Category: 2010

THE GOTHARD SISTERS - CHRISTMAS

12/12/2011

1. The First Noel
2. Little Drummer Girl
3. Winds Through the Olive Trees
4. I Saw Three Ships/Marie's Wedding
5. Santa Lucia/Czechoslovakian Carol
6. Carol Of The Bells/We Three Kings
7. Good King Wenceslas
8. Silver Bells
9. Greensleeves
10. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
11. Silent Night
12. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

ARTIST SITE
AMAZON
CD BABY
iTUNES

I’m not sure how you’d classify this album. And, actually, I like that. I see some sites list it as Classical, others as Celtic, and still others as Folk. In my radio days, we’d have called it Category 4—“the ON-definable” (our program director had a bit of an accent). But why ask why, as the expression goes. All you really need know is that “Christmas” by The Gothard Sisters is a beautiful album full of beautiful music that would fit beautifully among your annual holiday favorites.

The Gothard Sisters are three young ladies (aged 16 to 24) from the Pacific Northwest, proficient at music and competitive Irish step dancing. All three sisters are classically trained violinists, but versed in other instruments as well—guitar, mandolin, bodhran and other percussion instruments. Attend a Gothard Sisters show and you’ll likely be blown away by their versatility and energy. The Gothard Sisters—primarily Greta—also do all of their own arrangements while the middle sister, Willow, sews all of their stage costumes by hand.

“The First Noel” makes for a shimmering opening to "Christmas", but still doesn't fully prepare you for the joyous program to follow. “Little Drummer Girl” is the Harry Simeone classic reimagined as an upbeat Celtic step dancing number, but the rhythms make it a natural fit with much more modern Alt Rock numbers as well, should you be looking for such pairings on your mixtapes. ("Little Drummer Girl" was also featured on Putumayo's Celtic Christmas collection earlier this year.)

One of the album’s most special tracks, in my opinion, is the lovely and seldom recorded “Winds Through The Olive Trees”, a 16th (?) century carol that I believe originated in southwestern France. The number was once a frequent inclusion in many a school program (quite popular in New Jersey schools in the 60s and 70s), but is seldom heard today--at least in this country. It's a beautiful song, all on it's own, and all the more so in the capable hands (and voices) of The Gothard Sisters. It also occurred to me what a natural fit the song would be segued into "Fairtale Of New York" by The Pogues. (Hey, that's what I hear in my head; I can't help how I'm wired.)

The medley of “I Saw Three Ships/Marie’s Wedding” demonstrates as well as most any track here the wonderful intertwining of Celtic and Classical influence and the violin playing on this medley is a nimble dance. Indeed, the violins of The Gothard Sisters "harmonize" as well as or better than most singers. And their performances throughout the album are delivered with the precision and delicacy of world class ballerinas.

The ladies make musical stops in Italy, Czechoslovakia (back when that was just one country), England, America, and Germany before all is said and done, all with varying Celtic seasoning and Classical sensibilities. But my absolute favorite arrangement on the album is easily "Greensleeves" which starts out as a reverent carol, classically delivered, but builds into a Lord of The Dance celebration. Goosebumps, I tell you.

I tend to think of Celtic music as ethereal (blame Enya and Celtic Woman for that) and Classical music as stiff and aloof. But "Christmas" is very intimate and comfortable and welcoming, like walking into the home of a friend with the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies filling the air. Apple pie, perhaps? Nah, definitely chocolate chip cookies.

You may be interested to learn that the debut album from The Gothard Sisters, "And To All A Good Night" was also a Christmas album. The youngest Gothard, Solana, was just 11 at the time. "And To All A Good Night", from the clips available, would seem to have been a much more strictly classical outing. If it interests you, however, you can still get the CD through their web store. Of more interest to me, personally, is their latest release, "Story Girl", which continues along the musical lines of "Christmas". The Gothard Sisters do an amazing version of "Scarborough Fair" on that one and it's definitely something you should check out.

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VARIOUS - A CELEBRATION IN TIME

12/10/2011

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1. (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
2. We Three Kings Of Orient Are
3. Silent Night
4. Christmas Medley
5. Gras Bondye/Seigneur J'eleve Ton Nom
6. What Child Is This
7. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
8. The Christmas Waltz
9. Little Drummer Boy
10. Hymn To Freedom

LABEL WEB SITE
AMAZON
iTUNES

I don’t know that there has ever been an album that reminds me more of a string of those blinking multi-colored lights.

Justin Time Records is perhaps Canada’s #1 Jazz label, and likely one of their finest exports as well. Born in 1983, the label has released many a fine Christmas album in the past, including Oliver Jones’ “Yuletide Swing” in 1994 and four “Justin Time For Christmas” compilations. This year, the label released another compilation, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” as well.

The label’s first three signees--Oliver Jones, Ranee Lee, and the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir—are still with Justin Time after all these years. And someone thought it would be a grand idea to bring the three acts together for an all new Christmas recording, “A Celebration In Time”.

The artists take turns providing holiday cheer—red bulb, blue bulb, green bulb—they light up in succession. First up is Ranee Lee who has long been a favorite of mine. Ranee was always one of the best Jazz singers around, but I can not get over how much better she sounds now than ever before. There is so much more texture and depth in her vocals. How she managed to improve upon perfection, I will never know. Ranee has drawn comparisons to Sarah Vaughn and she shows why when she kicks things off with a grand and swinging rendition of “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays”.

