Category: Rock

Stubbys House of Christmas

THE RESTITUTION - O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

12/16/2012

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel by The Restitution

We do it all, here, from soup to nuts. That's just how I roll. So, for those who haven't gotten their fill of Christmas Metal with the August Burns Red CD, here's a nice little addition to your holiday library. The Restitution are a fairly new Metal band from Portland, Oregon. In fact, they call themselves Post Metal. Although I do hear a little atmospheric ambient influence, it still sounds like Metal to me. Not that that's a bad thing. It's actually a pretty good (Metal) rendition of the old hymn "O Come O Come Emmanuel". And, what's more, it's free via Soundcloud.

WXPN 12 DAYS of CHRISTMAS 2012

12/11/2012

1. Aaron Brown and The York Street Hustle “Christmas Eve Dream”
2. Nick Frese and Amy Wooden “It’s A Lousy Day To Be Alone”
3. Alex Radus “Hustle and Bustle”
4. SPiN “Christmas Time Again (I’ll Be Good Next Year)”
5. Ryan Tennis “Coming Home”
6. Ben Smith “Son, You Should Come Home for Christmas”
7. Deb Callahan “Baby’s First Christmas”
8. John Francis “Don’t Tell Me That It’s Christmas”
9. Pete Donnelly “Merry Xmas This Year”
10. Shaun Ruymen “You, Me and the Christmas Tree”
11. Good Old War “Snow Falls Down”
12. Ginger Coyle “It Feels Like Christmas”
BONUS:  Christie Lenee "Carol Of The Bells"
BONUS:  Tin Bird Choir "We Three Kings"
BONUS:  City Rain "Goodnight Moon"   DOWNLOAD FREE AT THE KEY
BONUS:  The Districts "Fires And Footstops"

It's 12 for Twenty-Twelve from Philly's premier Adult Album Alternative radio station. WXPN has been doing their "12 Days Of Christmas" feature, spotlighting mostly original Christmas music from local Philadelphia artists, for quite some time. This year, you can download the whole set right up front and then follow along as they spotlight the artists and songs each day. It's an eclectic set, as usual, featuring some terrific pop tunes, some Indie Folk, some Alt Rock, some Americana and more. On first listen, my personal standouts include SPiN's hook laden Power Pop "Christmas Time Again (I'll Be Good Next Year)", Shaun Ruymen's folky lament "You, Me and The Christmas Tree", and Ginger Coyle's jazzy strut "It Feels Like Christmas". But the one that really got my attention, as I'm always looking for truly unique expressions of the season, was the Bonus Track "Goodnight Moon" from City Rain, an atmospheric new wave electronica track that immediately sent me running to their web site and Bandcamp in search of more. The track ends a bit abruptly, for my taste, but I loved every second of it.

ROOT ROAD - CHRISTMAS TIME

12/9/2012

A couple years back--I think it was even before Stubby's had officially launched--I downloaded a free track and didn't think too much about it. As was my habit at the time, I threw all the free tracks into a playlist without labels and would listen as background whenever I was on the computer. Every time the song came up, I would be bopping along, singing--almost dancing in my seat--and smiling from ear to ear. But I didn't even know what the song was or who it was by. Eventually, Stubby's underway, I couldn't take the not knowing anymore and I traced the song back and, yes, posted it here.

That song was "Christmas Time" by Root Road. With all the Christmas music being made, it's rare that an original song carries all of the elements necessary to earn the designation of "instant classic" (by the way, in the Christmas music world, an "instant classic" may take a dozen years or more to be accepted as such). Root Road's"Christmas Time", I believe, is just such a song. Any song that can make me smile as much on the 100th listen as on the first deserves to take its place alongside the songs we all think of, today, as Christmas standards. It's like an old time toboggan ride down that hill in your neighborhood--just joy unbridled.

For 2012, the brothers Gilkes returned to the studio with award winning producer Roger Ryan, re-recording"Christmas Time" for inclusion in a charity album "A Time For Hope", with the majority of proceeds going to aid suffering children in Haiti. Haven't seen the album yet, but the 2012 version of "Christmas Time" is available through Noisetrade. You can grab the song free for your email address or make a donation. It still makes me smile. And music that makes you smile that often and that much is truly priceless.

