Tag: 4+

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Socialites “Winter” (2024)

Flower Shop Records
Buy: Bandcamp

I have to remind myself every so often that I have this blog so that my imaginary self will discover it, make an incredible Christmas mix for my imaginary friends, and spread the love (in the form of hot tips to the gracious blog proprietor) so that he too can find crafting this labor of love (and pain) just that little bit easier. It is something I have to continually tell myself when every instinct is to hide away these little songs so that I might spring them on you all with my mix. But… you know… I need to get over that shit. So pull up a chair…

San Antonio’s Socialites have this fantastic jangly Christmas-ish song with a seesaw rhythm that is a likely lock for my upcoming mix (Side note – I did the photoshoot for it today.) “Winter” is found on their May 2024 release, Where To, and damn I like this vibe. Rather chill, yet upbeat music with melancholy lyrics… that’s pretty much the formula this blog was founded on. So go, add this to your playlist and just do me one favor… pretend you’re surprised and amazed my Christmas mix despite having heard everything already.

Bottom Line: I suspect “Winter” was scientifically engineered for me to love it. Damn you Socialites… I will subscribe to your newsletter.

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Arny Margret & Asgeir “Part of Me” (2023)

One Little Independent Records
Buy: Bandcamp

I’m going to Wisconsin this weekend. I rather thought that I’d be heading up north for a quick jolt of brisk weather, something to get me more in the mood to write about this stuff. I looked up the 10-day forecast and it was 87 in Madison today, a solid 10 degrees warmer than it is in Virginia. Just wild. I’ll just have to plug along without my anticipated mood enhancer and get down to what we’re all here for… writing and reading about Christmas music in September.

Hailing from Iceland, Arny Margret and Asgeir have a lot of sweater weather to get themselves in the mood to write Christmas songs. 30 seconds into my first listen to their 2023 collaboration, “Part of Me,” I was already equating the song to staring at a low fire, even before I read the description on Arny’s Bandcamp page:

A winter warmer with rich, acoustic tones and stirring melodies, the track showcases the kind of intimacy and nostalgia that Iceland’s homegrown singer-songwriters have become known for. ‘Part Of Me’ is a fireside duet with a timeless quality and comforting ambiance.

I mean… ditto? What else can I say? Fireside. Nostalgia. Pull me up a log – I’m there. Arny & Asgeir’s voices nestle perfectly together, with an ease that feels like a casual conversation. Their control and restraint are perfection – I love when a singer doesn’t need to sing, if you follow. The minimal orchestration is equally gorgeous, suggesting a steady heartbeat, occasionally swelling with emotion. Well look at me with all those pretty words – I feel like I’m getting a bit too flowery here for what is such a simple, beautiful song that you should already be listening to. I mean… this thing is fucking gorgeous, what are you still doing reading this?

Bottom Line: This song practically makes a big mug of hot cocoa for you.

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The Ornaments “Would It Kill You To Kiss Me Under The Mistletoe?” (2023)

Folkmonger Records
Buy: Bandcamp

It wouldn’t be Christmas without The Ornaments. I rather think they would agree… though, time does march on, and all good things do end. Thus, each year when the email comes in, I take a moment to appreciate that this dark tradition continues. The Ornaments‘ tunes are not your normal Christmas songs… they are dark, weird, and interesting. This year’s song, which my wife LOVED the title of, is “Would It Kill You To Kiss Me Under The Mistletoe?.” The song centers on a Mrs. Claus whose marriage is mistletoe-dependent… on a good day. Pair this one with Elliot Manigot’s “The Ballad of Mrs. Claus,” and the strained, yet devoted wife of Santa, and you’ve got two sides of the Claus coin. Needless to say, since it is an Ornaments song, Mrs. Claus is in a bad place. Hell, the song ends with this: “i’m not sure i can be mrs. claus anymore.” Santa, get your shit together!

Bottom Line: The Ornaments are as old as my son. Thankfully, I am not paying for their college… but I’m happy to listen as long as they deem fit.