Ranee turns the proceedings over to Oliver Jones who sparkles on a surprisingly fresh and lively arrangement of "We Three Kings Of Orient Are". And The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir follows that with a glorious rendition of "Silent Night" (featuring Dayhana M. Santos as the vocal soloist and a ripping sax solo from Dan Martel), after which Oliver returns for a solo piano medley of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear".

If your string of lights is anything like mine, there's always that one bulb that doesn't match any of the others. "Such a pretty color," you think to yourself, "I wish there were more of those". So it is that after four straight bring-down-the-house performances, we are treated to what I think is the best track on "A Celebration In Time". The Daphnee Louis Singers, a quartet from Haiti, have appeared with The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir in the past and the Choir's director Trevor Payne was happy to have them along for this project. When the Daphnee Louis Singers perform "Gras Bondye/Seigneur J'eleve Ton Nom" with as much energy and joy as they do, you feel an almost irresistible urge to get out of your seat and dance—even if you can't understand a single word they're singing.

Ranee has the unenviable task of following the Singers and she presents an upbeat "What Child Is This?" whose arrangement, to me, sounds halfway between a bossa and a tango—with just a dash of Smooth Jazz tossed in for good measure. Then it's back to Oliver, who sounds very Oscar Peterson on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". Ranee again gives a more uptempo spin to "The Christmas Waltz" than we usually hear and, here, I feel a bit of the spirit of the late Lena Horne. The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir gives us a rousing reggae "Little Drummer Boy" (in English and French) before all of the artists join forces to close "A Celebration In Time" with Oscar Peterson's "Hymn To Freedom".

Normally, if I see "choir" anywhere on a record, I run as fast as I can in the other direction. But I'm happy I resisted that impulse in this case because "A Celebration In Time" is a solid Jazz effort with a few unexpected gifts in the bargain, and I love Jazz. As a Christmas album, "A Celebration In Time" succeeds on both celebrational and spiritual levels. If you're a fan of Jazz music at all, you really can't go wrong with anything from Oliver Jones, or Ranee Lee, so an album that features both PLUS The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir AND the Daphnee Louis Singers is really a no-brainer.

And now would be a good time to stock up on Justin Time's holiday albums since the label has most, if not all of them, on sale for $10 each through the end of 2011.

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KYLE HARVEY - MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUTER SPACE

11/23/2011

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They Brought Me Back by Kyle Harvey from Ingrained on Vimeo.

1. Silent Night and the Abduction
2. Merry Christmas From Outer Space
3. All I Want For Christmas Is A Spacesuit
4. Happy Birthday Baby Jesus, Merry Christmas Alf
5. A Festive Examination of a Human Specimen
6. Crop Circle Christmas
7. Baby, It's Cold In Space
8. They Brought Me Back
9. Silent Night and the Return

KYLE HARVEY ON FACEBOOK
BANDCAMP

And now for something completely different.

Kyle Harvey is an Omaha songwriter and performer. He's spent a little time playing (filling in for a bit) with Noah's Ark Was A Spaceship and he's been featured on at least two of the "Christmas For Pine Ridge" CDs, which is how we come to be aware of him.

Now, speaking from personal experience, there comes a time on the calendar when, for the obsessive music collector, all the music starts bleeding together and sounding the same. That will not be a problem with "Merry Christmas From Outer Space". Mixtapers listen up; this may be just the kind of thing you hunt for every year.

I'm going to assume that Kyle's intention, here, is to provoke a reaction--it's a kind of performance art--and say that he succeeds. At one point, he had me banging the table in happy surprise and laughing out loud. If you don't like spoilers, just go to Bandcamp, discover this for yourself, and forego the rest of this review. Ordinary, I listen to an album with the track list handy, but I didn't do that here. For best results, I suggest you follow my lead on that. Just a suggestion.

The idea of "Christmas In Space" is certainly not a new one. Santa and his flying reindeer kind of lend themselves to that sort of mind wandering. Ever since mankind first started launching things into space, we've been treated to a pretty steady stream of such fantasies. We've had the film "Santa Claus Conquers The Martians" and the Dickie Goodman single "Santa And The Sattelite". There was Timmy Dinkins' "Christmas On The Moon" (Mr. Dinkins is still around, by the way, and still making music about astronauts). I know collectors have been fascinated by the cover art for Flo Price's 1979 LP "Christmas 2001: A Space Age Adventure" (the music itself is rather dull--sort of sad Christian children's music) and Flo even had a follow-up, "Christmas 2020". Just a couple of year's back, Eban Schletter joined the list with "Cosmic Christmas". And more than a few mixtapers have used Rob Townsend's 1962 single "Christmas Message From Space". So there ought to be a home out there for Kyle Harvey's Christmas Odyssey.

