Author: xmasunderground

Such and such.
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Arlie “Come as You Arlie (The Christmas Song)” (2018)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (NYOP)

Sometimes you find one of those songs that you get so excited about that you both want to tell everyone, and nobody, about it. This is one of those situations… hold it until it is revealed on your mix (which is not set in stone yet, so anything can happen still!), or help the wider community impress their friends with a fantastic song. Well, I’m going with the latter as I’m sure a bunch of you are going to enjoy this one…

As for the review, I’m not going to get too specific, because I really just want you all to press play and smile. However, I will give a little background to this fantastic song. Nashville psychedelic indiepop band Arlie put this song together back in 2018 and tried to get it fully-cleared to be on Spotify/Tidal/etc, but alas, the music publishing gods had other ideas. Thus, it existed under the radar for several years, with not much on the net about it beyond a few Tiktoks that use the song, as well as one where Arlie addresses the song’s unfortunate fate. Somehow, with zero press, the song still amassed over 10K streams on Soundcloud – the only place (until VERY recently) where one could find this full song. I reached out the Nathaniel Banks, the frontman of the band, a few weeks ago just to make sure that he’d be cool with me writing about the song, as I didn’t want to stir up any trouble for him. He was happy to give me the green light – and even put the track up on Bandcamp for you all. So… warm up whatever finger you prefer to smash play with, and proceed.

Be sure to check out Arlie’s excellent full-length record, Break the Curse, as it is not on the Arlie Bandcamp. You can find it on your favorite streaming service… or perhaps from your favorite record store. Bands get WAY more money from a purchase than a stream, and everyone’s got to eat, folks.

Bottom Line: This one is going to bring a smile to many faces. And remember, name your own price means you can drop a dollar in the pot, so please do so.

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Vom Vorton “One Turkey Sandwich” (2023)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (NYOP)

In response to the excellent song posted over on Christmas A Gogo today (Pen Pin’s “Office Party”), I have decided to hip you all to another excellent office party-themed Christmas song! What can I say, I want to join the party and the peer pressure is intense… The A-side to Vom Vorton’s new Christmas single (also the titular track) is the excellent “One Turkey Sandwich,” which follows the narrator’s bad decision-making at an office Christmas party. He begins by being quite sensible, as he has just started working there. Well, the night goes on and the drinking increases, and some poor decisions are made… though it doesn’t get too unbelievable to not be relatable. Simply a clever, very well executed song that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Bottom Line: Well that was a rather quick and sensible review. It’s early, and I don’t want to make a scene. Great song! Mixworthy!

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Neil Brogan & Band “Our First Christmas” (2023)

Brogan Records
Buy: Bandcamp

I’m curious… can we consider this whole Neil Brogan writing a fantastic Christmas song a tradition? No pressure, Neil, but I’m in favor of this. After last year’s stone-cold classic, “christmas with a small c,” Neil returns with the touching “Our First Christmas.” The song is a touching stroll through that special feeling you have towards the first Christmas with a loved one. Neil’s voice is really the selling point of this song, soft and emotive – that “ya know” he sings, somehow makes this song feel more deeply personal than a song usually can – like someone is talking just to you. Simple and beautiful.

Bottom Line: Following up one of my favorite songs of the past 5 years was a tough bar to clear, but Neil decided to stroll around it with a lovely, wholly different, and touching song.

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Prizm “Silent Night” (2023)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

Fuck. Do I love “Silent Night” now?

Dallas, Texas’s dynamic 80s-loving duo Prizm has somehow made a lush, synth-drenched version of “Silent Night,” and I had to take a break from working on my mix to write about it. Press play on the song, and it is going to sound like a *nice* electro-pop version. Not too much crazy going on here… then they transition into “The First Noel,” and that is fine too. But if you hang in there until 3:50, the guitars come flying in, the drum fills ring out, and then that saxophone pulls your ass straight into the joy that is this song. I want to eat that outro for fucking breakfast.

Why am I swearing so much?

Bottom Line: Rarely will I just let a song play like that, especially a song I’ve heard a million times before. Thank goodness I did. There. I stopped swearing!

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snö (2023)

WIAIWYA (Where It’s at is Where You Are)
Buy: Bandcamp (CD/Digital)

You think you know a label… After putting out three of the best indiepop compilations of the past decade-plus, beginning with 2010’s Christmastime, Approximately, then the excellent Stars in 2018, and 24 in 2021, one would imagine you get the label’s vibe. You, sir, are mistaken! 2023 brings us WIAIWYA’s most ambitious and expansive release yet, the 3-CD, 30-song collection of largely instrumental, electronic, and ambient Christmas songs, all ruminating on the theme of snow. This is how WIAIWYA describes their new release, snö: “The idea was to put together a Christmas album for escaping the stress of the holidays – canceling Christmas parties to turn the lights down, put on your slippers and have a listen over a sherry…” I wasn’t expecting this record from WIAIWYA, but I completely get the motivation.

