Proving once again that its always later than you think, Emmy and Tim are up and running with their Christmas album web site and Facebook page.
The album is called "This Is Christmas". Release date, it appears, is November 21 (I had November 28 in the pool, darn it). Say Emmy and Tim: "We will be bringing this seasonal cheer to you, bells, elves, presents, zombies...so make sure you keep in touch. It's going to be a very Christmasssy Christmas - like a Christmas lunch that never ends, where you don't get sick and nobody cries. Amazing."
Oh, and hey, there's a FREE DOWNLOAD of a track from the album, "Christmas Day (I Wish I Was Surfing)", if you go over to their Facebook page and "Like" them. (For you anti-Facebook folks--and I feel ya--I believe you can download the track directly from Infectious Music UK's Soundcloud page). Musically, it's a nice uptempo rocking modern Indie Rock take on the kind of California surf music Jan & Dean and the Beach Boys used to make. Additionally, the couple invites everyone to upload their best, funniest, and most seasonal holiday photos to #thisischristmasphotos on Twitter--the best of which (apparently) will be included in the iTunes digital booklet.
Now that last bit bothers me a little as "iTunes digital booklet" sort of suggests "digital only". But it only "suggests" it and Christmas is the season of miracles and I still believe in Santa Claus, so I'm going to hold out hope on this one. But you've been warned. And it's an import anyway--you know, for us Yanks. So...so...so...sew yer buttons.
Now, I thought we had a track list, but it's a bit obscured. Let's see what we can make out. Looks like.....
Marshmallow World
Snowflakes
Christmas Moon
Christmas Day (I Wish I Was Surfing)
something, something...Mrs Christmas
I'm gonna say...Home For The Holidays
Zombie Christmas
possibly "you"...Sleigh Me
something something...The Reindeer
See You Next Year
Well, that's my stab at it anyway. Looking forward to "Zombie Christmas". That's GOT to be good.
UPDATE: OK, so I'm not the brightest bulb in the shed...but not a horrible guesser. Thanks, Jim.
And when I learn of something going on in my state of North Carolina, I've gotta do my part to get the word out. Now, here in the east, it's mostly about Beach Music. Out in the west, though, there's a thriving market for Folk, Bluegrass and Old Timey music. One of our state treasures is Laurelyn Dossett of the Greensboro based Polecat Creek. Laurelyn was commissioned by The North Carolina Symphony to write the music for a true Piedmont styled holiday presentation as part of this season's "A Carolina Christmas". The six songs Laurelyn wrote tell the tale of a journey home on a winter's night. But, in the process of writing the songs and working them out with some of our most talented singers and players (who will join Laurelyn when "The Gathering: A Winter's Tale In Six Songs" is performed with the Symphony in late November), it was obvious there was so much more music to be made. Here you have a virtual 1927 Yankees lineup of North Carolina bluegrass players and you're not going to take advantage of their minds and talents?
Thus was born the idea for the album, "The Gathering". Giving birth to the actual album is another thing entirely. The North Carolina Symphony commissioned the writing of a few songs; they didn't commission an album.
And that's where you come in. The Kickstarter campaign for "The Gathering" started on October 5 and they've raised about a third of the money they need to create what promises to be an amazing album. But the campaign ends on November 2 and they've still got two-thirds of the way to go. A small pledge gets you a digital copy of the album and a physical copy runs a bit more, but other incentives include a fine art giclee print of Kenneth Frazelle's brilliant watercolor "Lights In The Lowlands" set to grace the cover of the album, one-of-a-kind music lessons (via skype) with the members of the band, hotel and two premium tickets for the premier of "The Gathering" with The North Carolina Symphony, or heck, if you're local and you really want to spring for something, how about a Thanksgiving or Holiday concert in your home or place of business (dates and other restrictions on the Kickstarter project page).
I've pledged to a number of Kickstarter projects this year, but this one... Well, this one I'm truly proud to be a part of. And I can't wait to hear the album (which should be available sometime in November). And, btw, if there's some local Christmas music being made in your little corner of America, share with the class. I'd love to hear about these projects and tell the folks who stop by Stubby's about 'em. I've always loved local music; I think it's some of the finest music being made.
1. Gathering Night
2. Lights in the Lowlands
3. Redbird
4. Redbird Lullaby
5. String of Pearls
6. Diamonds in the Pines
7. Old Ebenezer Scrooge
8. On This Christmas Day (Joe Newberry)
9. O Holy Night
10. On Christmas Eve
11. First Day of the Year (Joe Newberry)
12. I Wonder as I Wander
13. Christ was Born on Christmas Morn
You can stream "Lights In The Lowlands" at The Gathering web site.
So here ya go, Gleeks:
1. All I Want For Christmas Is You
2. Extraordinary Merry Christmas
3. Santa Baby
4. Christmas Eve With You
5. The Little Drummer Boy
6. River
7. Do You Hear What I Hear?
8. Let It Snow
9. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
10. Christmas Wrapping
11. Blue Christmas
12. Do They Know It’s Christmas?