Harvey describes his music as "beardgaze", which basically means shoegaze from a guy with a beard. And it's that kind of sly straight-faced (for the most part) humor that greets us on "Merry Christmas From Outer Space". The opening "Silent Night And Abduction" is a bit longer than it needs to be and...well...icky. But the title track demonstrates that Harvey can write songs that could easily be respectable pop tunes if someone wanted to produce them that way. The faux rap lyrics to "All I Want For Christmas Is A Spacesuit"--delivered with the earnest sincerity of Eminem--are hilarious:
"This kinda sucks
I think they touched my butt
I'm tryin' to chill but these aliens are naughty"

I think my personal favorite track is "Happy Birthday Baby Jesus, Merry Christmas Alf"--all 17 seconds of it. It's like if you told your girlfriend you wrote her a song, picked up the guitar, sang "I love you like ice cream", put the guitar down and said, "Well, what do you think?" And the ironic point is it took me longer to say that than to listen to the track. But I'm not kidding when I say I enjoyed it and found it thoroughly affecting.

By the time "Crop Circle Christmas" rolled around, I was kind of into the whole concept and that one, complete with sleigh bells, sounded exactly like "Good King Wenceslas" to me--only banged out on the kitchen pipes.

But the next track is where I lost it. Remember, I was listening without the track list. And there was barely enough time to mutter "No..." before the robot voice joined in for the duet on "Baby It's Cold In Space". I don't know, maybe I'm mentally ill, but that was funny. Knee-slapping, rotflmao funny. And I think there are mixtapers all across America just waiting for a human/robot (or alien) duet of "Baby It's Cold Outside"--heck, every other combination has been done to death.

"They Brought Me Back" is another good pop song in shoegaze disguise--one I'd probably direct you to on the free list, if it were free--but not especially festive, though it did kind of remind me of a Richard O'Brien track (of "Rocky Horror" and "Shock Treatment" fame). And the set finishes pretty much the way it started, though not as long and not at all icky.

There are cool sound effects and alien dialogue throughout that mixtapers can make use of. And I know someone's looking for something like "Baby It's Cold In Space" even as we speak. At only 5 bucks, it's an easy buy. And, if the concept grabbed you at all, you should check out Kyle Harvey's "The End Of The World" while you're at Bandcamp. That's just 5 bucks, too. And, if you're curious what Kyle was doing before he lost his mind, I really and truly liked his 2003 EP "The Holidays In Spain". If you have any kind of appreciation for the whole shoegaze vibe, that one's really good. Just my opinion; your mileage may vary.

You can't approach Kyle Harvey's "Merry Christmas From Outer Space" the same way you'd approach a Michael Buble album. You just can't. This is the kind of record that would have parents, thoroughly exasperated, shouting "We sent you to college for this!?!" And that's why you gotta love it. Plus, you know, funny alien voices.

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ERIC ESSIX - MY GIFT TO YOU

11/1/2011

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1. O Christmas Tree
2. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
3. Silent Night
4. It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
5. The First Noel
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
7. We Three Kings
8. Hark The Herald Angels Sing
9. O Little Town Of Bethlehem
10. Angels We Have Heard On High

ARTIST SITE
GLC BOOKSTORE

Eric Essix grew up in Alabama during the turbulent 60s. There were the Beatles spearheading the British Invasion on one side, and the Gospel music within his hometown church on the other. He grew up listening to Motown and Jimi Hendrix, but also to Wes Montgomery. Essix began playing professionally in the 70s, cut his first national release, "First Impressions", in 1988, signed with WB/Zebra in 1998--topping the Smooth Jazz charts with "For Real" (from "Small Talk"), and started his own label (Essential Recordings) in 2002. He's tried his hand at festival production, founding the annual Preserve Jazz Festival in Hoover, Alabama, spent a good deal of time working as a sideman in recent years for artists like Jeff Lorber and Peabo Bryson, and is helping to guide the career of Cece Phillips, the first artist signed to Essential in 2007. In 2008, Essix recorded perhaps his best record to date, "Birmingham", bringing together all of the influences of his life. Last year, he started yet another career as Artist Coordinator for the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Eric is also an inductee in the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, entering in the same class with Pinetop Smith and Cootie Williams.

Fans had been asking Eric to record a Christmas album for a very long time and, last year, Eric finally thought the time was right. So, in the midst of a triple digit July heatwave, Eric set out to record a solo guitar Christmas album. Records have a way of determining their own path and, along the way, Eric added a few full ensemble pieces and invited percussionist Darrell Tibbs to work his magic on “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”. The decision to add the full ensemble pieces and some bells here and percussion there serves the album well, giving it balance, depth, and texture. The end result is a very special, very intimate, and deeply spiritual Smooth Jazz holiday set.

You get an idea of how proficient Essix is from the fact that your ears would indicate that there’s a bass on nearly every track. But, outside of the 3 tracks featuring a full band and one track where he plays bass himself, all those bass tracks you think you hear are simply Eric on the guitar, without any overdub.

The album opens with "O Christmas Tree", which showcases well just what Eric can do with only his guitar. Eric's take has a gentle bounce, reminiscent of Vince Guaraldi's work on piano, and understated soul. Eric turns in a virtuoso jazz performance with echoes of Wes Montgomery on "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" which manages to be very spiritual without ever being overtly gospel. And Darrell Tibbs' percussion adds just the right touches and does it so well that he merely accentuates Eric's guitar work--pushing it even further to the fore--in a way that you almost don't notice he's there.

"Silent Night" is one of two ensemble pieces which previously appeared on the 2005 collection "A Soulful Christmas" and is a nice piece of Smooth Jazz, but not quite as spiritually invested as the rest of the album. Eric starts the next track with an easy soulful sway which ultimately ascends into a dazzling yet, again, gentle jazz guitar solo. After opening "The First Noel" by the book, so to speak, Eric takes the path less trod exploring a tributary of that stream with a solo that recalls some of Pat Metheny's "New Chataqua" playing.

