While the schedule may be a disappointment, the music won't be. This is top notch, high octane Punk Rock music like your mother never made. I didn't think it was possible, but Saints & Sinners do a version of "Fairytale Of New York" that might give the Pogues a run for their money. Even the idea of "All I Want For Christmas Is To Be Accepted Back Into Society" from Pariah Carey brings a smile to my face. Keyside Strike find the true spirit of the holidays on "Stuff Your Christmas". And The Droogettes' "Vixen" is destined for heavy rotation in the Stubby household. And those are just a few of many highlights on an album full of sneers, stomps, sarcasm, angst, sociopathic social delinquency and parental advisories all around. All in the best Christmas spirit, of course. Here's the cover and line-up for this year's edition.
2. Fairytale Of New York - Saints & Sinners (feat. Liz Rose)
3. Holidays - Old Fashioned Ideas
4. Stuff Your Christmas - Keyside Strike
5. Drunken Santa Is Coming To Town - Halbstarke Jungs
6. Vixen - Droogettes
7. Christmastime On The Picket Line - The Hulls
8. I Hope Santa Dies - City Saints
9. Dear Father Christmas - Gimp Fist
10. Made By Kids - Shameless
11. Who The F#@& is St. Nick - Assault & Battery
12. Xmas Spirit - Destructors
13. No Holiday - Drug Shock
14. I Hate Christmas - Vibrators
15. Christmas In Prison - Brassknuckle Boys
16. All I Want For Christmas Is To Be Accepted Back Into Society - Pariah Carey
17. Death Of Claus - Concrete
18. Christmas Time Again - DDC
19. Drunk Tank Christmas - The Traditionals
The flip is Surf Rock, but Surf Rock Portland style. The Apollo Four are the artists performing "Jupiter Jingle". It's a fitting compliment to "Hey Mrs. Santa Claus" and they rock through that sucker like they spent all day drinking espresso. No more coffee for Steve, alright?
300 copies of this 7" are being pressed. 100 in red, 100 in green, and 100 in gold. And, while 300 is certainly more than 50, this one's been up for nearly a month (and I know its been covered elsewhere). So if this is the first you're hearing of it, I wouldn't sleep on this one, either. Get all the deets at Bandcamp.
PC Munoz is now. The San Francisco "Sonic Overseer" has re-imagined "The Angel Gabriel" into something that makes even me like it. With vocals from Dave Worm (of Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra), Munoz gives the song a Hip Hop beat, tosses in some funky xylophone to give it that touch of exotic, and raps the tale--at long last dragging the hymn out of the doldrums and into the 21st century. I dig this. This song should never ever be played any other way. Marc Weibel adds a little TSO spice with his fine guitar work. All told, its a holiday soup that tastes so good, you'll be begging for seconds. Buy it at Bandcamp.
Out of Ohio, state of Columbus (yes, I did that on purpose...inside joke), comes the funky Indie Ska Pop trio Vibes. And they've got some Christmas Vibes to lay on you this holiday. Some "Christmas Jam", actually. With its reggae riddims, blue-eyed soulful vocals, and the cool whoo whoo's and ahha's, "Christmas Jam" is the perfect song to bring the sunshine into any dark December. And not a sleigh bell in sight. See? It can be done. Radio friendly and mixtape worthy, "Christmas Jam" is available from CD Baby or iTunes.
No audio for this one. No video. Can't find a website or anything about him online. But it's Blues. And you know I luvs me some Blues. So I'm going to point you "North Pole Blues" by Eric Patton. CD Baby's got it. I will say no more. I really can't because, you know, nothing online.
I'm beat. It's late. Early. Whatever. The sun's up. You get the picture. So I'm going to cut it off here, if you don't mind (and even if you do).
Closing it out with a new charity single from Launch Control. Proceeds from "The Christmas Films That Forgot Santa" will go to SHELTER, a U.K. organization that helps the homeless. Last year, the band's charity single was "The RSPCA Took My Reindeer Away" (rockin' a Ramones sound) and, if you want it, it's included in the digital single at Amazon.