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Caleb Nichols – So This Is Crimble (2023)

Kill Rock Stars
Buy: Bandcamp

You may recognize poet and singer/songwriter Caleb Nichols from his previous feature on this blog, or perhaps my 2023 Christmas mix, I’m an Igloo, which features his gorgeous 2021 song, “I Fell in Love on Christmas Day.” Well, this year Caleb has packaged up his previous Christmas tunes, including the wonderful, nearly brand new “Christmas, California,” from his 2023 album Let’s Look Back, and added a spectacular new track that is sure to delight many fans of this thing called pop music we all love.

This brand new, exclusive to this release song, as opposed to that old song from way back in October (Christmas, California), is “Crimble Medley.” The title may be a giveaway for hardcore Beatles fans (my son may know about this – he is in bed though!), but this term is apparently Beatle-ese for Christmas, coined on one of their fan club 45’s many a moon ago. I’m going to defer to Caleb’s description, as this song is packed full of Beatley goodies:

“…a late entry into the crowded Christmas music field with “Crimble Medley” — a 4-minute John Fahey-esque folk tune that seamlessly blends holiday offerings from the Beatles solo catalogs, all set to the musical base of the bands’ unreleased, fans-only track “Christmas Time Is Here Again.” Songs from all four Beatles are included in the Americana-twinged medley, including “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, “Ding Dong Ding Dong” by George Harrision, “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney, and the Ringo Starr/George Harrision penned “Photograph”.”

Wrapped in a tight 4:13, Caleb packs a whole ton of seamless Beatle fun into this song. I’m sure it is going to be a favorite for the next few days… then again starting next September for you crazy folks (like me), and perhaps July for our southern hemisphere friends. Ah hell, if Caleb can put incredible Christmas songs on his “normal releases,” we all should work incredible Christmas songs into our “normal listening.” Justification found!

Bottom Line: What a lovely Crimble gift for us all.

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Kristian Noel Pedersen – Christmas Around Town! (AKKCXV)(2023)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

T Swift has us all talking in eras lately, and I am not immune to the culture – so here we go. Kristian Noel Pedersen began his Saul McCartney era last year, with the stellar Saul McCartney’s Magical Holiday Season (AKKCXIV). The Evermore to that Folklore, KNP has gifted us with an unexpected and glorious follow-up, Christmas Around Town!. For those unfamiliar with the concept of these records, they are an imagined collaboration between KNP and imaginary 60’s pop icon Saul McCartney. This year’s record features an increasingly strained relationship between the two, as the voicemail messages from an annoyed Saul McCartney provide the delightful framework for some of KNP’s best work. From the wonderfully amusing “Waiting for Christmas” with its gorgeous guitar work, to the clever Polar Express-inspired “Dear Santa,” and the beautiful horns on the inspired “Hallmark Holiday,” there is so much to love here. Just press play and attempt to pick your favorite, I dare you.

Challenge accepted! The highlight for me has to be the two sides of “City Streets, Holiday Road.” I loved the amusing lead-in by Saul McCartney, threatening KNP not to make his song sound like “Morrissey-ass 80’s British beeeeep,” nearly as much as that absolutely perfect, Morrissey-ass 80’s British version of the song that of course, KNP makes. This song is some of KNP’s best writing to date – the nostalgia, the memories, while not becoming terribly sad… walking that razor’s edge of happiness and sadness that leaves me wholly impressed. “The city streets / echo the places that we go. / The memories / of playing outside in the snow / And you’re still there / Still see you underneath the lights / Your auburn hair / even if you’re not there anymore.” That’s just a small selection – the whole song has plenty of gorgeous lines. However, what I did not expect is to find myself wondering whether I would put KNP’s “City Streets, Holiday Road,” or the flip side to this track, the version of the song that ends the record, sung by Saul McCartney (aka the incredible Harlan Guthrie). This 60’s pop-crooner version is so warm and delightful, as Saul sings in conversation with these perfect trumpet melodies, so damn gorgeous that I became incredibly conflicted. That first section of the song is so impeccably produced, I found myself amazed it was new, and hadn’t existed for decades; It just FEELS like it should have. KNP has cracked the code for creating a lovable, believable fictional singer/band within another piece of art, a feat hard to explain other than by pointing to other successes like The Oneders in “That Thing You Do,” or Stillwater in “Almost Famous.” There is a quality to this character that makes you want to know more. Truly incredible.

