Tag: 4+

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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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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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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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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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Karakou “Tyst faller snön” (2013/2023)

Ninetone
Buy: Apple Music | Amazon MP3 | Amazon.uk MP3 | Amazon.de MP3 | Amazon.fr MP3

Sweden’s Karakou came into my life last night, and I’ve been doing my best to get to know them better in the past few hours. A hefty bit of Google translate and this particularly good interview from 2019 have given me a glimpse into this excellent band’s world. This world happens to include a Christmas-adjacet song, “Tyst faller snön (Silently the Snow Falls)” which was originally released, unmixed and from their archive in 2013, then again in 2018, finally being lovingly re-mixed with four new versions here in 2023. The song is quite melancholy, as you could likley discern just from the vibe with no knowledge of the lyrics. However, for convenience’s sake, here are the lyrics, run through Google Translate:

We follow things we know nothing about
And you act like those who see no way out
Oh quietly, the snow falls outside our rooms

Silently the snow falls, so we fall
Like a dream

We talk about how everything actually goes
And say sorry before we hang up
Oh quietly the snow falls
Outside our rooms

Silently the snow falls, so we fall, like a dream
We follow things we know nothing about
And how would we have known how everything would turn out?

The snow falls quietly
The snow falls quietly
Silently the snow falls, tearing up everything we hid
Oh quietly the snow falls, so we fall

Karakou’s initial intention was to release this song when Sweden was bathed in the orange glow of streetlights reflecting off the snow… and wow… just close your eyes and visualize that scene. Cinematic, beautiful, and somehow warm.

When I see the term “remix,” I’m never excited. Growing up, that meant that someone made a dance version of a song that shouldn’t be a club song. However, these four remixes aren’t trying to strongarm the song into something it is not. These versions essentially let you choose your own favorite flavor, which each having their own unique, delcious notes. I may be partial to the Frengen remix currently… or maybe the Einestad remix… Shoot… Please help me decide.

Bottom Line: I’d imagine some folks are going to be walking around singing Swedish this year while their friends and family curiously look on.

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Idaho Green “Christmas Toonite” (2022)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (NYOP)

I get contacted by a lot of bands and PR folks, and I’d say about 97% of them have never visited this silly site before. When I hear from someone, and indeed, they seem to have a grasp of what this site is about… well… it puts me in a very good mood. This site exists both to help you make your Christmas mix… and to help ME make MY Christmas mix. Thus when I received a nice note from Idaho Green, a band that claims both Brooklyn and Huntley Project, Montana as their home, hipping me to a fantastic indie rock/spud punk (ha!) Christmas song of theirs, I simply responded with “Yes. You are my jam.” The result of a bit of extra studio time, a few loose riffs and a silly chorus, their 2022 Christmas single, “Christmas Toonite,” shines with crunchy, dirty guitars, a bit of swearing, and a relaxed swagger not often found on a Christmas song. The song begins with a bit about being stuck in Montana during a snowstorm, but quickly pivots into one of the happiest, upbeat Christmas songs you could ever want. The song is downright joyful. So spread some joy, throw a buck at this song, and add it to your life.

Bottom Line: I sometimes struggle to find wonderful, upbeat Christmas songs… so when a song like “Christmas Toonite” comes to you, close your eyes, smile and say, “Yes. You are my jam.”

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Wake Up and Smell the Sun – The Pedestrian Chronicles Part 2 (2023)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (FREE)

I was talking with a Christmas music friend the other day (Hi Larry!) and found myself expressing that I don’t feel like I am a very good music critic. I don’t know the ins and the outs of production or music theory, nor can I often put a finger on the influences that have shaped a band or a song. I’ve encountered other folks in this world who are a bottomless well of knowledge (Stubby), and I’m amazed. However, that is most certainly not me. Then how do I find my way in to talk about a song or record? Well, I talk about my feelings an awful lot. So, when I get sent a new Wake Up and Smell the Sun song… I get equal parts excited and worried. First off, John Murray, the man behind this WUaStS project creates some of the most interesting Christmas music I have ever encountered… thus it is always a pleasure to see what he has cooked up. However… I find myself struggling to do justice, to express how interesting and important I think his songs are. So, in a wildly appropriate start to this review, I begin with an apology to the reader, and to John, for its pedestrian nature. —- I wrote that sentence without even thinking about the title of the release… woah 🙂

The new single by Wake Up and Smell the Sun, The Pedestrian Chronicles Part 2, is a pair of tracks that I wasn’t quite sure I’d ever hear. John had emptied the vaults at the end of last year with Soft Angelic Jams, a 7-song collection billed as a “final collection” of Christmas songs, released on Dec. 21… at the beginning of my own burnout phase. Regretfully, I have yet to review it, but I don’t have rules for this site and I feel like John would crack a smile if I reviewed it in April sometime.

