Overall, I think we did a pretty decent job here for our first season. Got a late start, but included a lot of content. Still, I'm disappointed I didn't get more full reviews up. I had wanted, very much, to help fill the void left by the departure from the web of ChristmasReviews.com and I'm not sure I achieved that particular goal. As I recently told someone else, this year on the web felt very much like one of those giant cartoon snowballs steamrolling down the hill--it had its own momentum and I had very little control over the thing. I do hope that a broader range of artists will see fit to submit their holiday efforts for review here next season (our address is to the right). Starting earlier, I certainly hope to do more of that next season.
Beginning in the summer, we'll start building the list of 2011 new releases and, thus, one of our least viewed pages this year will, for a time, become quite the attraction. I also hope to flesh out the Nice List a little more between now and September. I'm actually kind of content to let The Essentials grow organically, though I suspect we'll have a few new entries by the fall. And I imagine I'll be figuring out (or trying to) how to archive all the previews and freebies from this season, so we can start fresh and uncluttered for 2011. Oh, and I'll probably go back and delete a lot of the videos that don't, otherwise, add content to the site; we'll have plenty more next year.
I want to thank everyone, again, who spent a portion of their holiday season with us--especially those of you still checking in (hi Mom, hi Ernie). Our musical number, today, is from Beach Music artist Ron Moody. The Virginia artist and his band, The Centaurs, have been making their kind of music since the 60s, including stints on Columbia, MGM and Dunhill. "Closed For The Season", which has also been covered by Billy Scott, comes from Ron's 2006 EP, "Santa's Coming In A Cadillac"--available direct from the band or as an mp3 on iTunes. Mrs. Katz (not her real name) and I will see you soon.