Bottom Line: I feel some magic here… I hear the bells once again. Thanks Kristian.

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Aux Caroling – New Carols for the New Canon (2023)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

How is it that folks put out these weird, fun little Christmas projects… and don’t find my fun, weird little Christmas website? Who knows… maybe Aux Caroling (aka Scott Deaver) has been caught in the spam filter, both literally and the malfunctioning one that is my attention span. Harking (the seasonal form of hailing, obvs) from North Carolina, Aux Caroling has released a whole mess of Christmas tunes in the past two years, a full album last year (Holly, Jolly, Melancholy), and an odd, wonderful EP this year. The EP starts off with “Bulls vs. Lakers, Christmas 2011,” a song largely about a basketball game. It puts you in his living room… talking about Derrick Rose, eating leftover pizza, calling his brother. But there are lines that hint at something deeper than just watching a game, “The future it holds, what nobody knows, then a floater from Rose.” That is some kind of beautiful in a way I wasn’t expecting.

The second track, the hilariously-titled, “Michael Clayton is a Christmas Movie, 2021-Present,” appears to be a response track to his 2022 song, “Is Michael Clayton a Christmas Move?” – which I’m just smiling about as a whole concept for a song. Perhaps Christmas a Go Go will need a Michael Clayton theme post sometime soon!

The final song, “Playstation 2, Christmas Early 2000s,” is using the gift of a Playstation 2 as a way to talk about a relationship with these incredibly clever lines like, “Memories on our memory card ranged not great to barely good.” Once more, I find myself feeling like I’m listening to an Elliott Smith alternate-timeline Christmas record… and I pop on to Aux Caroling’s Instagram and see a post of a hand clutching 3 copies of Elliott’s self titled record. So, while I may have suggested in an earlier post about being crazy… It appears I might have some sense left.

Bottom Line: These short, clever songs are deceptively impressive.

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Big Society “December, forever” (2023)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

Manchester’s Big Society is becoming one of those bands you must watch when December rolls around. With three Christmas releases since 2020, they haven’t put out a dud yet. I somehow missed “On a Winter’s Night” last year, but with the last few days of Christmas deluge, I have to cut myself a break. Thankfully, this year’s glorious new track, “December, forever,” dropped early enough to be featured on my 2023 mix, I’m an Igloo. What do I like about it? It sounds warm and lovely, despite the complicated feelings that run through the song. To think they achieved this as a live take (in their custom-built shipping container studio) is pretty crazy. Yes, some drums and backing vocals were added later, but truly impressive. Is that a banjo? Am I crazy? I think I am. I am. That is a guitar right? Ah hell, I just love it. This is why I don’t get paid to do this – I’m not a reliable source of useful information.

Bottom Line: Big Society with another stone-cold mixworthy tune. Sales benefit The Boothe Center in Manchester, a charity that provides services for the homeless. Open up those wallets folks.

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Litany “Die Hard (Is a Christmas Film)” (2022)

Self Released
Buy: Apple Music | Amazon MP3 | Amazon.uk MP3 | Amazon.de MP3 | Amazon.fr MP3

Back in 2020, Christmas a Go Go highlighted the vast amount of Christmas songs that tackle the subject of whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie or not. CAGG even updated the post last year to reflect new additions to the canon (still dated 2020 though!). I thought one of the songs on that massive list deserved a little bit more attention – and here we are. Litany is an alternative pop artist from England (and just signed to Nettwerk as of this week) whose 2022′ “Die Hard (Is a Christmas Film)” with an earworm chorus that will torment you for the rest of the holiday season. It is a fun torment though… strolling down the street singing “yippee, ki yay motherfucker.”