I don’t really cover much ambient music here on Christmas Underground. I honestly don’t know if I have the vocabulary to give a credible critical review. I can say that I’ve been listening to it as I putz around the house, and have found myself wandering off to some very weird places in my mind. However, keep in mind the weather in Virginia had been unseasonably warm at the time, and a forest fire had turned the sky a hazy yellow… so songs on the theme of snow was an odd choice. I try to imagine how this record will feel gazing out at some snow, and I have to say, the idea sounds lovely. If any readers live in northern territories and can test out this theory, I’d love to hear back from you. As for me, I’m going to continue walking around the house, forgetting why I went downstairs for a bit longer this holiday season. Thanks, snö.

Bottom Line: There is a time and place for all types of Christmas music, and this extensive collection of ambient Christmas music can most surely find a place in your collection and your holiday. I strongly encourage you to buy it today, #bandcampfriday, and be sure that WIAIWYA gets the entire cut, and those (insert your preferred swear) at Songtradr get nothing.

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Have Yourself a Merry Indie Christmas (Volume III) (2023)

A Benefit for Crisis
Buy: Bandcamp

You know what is better than a few cookies? How about an entire bag! Hot on the heels of last year’s epic, two volume, 108 track opus of alternative Christmas music… it comes for us once more. Fellow weirdo Christmas-music fan Kevin McGrath didn’t plan to put this record together, it really just, kind of happened. He meant to add a few tracks to each record, slap a deluxe sticker on there, and raise some more funds for Crisis, a UK-based charity that services the homeless. Soon, Kevin realized that it would be easier and likely more successful to market the record if those additional songs he had received clearance after the cutoff last year, were put together in their own, new collection – which sounds like a fine idea; let’s maximize the potential to do good. So back into the fray, back to the hunt for more bands’ contact information for Kevin… and after one more, final herculean effort, Have Yourself a Merry Indie Christmas (Volume III) is now under our tree. This release, just like the stellar duo who preceded it, is lined with hit after hit after hit. There are many bands here that the 15-20 folks who read my blog will likely already know and love (Virgin of the Birds, Wake Up and Smell the Sun, Charlie’s Hand Movements, The Ornaments, etc, etc, etc.), but I’m sure you’ve missed a few here and there, and the chances you’re going to love it are pppprrrreeeettty high. Oh, didn’t you forget to pick up that Jacklen Ro song you loved, since it wasn’t on Bandcamp? I can also see you picking this record up, and listening to a song you’ve heard before, but connecting with it on a deeper level – yeah, you just needed some time to grow with that song. I’m thinking you should probably pick this one up, even if you’ve already got a couple of the tracks… just to be safe.

Volumes 1-3 are a guidebook to an alternate universe of Christmas music that few know exists. If you already live here, celebrate it. If you are just dipping your toes in the water, jump in because these 143 songs will provide you with plenty of depth. Swim with us, won’t you?

Bottom Line: You’re getting 35 stellar songs, conveniently packaged by a man high on his own supply of Christmas cheer, and all your money goes to help the homeless. That’s a win for everyone.

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Châteaubriand – Laisse le sapin allumé (2023)

Chalet Musique
Buy: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Amazon MP3 | Amazon.de MP3

After what seemed like a pretty slow start to the season… it has, as expected, heated up FAST. Large releases everywhere, procrastinating bloggers struggling with work, making dinner, self-worth, and Covid in the house. How about we slow down, and enjoy one of the most beautiful releases of the season, Laisse le sapin allumé, by Montreal’s Châteaubriand.

As I have mentioned before, I do not speak French. I can sure listen to it though. I can also listen to the gorgeous french horns on “Romance de Noël,” and those warm drum fills on “Tempête.” I can let the outro of “21 décembre” wash over me. I can soothe my mind to the plucking of a banjo on “Notre dernier sapin.” This entire E.P. is a thing of beauty… well… musically at least. They could be singing about shooting puppies on Christmas eve for all I currently know. But… what a lovely massacre that would be, I suppose.

Bottom Line: This is the shortest, least informative review of what is bound to be one of the best releases of the season. Perhaps put a pin in this one and buy it tomorrow, on Bandcamp Friday.

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dj eWi “armadillo dreams of christmas” (2017)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (FREE)

I’ve got a bunch of bigger stuff coming up… so I thought today was a good day for a curveball. This dj eWi track was recommended to me a while back by my Christmas music friend on the other side of the country (Hi again Larry!), and it has slowly grown on me. First off, I just want to state that my capitalization choices reflect dj eWi’s… so please keep that in mind. This song is truly something. “Armadillo dreams of christmas” is a sonic collage with truly beautiful sentiment, which is in hilarious juxtaposition with some of the imagery. Peruse these lyrics from the back half of the song:

a submarine filled with cocaine
sank on christmas day
somewhere off the coast of texas
the fish are acting very strange

hope can bring us near
we love and never fear
an armadillo dreams of Christmas

The music is a vibe, a swirl of bits of shimmering sound, laid overtop beats, bass, synth, slide guitar (!) and flute (!). I mean… the lyrics are already fascinating, and the instrumentation is equally so. This thing is pretty damn cool.

