history of some of our favorite ancient carols. It's not something we give a lot of thought to, really. If it wasn't written by one of the classical masters, we tend to think they were just Folk songs that burst upon the scene fully formed (and I'm sure you have a friend or two who thinks, "Gosh, that P.D. guy sure wrote a lot of Christmas songs"). Fact is, those songs went through lots of changes over the centuries. Did you know that "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" used to be "Hark How All The Welkin Ring"? I didn't. And I have no idea what a "welkin" is in the first place (though context suggests a bell.....just sayin'). Or maybe you've just assumed that the people who wrote these songs were all very religious folks. But, no, there were plenty of Christmas carols written by pagans and drunks, just as some truly were written by saints and monks. It might be more of a scholarly book than a casual read, but this sort of thing fascinates me.
Andrew Gant, you see, has also written an accompanying book, The Carols of Christmas. In it, Gant traces the history of some of our favorite ancient carols. It's not something we give a lot of thought to, really. If it wasn't written by one of the classical masters, we tend to think they were just Folk songs that burst upon the scene fully formed (and I'm sure you have a friend or two who thinks, "Gosh, that P.D. guy sure wrote a lot of Christmas songs"). Fact is, those songs went through lots of changes over the centuries. Did you know that "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" used to be "Hark How All The Welkin Ring"? I didn't. And I have no idea what a "welkin" is in the first place (though context suggests a bell.....just sayin'). Or maybe you've just assumed that the people who wrote these songs were all very religious folks. But, no, there were plenty of Christmas carols written by pagans and drunks, just as some truly were written by saints and monks. It might be more of a scholarly book than a casual read, but this sort of thing fascinates me.
And one last thing, even though it isn't a Christmas record. A couple of albums from the cult 80s band Revolutionary Army of the Infant Jesus are being re-issued on vinyl for the first time. I believe "Beauty Will Save The World" is already out while "The Gift of Tears" is coming soon. "The Gift of Tears" re-issue is limited to 1000 copies of which 300 will be on clear vinyl (those only available from Feral Sounds). Described as performance art set to music, Revolutionary Army Of The Infant Jesus grew out of England's mid-eighties experimental music scene. They rarely gave interviews and were always a bit of an enigma.
I'd love to be able to tell you that I not only knew who RAIJ were, but have copies of their records within reach of my fingers, but I'd never heard of them before. The band's name alone intrigues me. As I said, "The Gift of Tears", originally released in 1987, isn't a Christmas album, but this one track works for me. "Come Holy Spirit" is a little long for a mixtape, but, if I were still on the radio, yeah, I would absolutely play it on a Christmas show (assuming an FM format, of course). Cool stuff!
I'd love to be able to tell you that I not only knew who RAIJ were, but have copies of their records within reach of my fingers, but I'd never heard of them before. The band's name alone intrigues me. As I said, "The Gift of Tears", originally released in 1987, isn't a Christmas album, but this one track works for me. "Come Holy Spirit" is a little long for a mixtape, but, if I were still on the radio, yeah, I would absolutely play it on a Christmas show (assuming an FM format, of course). Cool stuff!
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