1. Navidad en Columbia 2. Delito Navideno 3. Sexy Santa 4. Winter With Juanita 5. Waltz Para Carolina 6. Kilos y Galletas the Merry Christmas Song 7. Hora de Navidad 8. Jingle Bossa 9. Peruvian Flakes 10. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen |

"Winter With Juanita" is just one of those digital selections buried in a sea of seasonal releases that no one ever finds and no one else is going to tell you about. That's why we're here. The music is clearly created digitally. Much of it sounds as though it were produced using one of those Lowrey home organs like my Dad used to have, some of it sounds like it was created on a vintage moog machine. But those sounds combined with the feel and sound of a Mexicali Spaghetti Western, and both Indie and Hip Hop sensibilities make this the kind of record that will set a mixtape apart. People will sit up and take notice. They'll say, "Now that was cool."
"Winter With Juanita" is credited to The Kens. After extensive searching, and many dead ends, I can't say definitively who The Kens are (or is). The leading candidate is the gentleman to the right. He is from South Africa, creates his music electronically, had a single ("Baphi") earlier this year, and goes by The Kens. But I can't say it's actually him with even moderate certainty. Don't even have a verifiable name for the dude. Heck, it could just be production music with The Kens name slapped on (though that wouldn't really explain "Sexy Santa").
That mystery aside, what I can tell you is this. I listened to "Winter With Juanita" straight through, multiple times, never once feeling the urge to lift the virtual needle. There's not a track on here I don't love. And it's the kind of record I would gleefully listen to in August, just for my own head. Bossa Nova fans will dig "Jingle Bossa". If you need something instantly recognizable, but still super cool, there's the one cover, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". The song with the most speaking is "Sexy Santa".(which includes a shout out postal workers everywhere will enjoy). And, for those requiring some sleigh bells, there's always the very festive "Hora de Navidad". Give "Winter With Juanita" by The Kens a chance and I think you'll dig it as much as I do. Pick it up from Amazon.
1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Conspires To 2. Christmas Blues - Uncle Illmo's Band 3. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Paid In Spades 4. Why Don't Christmas Go Away - Dean Farnell 5. Oh Holy Night - Four Skulls 6. Christmas In Dixie - Southern Raiders Band 7. The Silver Wheel - Tyranny of Hours 8. Merry Christmas Collage - Joe Feloni 9. Another Lonely Christmas Song - Stillroom 10. Windy Christmas - Sacred Wind 11. Silent Night - Strawkites 12. Empty Festivities - Blackwater Band UK 13. Sykko Christmas - Sykko Dollz 14. We Three Kings - Conspires To |
