The last week of November tends to be very busy as many artists choose this week to release their singles and albums. Oh, most of the major label stuff comes earlier, but a lot of independents and self-releasing artists wait until after Thanksgiving (which appears to be the point at which even the hardest hearted Grinch will find Christmas music acceptable). And people who create annual mixtapes are looking for those final touches. So let's see what we can find in Santa's sack of goodies, shall we? Today's category is "irreverent". That's not the same as "novelty". Not at all. But these songs aren't exactly "Winter Wonderland" either. More singles coming up this week. Got a batch of Indie Pop and Rock singles I hope to get to tomorrow.
Nostalgia ain't what it used to be. Take a beautiful melody, a Pop beat, three beautiful voices blending in harmony, and pair them up with thoroughly contemporary life and what you get is one unforgettable song that you can nod knowingly to while it sails completely over the heads of your parents. "As I fly into town/People calling their loved ones/As the plane touches down/I hope that you're waiting and I'm anticipating the moment we meet again." Sounds like a normal Christmas song, right? Well, it isn't an old beau she's waiting to see again. It's her pot dealer. Otherwise, although irreverent, it is a recognizable story. She wants to recapture her youth, too--specifically high school days, when responsibilities were few and there was sex and drugs and (one presumes) rock n roll.
JEMS are three Californians who write songs and make gorgeous music. The name is drawn from their names--Jessica Rotter, Emily Colombier, and Sarah Margaret Huff. There are four different versions of "High For The Holidays" by JEMS. The one on Amazon is the version with the Rap break from Harry Mack and the brief use of the "F" word towards the end of the song. There's also a clean version with Harry Mack and both explicit and clean versions without him. We've used the clean version without Harry. Why? Because Bandcamp's stupid preview embeds go automatically into the next song unless you use the last song. I really don't get that. Seems completely unnecessary and fixable. Anyway, buy the track that suits your taste or need or get the whole bunch on Bandcamp (psst, buy the tracks individually and save...unless you're high, in which case go ahead and pay nearly $2 per track). You know I'm not big on the goof. But when the goof is legitimately funny and wrapped in a beautiful package...why, yes, thank you, I'll take a hit. "We don't need reindeer to get to the sky/We know why Santa has a twinkle in his eye/Come fill my stocking with the good stuff, big guy/Merry Christmas to all and to all a good high".
JEMS are three Californians who write songs and make gorgeous music. The name is drawn from their names--Jessica Rotter, Emily Colombier, and Sarah Margaret Huff. There are four different versions of "High For The Holidays" by JEMS. The one on Amazon is the version with the Rap break from Harry Mack and the brief use of the "F" word towards the end of the song. There's also a clean version with Harry Mack and both explicit and clean versions without him. We've used the clean version without Harry. Why? Because Bandcamp's stupid preview embeds go automatically into the next song unless you use the last song. I really don't get that. Seems completely unnecessary and fixable. Anyway, buy the track that suits your taste or need or get the whole bunch on Bandcamp (psst, buy the tracks individually and save...unless you're high, in which case go ahead and pay nearly $2 per track). You know I'm not big on the goof. But when the goof is legitimately funny and wrapped in a beautiful package...why, yes, thank you, I'll take a hit. "We don't need reindeer to get to the sky/We know why Santa has a twinkle in his eye/Come fill my stocking with the good stuff, big guy/Merry Christmas to all and to all a good high".
The Cooter Boys are a California Country duo with a lot of crossover appeal. Their attitude could be described as a bit irreverent but, on them, it works. "Crazy For Christmas" dropped the day after Thanksgiving and, for assorted reasons (what's the deal with the hat covering your eyes, dude?), I wish I didn't like it as much as I do. But I can't help it. "Crazy For Christmas" is crazy awesome. When we talk about a perfect Christmas, we envision some quiet night with softly falling snow, brightly colored twinkling lights and happy children building a snowman. That's right, we picture the Hallmark movie version of Christmas. But, instead of a break from the madness, Christmas is the maddest of all. Traffic, crowded stores, decorating, cooking, unruly relatives, bratty kids with high expectations. What Christmas really is is about a year's worth of high pressure work crammed into a single month--all in addition to our regular work. Most wonderful time of the year? It's the most insane. And "Crazy For Christmas" by The Cooter Boys captures just a little of that insanity in an irresistible upbeat tune that says out loud what at least a part of us is thinking. Grab "Crazy For Christmas" at Amazon and iTunes.
Worldwide Welshman is the UK World-Rock-Pop-Folk band of Liam Rickard, who draws upon the absurdities of life for his multi-lingual songs. "Christmas In Yiwu" is a song that celebrates Santa's real workshop...in the city of Yiwu in China. Don't worry, it's not an angry "burn Christmas to the ground" folk anthem decrying exploitation of people in distant lands. It's a happy little song that acknowledges the reality--you get your plastic crap and they get a little money for their families. It does make you stop and think, though. "Christmas In Yiwu" was a YouTube stream last year but has only been released for purchase this year as part of the "Jingle Bells, Christmas Sells" digital single. You'll find it on Amazon and Bandcamp.
You knew I wouldn't rest until I found a Blues tune. "My Christmas Wish" is a slide guitar gem (think Hound Dog Taylor) from Ted Drozdowski's Scissormen. Ted's been doing the Blues thing for about 30 years and the Scissormen have been together for about ten. Ted also used to be a writer for Rolling Stone, which is a neat little tidbit. "My Christmas Wish" is about spending Christmas with your friends when you have no friends. See, when you have no friends, your friends are down at the liquor store. Like Clyde Lasley in "Santa Came Home Drunk", Ted namechecks a few of these friends of his. "Jimmy Beam in aisle 3, Jameson boys in aisle 5. I can't stand that old Jack Daniels. I'm tired of all his gyp and jive." "My Christmas Wish" by Ted Drozdowski's Scissormen won't be found in aisle 3, 4, or 5, but you can find it at CD Baby and Amazon.
Yeah, I know. But it's French, so I'm letting it pass.
French Punk meets American Pop Rock in Quebec. No clue what they're saying, though I gather its about how expensive the holidays are. But, hey, I dig the sound and there's a cat in the video. So there you go. And, also, it's free! Well, it is right now. "Noel C'est Poche" by Abdominable shows an official release date of December 1, so might be it's only free until then. Since (even after two years of French in school) I don't speak the language, I can't honestly be certain that "Noel C'est Poche" is irreverent, but it's Punk...so it's bound to be. Right? Pick up Abdominable's Christmas single free (technically Donne-moi ton prix) from Bandcamp.
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