"God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is the other track dating back to 2005, but struck me as more soulful than "Silent Night". Here Eric displays a bit of George Benson influence, but also hints of Miles Davis, surprisingly enough. "We Three Kings" is another simple solo guitar piece, reminiscent of the album's opening number, while "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" shares the quiet spirituality of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel".

The third full ensemble piece, the newly recorded "O Little Town Of Bethlehem", finds Eric sharing the spotlight with sax player Melvin Butler and keyboard player Matt Rhode. And the album closes with "Angels We Have Heard On High", which seems to bring all of Eric's influences and styles together in one softly and gloriously uplifting finale.

You won't find "My Gift To You" at Amazon or iTunes. The album is only available at select outlets in Alabama (including online at Alabama's Guiding Light Church Bookstore) and through the Eric Essix web site. But it's well worth seeking out.

Part of the proceeds of each disc sold will go to The Salvation Army and Fox Gifts for Kids Angel Tree.

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VARIOUS - A NOT ORDINARY CHRISTMAS

12/12/2010

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1. A NOT Orindary Christmas......Alyssa Thompson
2. Impossible To Resist......Benny Moore
3. This Thing Called Love......Raul Rodriguez, Jr.
4. Christmas Lullabye......Christina Britton
5. Dolly Llama’s Christmas Ramba......Richard Del Val
6. Gimme Toys......Ian Burrage
7. Christmas Baby Blues......Inge Jave
8. I'm A Snowman......Ray Sharp
9. Christmas Angel......Judy Teo
10. Write You A Love Song......Dean Leo
11. List For Christmas......Yolande Strauss
12. It Only Takes A Second......Sarah K. Holaway

THE NOT ORDINARY WEB SITE
PURCHASE FROM THE ARTISTS
PURCHASE FROM iTUNES

It's a tragedy that I haven't gotten around to reviewing this album sooner. I think this is among the best of the year and I'll tell you why I believe that. First of all, while (as it says to the right) readers should assume that everything reviewed on the site has been provided in exchange for promotional consideration, I'll tell you flat out that this one wasn't. I have a limited budget and a lot of Christmas releases to choose from, OK? I first bought the download of this album. When the hard copy CD became available, I immediately bought that. Once I had the hard copy in my hands, listened to it again, saw how beautiful it was, I bought 2 more copies. I don't often buy multiple copies of CDs (vinyl, sometimes), except as gifts. These were for me. This is the kind of release, printed in small numbers, that will be available in hard copy for another year, maybe.

Not enough evidence that I truly think this a great album? Since the hard copy CD arrived, I go to bed every night with the song "Impossible To Resist" in my head. And I wake up every day with either that one or "This Thing Called Love" in my head. And it's a good thing. I don't plan it that way, but those songs are upbeat and positive and put me in a good frame of mind. I'm listening to a ton of Christmas music and those are the songs in my head.

"A Not Ordinary Christmas" is the brainchild of Casia, the lyricist for all of the songs on the album (You may or may not recall my little rant about the rise of the new paradigm). Casia collaborated with the writers of the music over the Internet, and the artists collaborated with each other via the Webs as well. Roughly 40 musicians took part in the effort (I think 38 was the official count) and multiple genres and countries are represented here.

The album leads off with the title cut, a bouncy Adult Contemporary number that probably would have been glorious with the budget to hire a full-on 500 voice gospel choir. As it is, it comes off as more of a show tune (not my genre of choice), though a pretty good one. Then comes "Impossible To Resist", sung by Benny Moore, which is just a perfect hooky Top 40 tune--the kind of Pop song that would dominate the hit radio stations if a performer or band with a name were releasing it. And there's just a touch of sleighbells, here--barely noticeable, but enough to subtly shift your brain to a winter frame. Two songs in and we already know this album is not going for "that Indie sound". This is mainstream stuff, exceedingly well produced and engineered.

Raul Rodriguez, Jr. gives us a nice Folk/Pop/Adult Contemporary reading of a well written song, "This Thing Called Love". For all the time wasted every year adding up the cost of the absurd "12 Days" gifts, no one spends any time thinking about the one priceless thing mentioned in the song--"true love". Here, Casia writes, and Raul sings, about just that in a winning way that will have you singing the song in your head as you do your holiday shopping.

The tempo slows for the very pretty "Christmas Lullabye". Musically, it's got a bit of a New Age tint to it, though Christina Britton's vocals give the song more soul and warmth than would the wispy little girl vocalists featured in so much of today's indie fare. Then comes a bit of fun, suitable for children of all ages, with Richard Del Val's jazzy Latin spin on "Dolly Llamma's Christmas Ramba". One of the album's favorites is the New Wave/Pop Punkish "Gimme Toys", performed with tongue firmly in cheek by UK singer Ian Burrage. "Gimme Toys" features one of the best lines on the album and possible the only line Casia didn't write: "And get that snappin' reindeer off my roof".