Bottom Line: A new addition to the top tier of Die Hard/Christmas classics.

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Duz Mancini “Christmas Special” (2023)

Lolipop Records
Buy: 7Digital (FLAC) | Apple Music | Amazon MP3 | Amazon.uk MP3 | Amazon.de MP3 | Amazon.fr MP3

Los Angeles’ Lolipop Records are ALWAYS a good source for excellent indiepop/rock Christmas singles, having dropped excellent tracks by Jacklen Ro (I can’t believe I missed the cover of “Happy Christmas (The War is Over)” from 2021 – though it is streaming only) and Lost Cat in previous years. This year they are releasing an excellent new track from New Orleans/Los Angeles/Nashville’s (lots of places appear to claim him) Duz Mancini. “Christmas Special” is that kind of laid-back alt.country that pairs well with a cold drink. The lyrics are simple and clever, and the attitude and vibe has me RIYL Dougie Poole… This one is mixworthy, and you may hear it soon enough on mine.

Bottom Line: Wait for the music to really kick in. You’re going to love it. “When the lights turn bluuuueeee……”

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PHONY (featuring Ratboys) “Christmas Eve Day”, “Wedding and Funeral Family” (2022)

PHONY Industries
Buy: Bandcamp

Have you ever wondered what an Elliott Smith Christmas song might sound like? I say this, and realize that you could make a case for adding “Junk Bond Trader,” “King’s Crossing” or “Angel in the Snow,” should you be so inclined, I suppose… Well. Where do I go with this review other than saying, “Christmas Eve Day” by PHONY (the solo project of Neil Berthier, guitarist for Joyce Manor, ex-Donovan Wolfington) sure sounds like a great Elliott Smith Christmas-adjacent song. This song shares the same beautiful, haunting qualities I’ve always loved from Elliott, though best compared to his earlier, less-ornate work. The finger picking, the harmony provided by the excellent Julia Steiner from Ratboys, even the quality of Neil’s voice – I can’t shake that feeling I’m listening to a ghost when I close my eyes. That second verse is particularly vivid, especially with that repeated line at the end.

parliaments torched to the filter
on an empty stomach
christmas eve day
it had poured rain 
for the first time in ages
took my demons outside of their cages
i thought about you
and how there was
just no way to solve it
success and failure 
sound the same
a sweet evil silence
a sweet evil silence

I don’t mean to only talk about comparisons with this review. I just can’t shake them. I do believe that PHONY made something quite beautiful here, and just like an Elliott Smith record, the unflinching introspection does put you in a particular kind of space. Do you like that space? I own every Elliott Smith record, so I sure do, but I know many (my wife included) who do not. But not every song here is for everyone, but every song is surely for someone.

For folks who are on board for PHONY from that first track, “Wedding & Funeral Family,” also has some pretty explicit Christmas imagery, and Neil shakes the Elliott Smith vibe of “Christmas Eve Day” for more of an emo vibe. And yes, there are many flavors of emo, and that is a term that some folks avoid, but the song is worth it.

always on a weekday
come up with something more
than christmas cards i couldn’t save
wish you had
your cardboard box of ornaments 
i could help you hang them at 4 pm
just get out the white wine
put on some elvis to remind me of some better time
when all the lights would flash more than red and yellow
we get together but don’t seem to say hello

Did you think the first song was heavy? “Wedding & Funeral Family” takes the emotion to a new level. The record was written after Neil’s father passed from dementia, and I find this song so personal that it feels like an invasion of privacy, like I’m peering through a crack in the door. Again, I find these things interesting and beautiful – and I grant it may not be quite what your mix is looking for, but it might be what you need someday.

Bottom Line: I’ve been creeping on your Bandcamp purchases, and am quite pleased to discover this song, this band, and the Ratboys connection makes it even sweeter. These are deeply lovely and emotional songs for the kind of person that needs a hit of this on occasion.