Bonus content: dj eWi also has a seasonal full-lenth, the aliens save christmas released in 2014.

Bottom Line: Take “armadillo dreams of christmas” and the Jonti track “Christmas Worm’s Quest For Fresh Apples,” and you’re well on your way to a weirdo creature Christmas mix.

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Bleu Reine presente La Compile de Noel 3 (2023)

Bleu Reine
Buy: Bandcamp

The French band Bleu Reine has released some of the best holiday comps of the past few years, while not necessarily always releasing strictly holiday compilations. The first year (2021) is choc-full of Christmas and seasonal tunes. Last year’s release has one(?) song that might be considered seasonal song, a cover of “Holidays” by Poinareff. This year reflects last year’s more than the debut, with two songs (I believe…) lining up as Christmas-mix contenders. Now, you might be wondering, why did I just say they put out some of the best holiday comps? These really aren’t holiday records… true, but the other music is good. They are enjoyable, whether they are holiday songs or not – you’ll find some great covers of Radiohead, Mark Lanegan, Phoebe Bridgers, Wings, Haddaway (ha!), Waaves, The Beatles, etc. So… they are still worth your time!

NOW to the Christmasish songs. The Marinas contribute a very pretty, lo-fi cover of Low’s all-time classic “Just Like Christmas.” (I wish I could find out more about this band – Google is not being very helpful.) There is a warble to this song that begins with the vocals, only to be accentuated by the theremin (?) that I hear in the background. Somehow, The Marinas have managed to construct a version unlike any I’ve heard before, and as this song is the alternative-Christmas gateway drug… I’m always here for a new fix.

The other song that I *believe* to be Christmas-adjacent is the track by Cecilia, “Décembre,” which is an Alex Montembault cover. I did my best (well, a solid try) to find the lyrics to get an idea of what the song is about… but alas… I failed. If can’t speak French, but I can most certainly enjoy the music! Fuzzy guitars! Catchy chorus! So I do! And so might you! Exclamation mark!

Bottom Line: Just a few holiday songs amongst some other great covers… I’ll take it!

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Plati​-​Holy​!​-​Ruma​!​!​! A Christmas Hit EP (2023)

Platiruma!!!
Buy: Bandcamp (NYOP)

There are a few places that I look to every year, reliable sources of interesting Christmas music that you can count on to make this humble Christmas blogger’s life just a bit easier. Germany’s Platiruma!!! Records are most certainly one of those sources. After a few singles, largely by the label’s founder and spiritual leader, Sebastian Voss (aka The Fisherman and His Soul), the label released a wonderful 4-song E.P. by Herr Wade last year. The label appears to be slowly creeping toward a full-length Christmas record, as this year they dropped Plati​-​Holy​!​-​Ruma​!​!​! A Christmas Hit EP, a 6-track Christmas EP. From top to bottom, this E.P. is top-notch German indiepop Christmas. I’m going to pull out a few tracks, as I have made it a practice not to cover every song, as that is a precedent I am fleeing in terror from.

The leadoff track by Hamburg’s theCatherines shines with jangly guitars and a great message, reflected in the title “This Year My Wishlist Only Says ‘Peace.'” For the curious listener, you can find an additional, 7-track Christmas EP, TEENY•TINY•XMAS (EP), over at theCatherines Bandcamp – well worth checking out too.

A collaboration between Jørn Åleskjær (The Loch Ness Mouse, Monobird, Sapphire & Steel) and Sebastian Voss (Nah…, The Fisherman and his Soul, Cinema Engines), the Herr Wade track, “Bis Ich Leb´ (Til I Live)” channels the Christmas crooners of the past with its warm, emotional vocals and ornate instrumentation, full of chimes and swelling synthesized strings.

This is a lot more to love here, with two strong instrumentals by Guelpe and Berlin’s Martin Tetzlaff, a sweet folky tune by Nero Bates, as well as a 2023 remix of The Fisherman and His Soul’s stellar “A Christmas Tree Bright as a Lighthouse.” Revisiting this song was interesting, as the chorus seems to hit harder today than it had originally: “… and there’s a Christmas tree bright as a lighthouse / despite the fucked up world situation / we’ll see a quiver in anticipation / now it’s Christmas time.” This is my favorite kind of indiepop – serious shit disguised amongst some incredibly fun music – sneaking in the door as you bob your head.

Bottom Line: Platiruma!!! expands their holiday offerings with an extremely solid Christmas EP. Looking forward to the full-length… hehe.

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