Then comes the song I'm completely in love with. "Christmas Baby Blues" is a potential Jazz/Blues standard, done up here in an immensely accessible and soulful arrangement. Belgian vocalist Inge Jave has just the perfect balance of heartbreak and hope in her performance of this lament about a Christmas date that wasn't. The instrumentation and production on this one is totally dreamy. We take a small break for a blues flavored rockin' 50s number from Ray Sharp (featuring both saxaphone and harmonica), "I'm A Snowman". And then we come to one of the album's most radio friendly tracks, "Christmas Angel". Judy Teo's performance has more than a bit of Ronnie Spector about it and the easy but steady rhythm is just perfectly inviting--magnetic and soothing. It's not my favorite on the album--though I can't come up with a good reason why--but I suspect it will be most everyone else's.

"Write A Love Song" is a pretty mid-tempo number with some nice lyrics, though the talking section in the middle seemed a bit treacly to me. A music box opens "A List For Christmas", another of my favorites. The song compares a lover to a pair of blue jeans. The beautiful melody and Yolande Strauss's vocal performance not only sell the analogy completely, but actually made my eyes water up a bit. This is one song where everything came together perfectly and the only one that sent me to the credits to see who wrote the music. Son of a gun if it wasn't Raul Rodriguez, the vocalist from "This Thing Called Loved" (which he didn't write the music for). The album closes with a message song, "It Only Takes A Second", about the differences we could make with just a kind thought or word. In the context, here, it works well and, by bookending the set, actually helps to make the opening number sound better (to me anyway, since it wasn't my favorite).

This album serves as a showcase for the talents of those involved, from musicians to composers, and especially Casia who wrote all the lyrics. Such a project is bound to cover lots of diverse ground and could easily sound disjointed and "all over the place". But this collection has a cohesion and flow that allows the whole to be at least the equal of it's parts, if not exceeding them. It works as a showcase, but it works as an album, too. There's not a bad song on the album; even the songs I didn't love, I liked. And there are just certain songs on this set that will not only become a regular part of my annual holiday, but have obviously already become a part of my daily life. As a Christmas album, specifically? It's very hard to do an album of originals and still sound like Christmas. It just is. Opinions might vary on this point, but I thought the album succeeded at this as well.

It is likely that millions of people will buy the latest album from tired superstar performers (who I won't name here) trying to fulfill their label commitments or revive sagging careers, covering the same old ground in the same old way. And many of those people will likely listen to that album once or twice and then never again. But a very few people will find this tiny project from a group of people they've never heard of doing songs that have never before been done by anyone anywhere. As "A Not Ordinary Christmas" was invested with great love by people who really cared about what they were creating, and given the top-notch mastering, production, and final appearance as well, I suspect those very few people will be very happy they took the road less traveled and found this rare treasure.

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VARIOUS - SEASONAL FAVORITES, VOL. 3

11/24/2010

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Morgen Kinder Wirds Was Geben – The Razorblades
Good King Wenceslas – The Excelsiors
We Three Kings – The Frankie Handwax Experience
Greensleeves – King Of Hawaii
Moguls – Urban Surf Kings
Så Går Vi Rundt Om En Enebærbusk – The Mobsmen
Secret Santa - The Barbary Coasters
Staffan Var En Stalledrang – The Surfites
Santa’s Hot Rod – Burt Rocket
This is Santa Claus (Bad Boy Mix) – The Balboas
Alle Jahre Wieder – The Incredible Mr. Smith
Sausage & Sauerkraut For Santa – The Polkaholics
Jingle Bells – Tiki Joe’s Ocean
We’ll Be Home With Bells On – O.J. Watson & The Ludlow Ramblers
We Three Kings – Thee Swank Bastards
PURCHASE FROM DOUBLE CROWN Old Anxiety – Peter Curry & Dick Chiclet
CD BABY

If you lose your heat this winter, you could always toss this CD on the player. As much as I enjoyed Volumes one & two, "Seasonal Favorites, Vol. 3" may well be the best Christmas compilation yet from Double Crown Records.

Double Crown specializes in Surf Rock, carrying on the legacy of Rock pioneers like Dick Dale, Link Wray and The Ventures. And, here, they do their heritage proud with a disc that rocks and twangs and reverberates from the first note to the last.

The collection kicks straight into high gear with The Razorblades' "Morgen Kinder Wirds Was Geben"--that'll get your blood pumping for sure. And even though I'm not familiar with the track, it's strangely quite Christmasy. Looking for a good version of "Good King Wenceslas"? Your search is over; The Excelsiors have got that one covered. The Frankie Handwax Experience is a play on the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and their "We Three Kings" is grafted onto Jimi's "Manic Depression" to tremendous effect--a hard rocker sure to please the most discriminating of your party guests (but also quite suitable for headphone listening).

King of Hawaii surf into town with a rockin' rendition of "Greensleeves" which, true enough, was culled from their own holiday outing. King has got an almighty holiday groove on and your surf Christmas collection isn't complete without their "Mele Kalikimaka" EP. The Surfites selection called to mind both Del Shannon's "Runaway" and Jim Morrison's "Riders On The Storm" simultaneously--simply a marvelous track. You'll hear touches of "Telestar", "Pipeline", "Wipe Out", and more throughout the record. Heck, Burt Rocket gives us most of that in "Santa's Hot Rod" alone.

To keep things interesting, Double Crown tosses in a bit of Western fun ("We'll Be Home With Bells On"), a superb bit of Exotica (Tiki Joe's Ocean doing "Jingle Bells"--another album highlight), some Punk Polka (if the Polkaholics track doesn't get a smile out of you, then nothing will) and a bit of Dead Kennedy's irreverence from Balboa. The whole thing closes out in most excellent fashion with a surf guitar twist on "Auld Lang Syne" (titled "Old Anxiety").