WAYFARER - THE HOLLY & THE IVY

12/8/2012

Seattle based Wayfarer began their Indie Folk rise on the ashes of Sherwood's demise earlier this year. You may or may not recall Sherwood's "Snowing In Seattle" from 2008; an excellent contribution that still garners annual spins at Stubby's house (my real house, not the web site).

Wayfarer speaks of repurposing old hymns and such, but they carry with them the influences of the Beach Boys and Beatles that also colored Sherwood's music. The result is highly accessible Indie Folk Rock that could well have come from the mid to late 60s, yet sounds as fresh as a morning snow. Wayfarer's interpretation of "The Holly And The Ivy" is a perfect example. They breathe more life into a musty old chestnut than I would have though possible. Grab "The Holly And The Ivy" at either Bandcamp or Noisetrade and pick up a couple of bonus tracks in the deal.

MAX AND THE MOON - BLUE CHRISTMAS

12/2/2012

Blue Christmas by Max and the Moon

We've been having a discussion over at the Fa Forums about "least favorite Christmas songs". It's always the same bunch. "Christmas Shoes" tops nearly everyone's list, many don't consider "My Favorite Things" to even BE a Christmas song, and some have tired of "Last Christmas" and of Mariah Carey. Me, I've always hated "Blue Christmas". We've covered that here before.

But, dang it all, along comes an Indie Alt Pop Rock outfit from Southern Cali with a fresh arrangement (a little Coldplay, a little Arcade Fire) that seems to be winning me over. The band Max And The Moon was formed in 2009, it appears, and they are building a following the old fashioned way--through relentless gigs. On their recent "The Way I See" EP, they remind me a bit of some of the more intelligent Sunshine Pop of the late 60s--Free Design, that sort of thing.

"Blue Christmas" by Max And The Moon is a free download via Soundcloud and, usually, these Soundcloud freebies are hard capped. So, if you like it, you're going to want to grab it quick. Then go pay a visit to the group's Facebook page. They're very likeable, if you know what I mean (wink, wink, say no more).

THICKER THAN WATER - WITH THESE GIFYS

11/23/2012

Before you enter your "0" at Bandcamp to get this one free, you should know that all proceeds and donations from this album are going to support the Toys For Tots Christmas concert series. More info here. Think about that for a sec and then toss a dollar in the pot, won't you?

1. Joy to the World
2. Away in a Manger
3. O Come O Come Emmanuel
4. Christmas Bells
5. Love Wears a Crown
6. Do You Hear What I Hear
7. Thicker than Water - With These Gifts

NAME YOUR PRICE AT BANDCAMP
PURCHASE AT iTUNES

Thicker Than Water are four brothers from Michigan who, together, make a truly wonderful sound. We're talking rock, Indie Rock, Alt Rock, whatever, but it's very melodic rock. They describe themselves as a collision of U2 and Foo Fighters, and I won't dispute that, but I got more of a Byrds meets The Dave Clark Five meets Emerson, Lake & Palmer meets Carbon Leaf feeling, myself. But I'm probably over thinking it. Anyway, the instrumentation blends together with the kind of harmony you usually only find from singing sisters, creating a mighty fine confection on "With These Gifts". My personal favorites were the instrumental title track, "Christmas Bells", and Thicker Than Water's interpretation of "Do You Hear What I Hear". And the female vocalist on "Away In A Manger" is something special, too. Christmas music, to me, is a variety of moods and I like to be able to put together soundtracks for each of them. "With These Gifts" isn't a bombastic counterpoint to softly falling snow; it's melodic rock that reflects and compliments the season. I could see this one in a rock set, a traditional set, even an ambient set. Go give it a listen on Bandcamp and I think you'll hear what I'm trying to say. I think you'll find yourself wanting this one in your regular holiday rotation.

FREEDOM FRY - DARK CHRISTMAS

11/20/2012

Dark Christmas by freedomfry

OK, so I know all you mixtapers out there are looking for that one special track to set your comp apart from all the others. Well, this is it. Freedom Fry is an Alt Pop/Rock duo based out of LA. You might be familiar with Bruce Driscoll's Christmas track record with Blondfire. Good stuff. But this new track with Marie Seyrat is transcendent. "Dark Christmas" ain't no "Santy Claus Is Coming To Town" (although that track always sounded vaguely threatening to me). No, this is more like something you'd expect to hear in a Christmas episode of The Walking Dead. And yet, it's oddly buoyant. I can't rave enough about it, really. And it's free (for now). So grab it on Soundcloud or use the widget above.