As the new year began, John began releasing his music within the construct of The Pedestrian Chronicles – not as a record or as singles, just as a continual recording project. With this drop, we get Chapters 5 & 6, two Christmas songs that despite John’s insistence that he must break with the holiday, have found life within the new, continually expanding recording project. John mentioned the existence of “Chapter 5: Jingle Humming” to me last year, and I feel so fortunate that he decided to finish it. “Jingle Humming” is one of those songs that checks so many boxes for me – a melancholy political Christmas song dressed in incredibly clever lyrics and a soaring chorus. That last verse is a killer:

I lit candles for forgiveness. Prayed novenas in my room…
…for the feast of silver linings and the politics of doom. (THIS LINE- wow)
It’s still no near to ever ending. Dim lit blissfulness is trending.
It’s the Christmas that you wanted.
All your consciences are haunted…
…by the energy you’re spending…
…on the partisan positions you’re defending.

As with any Wake Up and Smell the Sun release, you may struggle to pick a favorite… but let me release you from the worry. You can love them, and you don’t have to rank them. They will love you back, in their own unique way. “Chapter 6: The Anvil and the Angel” has a completely different vibe. While Chapter 5 was recorded, engineered, and produced by the wonderful team of Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey at the Miner Street Recording Studio (which is often the home of WUaStS releases), Chapter 6 was self-recorded and produced by John. The song is a series of posed questions, their repetition suggestive of a mantra of someone working through how they feel about Christmas. It is the kind of song that I’d imagine hits differently now than it would a few weeks later, in the thick of the holiday, with all of its emotional baggage.

Wake Up and Smell the Sun records are often low-key chock-full of Philadelphia-area indie rock luminaries. On Chapter 5, you’ll find Patrick Berkery, who has played with War on Drugs, Strand of Oaks, the Bigger Lovers, Danielson, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, etc, etc, on drums and bells. You’ll also hear Robbie Bennett of the War on Drugs – he plays the piano and organ. I love the way that John describes Robbie’s contribution: “Robbie just sprays his keys all over, lifting, riding, and tapping into the rhythms and melodies. It always works.” You’ll also hear Art Difuria, formerly of Lilys and currently and always of the Photon Band, on both Chapters 5 & 6, adding background vocals and guitar. John’s got some serious partners in crime here, as he often does.

These songs are why this blog exists. Holiday music shouldn’t be relegated to celebrating the latest worked-over Christmas cover when there are songs like this, waiting to be discovered, headphones on, nodding your head, and smiling with every beautiful, surprising, clever, touching line.

I leave you with a short paragraph that John sent over, which I do believe captures his work perfectly:

I don’t write candy pop songs for the Christmas Card Committee and I don’t send family pictures to my friends. My songs are not sing-song, feel good, jingles and they’re not soaring springs of praise. Whatever a guitar and a microphone gives me, that’s what I get. Rejoice in the melancholy people! It’s all around. See it. Smile at it. Laugh at it. Wish it well. Screw it, like a volunteer.

Bottom Line: Wake Up and Smell the Sun have created a body of work that is some of the most beautiful, fascinating, clever Christmas music I have ever heard. Go listen.

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Everett Darling “Pictures 1-3” (2021)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

There will be those days that I throw big ol’ softballs – songs that I’ve already, in one way or another, expressed my love for previously. In this case, Everett Darling’s “Pictures 1-3” was featured on last year’s mix, but never featured on this site. Today, we remedy that. Everett Darling was the primary songwriter and singer of the excellent German indiepop band Skiing, who have featured prominently on this blog in the past. There are two tracks on his first solo record, Winter, that could be considered Christmas-adjacent. “Pictures 1-3” is obviously one, as well as the instrumental, “Tinsel,” but I’ll leave that to you to hunt down. “Pictures 1-3” is a beautiful song about Everett’s father and the Christmas tree he bought in his last year of life. He cycles through 3 photos of him, describing each one, with the Christmas tree remaining in the background… stuck on demo mode and cycling through its programmed display settings. The song’s stripped-down, 2 guitars and vocals approach, conveys a warmth that I am struggling to describe… Truly touching, absolutely gorgeous, and highly recommended.

Bottom Line: I learned my lesson in 2021 when I originally missed this release… check in with Everett every year just in case… he is just so damn talented.

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