Cloudberry Records
Buy: Discogs | Bandcamp (but it does not allow purchasing!)
This little 3″ CDR packs a big indie-pop punch. Four tracks of solid songs that would please any fan of the genre, and perhaps even those who don’t normally warm towards the twee. Featuring four originals that don’t fall into any heavy religion at all… pretty much what I wish every Christmas CD I picked up was like.
The Swedish band Twig starts it off with “Antoinette’s Christmas Wedding,” which will give you all the crooning, brass, and calypso that you never knew you wanted in a Christmas song. A small story of a song, it sets the wedding (and surrounding) scene quite well. I am quite partial to Christmas originals, and this one is a very interesting one… It has yet to make a Christmas mix for me yet, it just hasn’t fit yet. It may never fit… but that doesn’t make it a lesser song.
The first of two NYC bands, Strega follows with “When the Stars are Shining Bright at Christmas Time,” and their very familiar, sleigh bell-heavy, female fronted approach does not stand out quite as much as the dulcet tones of Twig. However, they have written a tight little song that is immensely listenable.
The Soft City lead off “Side B” with “Snow Keeps Falling,” with a much more 60’s inspired treatment that I could imagine being off an early Essex Green record for some reason. Great motion to this song…
The final song is by the Danes Champagne Riot, who can be found singing Christmas tunes (Xmas Safari) on the most recent Matinee Records holiday offering. “December Slopes” is a fine first effort with a great groove; they reach a level that not many bands hit after many Christmas attempts.
Bottom Line: Every song is truly good, though no song is mind-blowing incredible. 4.8/5
(which I haven’t heard, but will certainly hunt down), and a rather excellent Christmas EP. There are a number of other songs out there called “Kiss for Christmas,” but this is not a cover, and Starside Eight’s song is better than the rest. While released back in 2002, it sounds as thought it could have come out today. Their production falls smack in hard-scrabble indie rock vein, and the sad tale they spin is done with cleverness and a great ear for a hook. The percussions is of particular note – it really keeps this track going. This song alone would make this VERY affordable release worthwhile, and I’m happy to say that the rest of the record is quite commendable too. “Yuki Ya Kon Kon” is a Japanese snow song, and while its not something terribly up my alley, it is done well. “November Fights December Blues” is the second of two Starside Eight originals, and while it shares its predecessor’s melancholy, it does not do so with the driving beat that “Kiss for Christmas.” Later in the song, the guitar work gives it the kick that you wish it had earlier on in the song, but too late in my opinion. Its very good, but not quite up to mixworthy status. The final track is a cover of Lou Reed’s “Jesus,” and while they don’t reinvent the song, they do it very, very well.
, as well as a live version on the 2-CD deluxe edition of Creature I Don’t Know
and the Live from York Minster 2LP release.
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Christmas Underground 