As an album, there's a definite flow to the music--always a plus--and it's suitable as foreground or background music. It could've used a few more sleigh bells, I suppose, but I'm not one to quibble when the music's this good. If you're planning a Christmas party or luau, you're definitely going to want to include this one in the festivities. This album is the elixir for your mixer. The album plays well with others, too, and should fit right in with your mix of neo-swing, rock, space age, exotica, Hawaiian, lounge or just plain old pop. But do try to keep "Seasonal Favorites" away from open flames.

As a nice little holiday bonus, folks who order direct from Double Crown will get an exclusive mp3 bonus track. If that ain't the Christmas spirit, I don't know what is. And you might as well take advantage of Double Crown's Black Friday sale, while it's on.

Oh, and, hey, you can feed the festive mood with Double Crown's spirits of Christmases past, too.
Seasonal Favorites Volume 1
Seasonal Favorites Volume 2
"Mele Kalikimaka" by King of Hawaii

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MANDY BARNETT - WINTER WONDERLAND

11/23/2010

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1. Winter Wonderland
2. This Time Of The Year
3. Marshmallow World
4. A Holly Jolly Christmas
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas
6. Here Comes Santa Claus
7. All I Want For Christmas Is You
8. (There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays
9. White Christmas
10. Jingle Bell Rock
11. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

ARTIST SITE
PURCHASE FROM CRACKER BARREL

Oddly enough, in my little town, Cracker Barrel actually carries more CDs than pretty much anybody else in town. Such is the state of the retail music industry, all of the other stores that once featured huge music sections have either cut back to only a few of the best sellers or (mostly) have stopped selling music altogether. Be that as it may, Cracker Barrel is the only place where you can score a copy of this absolute gem from Country singer Mandy Barnett. And if you're one of those people who says they just don't make records like they used to, Mandy aims to prove you wrong.

Mandy, who some may recall first made her name while still in her teens portraying Patsy Cline in the biographical stage show, set out to make a real old-fashioned Christmas album...just like the kind we used to know. I've heard the claim before, so count me among the skeptical. But Mandy completely pulled it off with "Winter Wonderland".

First, she gathered the right players, including many who had played on some of those late 50s-early 60s Christmas albums we today consider the classics. Then came the material and, here, Mandy was especially brilliant. She chose not just the standards from that earlier time--like "White Christmas", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and "Winter Wonderland"--but also songs from that era that were new then but destined to become classics (like "Jingle Bell Rock", "This Time Of The Year", "Home For The Holidays" and "A Holly Jolly Christmas"). She also included one more recent selection which may or may not yet be regarded as a standard but is bound to get there, Vince Vance's "All I Want For Christmas Is You".

The album is lush with strings and sleigh bells, and choral arrangements (I think the background singers were really the touch that firmly cemented that nostalgic feeling), with just the right touch of steel guitar and fiddle so as to leave no doubt that this is a Nashville production. Every detail is meticulous in recreating the grand Christmas productions of a bygone era. The sound is exquisitely precise in it's recreation. It's literally like a picture print by Courier & Ives. And yet, it's not some lifeless carbon copy; "Winter Wonderland" is fresh and filled with holiday spirit.

Finally, Mandy's vocals are neigh on perfect. It's hard not to close your eyes and hear what might have been had Patsy Cline ever recorded a Christmas album, but Mandy can stand on her own as she does on "This Time Of The Year" in the video above. My personal favorite, here, is "All I Want For Christmas Is You" which is easily the best version of that song since Lisa Layne's original take with Vince Vance back in 1989. But no doubt you'll find your own favorites. Check the sound clips at Cracker Barrel.

If you were around in the 50s and 60s (and even the 70s) and you're looking for something that puts that original jingle back into your Christmas bells, Mandy Barnett's "Winter Wonderland" is the perfect prescription. A little Bing, a little Perry, and a little Mandy Barnett and you'll be decking the halls with a whole lot more FaLaLaLaLa than you've had in years.

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CARBON LEAF - CHRISTMAS CHILD (11/16/10)

11/13/2010

3 Comments

  1. Christmas Child
  2. Red Punch / Green Punch
  3. Ice And Snow
  4. Sutton's Reel
  5. Ode To The Snow
  6. Drifting
  7. Christmas At Sea
  8. Christmas Child (Instrumental)
  9. Toast To The New Year

ARTIST SITE
PURCHASE FROM CARBON LEAF
AMAZON MP3

Carbon Leaf is a five-piece Alt Rock band from Virginia who frequently feature Celtic and Bluegrass influences in their music. While more recent releases have seen the group move in a more mainstream Rock direction, "Christmas Child" is a clear return to their roots.

While making this record, Carbon Leaf pointedly described it as a "winter-slash-Christmas" album, and it is exactly that--a celebration of the entire month of December, if not the entire season of winter. As such, you could listen to this right now without feeling that you're pushing the season or in February without feeling as though you've hung on too long. Given the quality of the music, here, I suspect many will be listening to it still in the midst of summer.