BLUES CONSCIENCE - BLUES SANTA

11/16/2012

You know I luvs my Blues. I found these guys when I was just stumbling around the Internets one night (it's a series of tubes, you know). Originally, I thought Blues Conscience were from Indiana. See that big "IN" on their ReverbNation web site? Ah, no, try INDIA. Yeah, they're digging the Blues in India. How cool is that? And these cats are pretty good, too. I could hear them playing a club in Wisconsin or maybe even New York. "Blues Santa" is a demo--I believe its from 2010--and it's a free download at ReverbNation. Some other cool licks free, too. Check 'em out. Pay a visit to their home site, too.

VARIOUS - XO FOR THE HOLIDAYS, VOLUME 5

11/11/2012

01 The Winter Sounds - "A Very Mariah and Evin Christmas"
02 Blue Skies For Black Hearts - "Maybe Next Christmas"
03 Magnuson - "What Child"
04 Caravan of Thieves - "I Don't Want Anything for Christmas"
05 Armed w/ Legs - "Xmas Wolves"
06 Electric Shepherd - "Dovetail"
07 Robert Burnham - "White Christmas"
08 Piney Gir - "It's Christmas Time Again"
09 Sophie Barker - "Winter Wonderland"

XO FOR THE HOLIDAYS

To tell you the God's honest truth, I'm pretty sure I won't have time, this year, to do an annual "Stubbys House Christmas" collection of some of the freebies we feature. Heck, I don't know if I'll have time to feature enough to even fill out a disc. But, damn, if XO isn't making me think about that some more. XO is a publicity company and, I don't know how they manage it, but every year they pull together an awesome collection of the freshest Christmas tunes on the planet. And it's FREE!

This is the fifth year in a row we've gotten "XO For The Holidays" and, whether a year's collection is short or long, every cut is Prime Grade A Choice. This year's collection features 9 tracks (the ninth is still pending, so feel free to wait on downloading until it arrives) including annual fave Piney Gir. There's a fuzzy "What Child" from Magnuson and a downtempo kind of depressing take on "White Christmas" from Robert Burnham. The rest are originals, sparkling like crystals in the new fallen snow. (???? Yeah, so anyway...) I'll spare the suspence and tell you that "Maybe Next Christmas" from Blue Skies for Black Hearts is my favorite new Christmas song of the year, so far.

And, if you've missed the fun up until now, you can always go back and check out the previous volumes in the series. Just head on over to XO and get you some.

VARIOUS - A BLACKWATCH CHRISTMAS

11/7/2012

Fowler VW presents A Blackwatch Christmas Vol. 1 Teaser from Nathan Poppe on Vimeo.

1. DAD – Santa Clause
2. Samantha Crain – Breaking The Ice
3. Ryan Lindsey – I’ll Come Down Your Chimney
4. The Workweek – Perfect Time Of Year
5. Ben Kilgore – Christmas Eve Needs
6. Chrome Pony – Christmas Babes
7. Ol’ Savior – Winter’s Wild
8. Colourmusic – In a Sentimental Mood
9. Sherree Chamberlain – Christmas Time
10. Hector Comancho – Chris Cringle

BLACKWATCH STUDIOS
BANDCAMP

Not far from the campus of Oklahoma University lies the Blackwatch Studios--recording some great Indie music in Norman, Oklahoma. Last year, in association with Fowler Volkswagen, Blackwatch Studios released an album of holiday tunes from Oklahoma artists. The music runs the gamut from fuzzy blues/rock to sweet pop to Indie folk/pop to Hip Hop. The fuzzy blues/rock comes courtesy of DAD whose "Santa Claus" will shake that dust off your hibernating Christmas spirit. The sweet pop comes courtesy of The Workweek who serenade this "Perfect Time Of Year". From Sherree Chamberlain comes "Christmas Time", a winning bit of Indie folk/pop that's tongue-in-cheek twee. And Hector Comancho Hip Hop's the hell out of "Chris Cringle". Every track's a winner, here. So grab "A Blackwatch Christmas" free, while you can, at Bandcamp and pick your own favorites.