Musically, this will readily appeal to fans of Alt Rock and Folk Rock, and should appeal to straight up Folk and Rock listeners as well. If you like bands like the Waterboys or Mumford & Sons, this would be right in your wheelhouse. Carbon Leaf's lyrics aren't quite as poetic as those groups, but they're no less profound. The songs are wonderfully written and flawlessly performed.

"Christmas Child" is, to my mind, a brilliant concept piece. They stack up the songs of the season as both allegories to the seasons of life and as allegories for the stages of a relationship, beginning with the beautifully written title track in which a young boy (or young man) simply can't contain his excitement for the coming holiday. "And I will lie-la-lie awake" he sings, "until I fade away". The sentiment, with which most anyone could identify, is conveyed expertly through both the music and lyrics. I, as a listener, felt immediately transported to that emotion. It was the coming of Christmas and it was love at first sight, all rolled into one. "Red Punch/Green Punch" expresses the high spirits of a slightly older child or man in that phase of life where you know there is a world to be conquered and you are certain that it shall be conquered.

On to the courtship. "Ice and Snow" is a beautiful love song, performed as a waltz and "Sutton's Reel" is exactly that. The courtship is all about dancing.

My favorite track on the album, "Ode To The Snow", is next up. This Alt Rock track demonstrates an age of somewhat more experience--introspective and understanding--but with none of life's passions in any way diminished. "In the silence is where you find the song." Indeed. This should be a staple of FM Rock stations this winter and straight through spring.

The brief instrumental "Drifting" is quite effecting, all the more so for being musically apart from the rest of the album. It's more of an electronic number, but it hits all the right notes to conjure the images of the season, snow and pretty lights (and pretty girls, as well). It's over very quickly and one is left wishing it had lasted at least a little bit longer. Like Christmas itself. "Christmas At Sea" shows our protagonist at a much more weathered stage of life, a little more wise, quite a bit less certain, sending out a "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-SOS". Next up is an instrumental reprise of the title track. An attempt to relive or remember the joy and certainty of youth? It is a tribute to Carbon Leaf that the song now sounds entirely different from the opening track. Play them side by side and you wouldn't necessarily feel that. But, having taken this journey with them, experience colors everything and perspective changes.

The album closes with a rock number, no less thoughtful for that. I think these are some of the best lyrics on the album, biting in their sarcasm at times and, at times, defiantly hopeful. "Still the darkest of seasons shimmers silver and gold. So let's dress up like penguins. We'll huddle en masse. We will ring in the New Year, throw a curse to the past." Amazing stuff.

"Christmas Child" isn't so much a Christmas record as it is a concept album whose stories use Christmas as a point of perspective. And that just makes it all the more brilliant. Like much of what Carbon Leaf does, "Christmas Child" works on multiple levels. It's a love story, a coming of age set, a tribute to the season (both the bright and the bleak), and/or it's just a damn good rock record.

The download version of "Christmas Child" hits digital retailers on November 16, while hard copies can be ordered from the band and will ship near the end of the month. But you can also have the best of both worlds by pre-ordering the CD from Carbon Leaf and getting your digital copy immediately.

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JESSIE KOL - LITTLE EMMANUEL

11/8/2010

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1. In The Bleak Midwinter
2. Merry Christmas Darling
3. My Little Emmanuel
4. Away In A Manger

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PURCHASE THROUGH ARTIST SITE

If I were looking for one word to describe "Little Emmanuel", I think I'd go with "seductive". Not in some cheesy Marilyn Monroe or "Santa Baby" sense, but in the sense that I defy anyone to listen to this four song EP--actually listen to it--and not come away completely in love with it. Like any good seduction, it comes upon you with subtlety and tender patience. This EP works as well as it does not just because of the singing voice of Jessie Kol, which radiates a kind of purity and delicate clarity, but also because great care has been taken in the arrangements and the production and because the supporting musicians are all more than equal to the task at hand.

Born in Washington DC in 1991, Jessie Kol grew up in Raleigh, NC where she found herself singing at a very young age. No sooner had she entered her teens then she was recording demos for friends and family as "Christmas gifts". Now embarking on her professional career, Jessie's debut EP was released last October and it turned out to be an iTunes hit. Like so many young female artists, Jessie's been compared to Norah Jones. But, for once, it actually fits.

Jessie's chosen milieu is Jazz, at least for the moment. But, like Norah Jones, Jessie's not content to limit herself musically. For this Christmas record, she chose Johnson Roberts for the arrangements and to co-produce the album. Roberts is a well known arranger, but his specialty has been Appalachian music. Jessie listened to Roberts' past arrangements and decided that his rural approach would bring new elements to her Jazz vocals. The result is a kind of lush simplicity, the product of a four-piece setting--piano, violin, cello and hammered dulcimer--behind Jessie's vocals.

When you have only four selections, you have to make them count. And Jessie does. The EP opens with "In The Bleak Midwinter", not often a scintillating selection. Jessie and the musicians make the song shimmer, like a lake at sunrise. The approach is direct, but understanding. The piano of Jason Webb is especially sparkling here, and the violin playing of Johnson Roberts is truly beautiful. As throughout the EP, the subtle touches added by the hammered dulcimer are also key to wrenching every last bit of beauty from this traditional carol.

"Merry Christmas Darling" is done up as a Jazz number. And, for the most part, it's the least remarkable track on the EP. But it is here that you begin to notice just how skilled and talented a singer Jessie is. She demonstrates this without vocal gymnastics or flash of any kind. She simply hits every note precisely with exactly the tone and pitch that is required or called for. This is kind of a difficult concept to convey, I think, unless you've spent some time with musicians (and singers in particular). So I'll just say that Jessie demonstrates uncanny instinct and feel for one so young; she's not following the musicians, she's anticipating them. And she's not off somewhere trying to be cute by holding a note excessively or purposely dropping one in late which is what passes for Jazz singing among some less polished and confident performers.

Next up is the title track. And here we are treated to an even greater example of Jessie's vocal talents. Here, Jessie's instrument is on full display. And, as the cello of Clara Slaybaugh engages in a bit of a ribbon dance with Jessie's vocals, you are now totally submersed in a new and beautiful world of aural perfection. The seduction is almost complete.

I've heard some truly outstanding versions of "Away In A Manger" this year, but this rises above them all. This final track opens with Jason Webb's wonderful piano once again. When the cello and violin join in, it is, in effect, a full overture. And then Jessie starts to sing. And, by now, you are completely under her spell. You can actually taste the sounds as they flow through the speakers. Jessie and arranger Johnson Roberts pull hitherto unknown textures out of this ancient carol. Then, all too soon, it's at an end. A word of warning. Be careful what you put on following this disc; much of the holiday music out there, even some very good stuff, is likely to come off as a real buzz kill. In fact, I'd suggest listening to this EP a second time and then taking a break for a bit before attempting another album.

Look, I know I sound almost comically over the top about this EP. It's completely sincere. Still, let's just take it down a bit and say... This is a really fine effort from Jessie Kol and I recommend it highly. But just listen to "Little Emmanuel" and then try to tell me you didn't love it. Because I'm guessing you'll be seduced, too.

Don't forget to pick up "In The Bleak Midwinter" free. Check our Free List page for details. The full EP will be available through iTunes beginning November 16.

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INDIGO GIRLS - HOLLY HAPPY DAYS

11/5/2010

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1. I Feel The Christmas Spirit
2. It Really Is (A Wonderful Life)
3. O Holy Night
4. Your Holiday Song
5. I'll Be Home For Christmas
6. Mistletoe
7. Peace Child
8. The Wonder Song
9. In The Bleak Midwinter
10. Happy Joyous Hanukkah
11. Angels We Have Heard On High
12. There's Still My Joy

AMAZON
ARTIST SITE

Sometimes, as they used to say over at Christmas Reviews, you get a slam dunk.

The Indigo Girls, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray , burst onto the public consciousness back in 1989 with their MTV hit "Closer To Fine" (the song only reached #52 on the charts). After that, you didn't hear much from the Indigo Girls on the Pop charts. Instead, they went about making the music they wanted to and letting the chips fall where they may. Well, the chips have been pretty good to the Indigo Girls. They've recorded and performed to sold out crowds consistently for the last 20 years. Their audience is as loyal as anyone's. Their voices and craft every bit as strong as they were back in the day.

It's strange that they didn't get around to a Christmas album before now. They did perform "In The Bleak Midwinter" on an A&E Christmas special back in 1990 and, later, offered the track as a download on their web site. And Emily Saliers recorded a version of "River" for an Atlanta compilation in 2001. But only recently did the Christmas bug strike them in earnest (simultaneously, as they tell the story) and, oddly, it struck them both at the same time as a desire to do some Bluegrass. So they gathered up some of the finest Bluegrass musicians around and recorded the kind of Christmas album they wanted to make.

Bluegrass doesn't dominate the album at all, for those worried about such things. It frames and flavors it more than anything else. The album does open with a Bluegrass tune--the Isaacs' under recorded "I Feel The Christmas Spirit". But the album then moves comfortably into the Indigo Girls zone--that Folk/Pop sound that made "Closer To Fine" the aural experience it was. Originals like "Your Holiday Song" and "The Wonder Song" absolutely sparkle with seasonal joy. "Mistletoe", another original, offers a more peaceful and serene soundscape--romantic in its way and beautifully done, especially the backing harmonies.

The traditional tunes are expertly executed, as well. "Angels We Have Heard On High" is a popular favorite, showcasing the Indigo Girls exquisite harmonies. The duo bring all the necessary emotions to "I'll Be Home For Christmas"--striking the perfect balance between the hope and the longing, a balance few artists manage. But, oddly, I find "Happy Joyous Hanukkah" the most representative song on the disc; more than any other track, here, it wears its joy on its sleeve. It's clear, listening to the Hanukkah song, that the Indigo Girls had a lot of fun making this record. And, because they had fun, so did I.

"Holly Happy Days" by the Indigo Girls is one of the season's finest. It's a delight you'll listen to many times over without the need or desire for a shuffle feature.

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THE GOTHARD SISTERS - CHRISTMAS

VARIOUS - A CELEBRATION IN TIME

KYLE HARVEY - MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUTER SPACE

ERIC ESSIX - MY GIFT TO YOU

VARIOUS - A NOT ORDINARY CHRISTMAS

VARIOUS - SEASONAL FAVORITES, VOL. 3

MANDY BARNETT - WINTER WONDERLAND

CARBON LEAF - CHRISTMAS CHILD (11/16/10)

JESSIE KOL - LITTLE EMMANUEL

INDIGO GIRLS - HOLLY HAPPY DAYS

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