Tag: indie rock

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Dean Wareham – The Lagniappe Sessions (2014)

Dean Wareham "The Lagniappe Sessions"

Aquarium Drunkard
Buy: Free!

Aquarium Drunkard & Dean Wareham gave us an early Christmas present yesterday with two seasonal tracks. Dean Wareham, of course, is of Galaxie 500 / Luna / Dean & Britta, and most recently released his self-titled solo record. For those just getting into this Christmas mixin’ hobby, there’s some great holiday stuff out there from his past – such as Luna’s “Egg Nog” and Dean & Britta’s holiday 7-inch, He’s Coming Home.

Dean covers of Eddy Arnold’s “Christmas Can’t Be Far Away,” and this an inspired choice, for both his voice and for his lovely instrumentation. His cover of “Stille Nacht” has two verses in the original German, and a third cribbed from a rewritten verse by The Only Ones. He also brings Britta in on some background vocals, which is always appreciated. Dean makes interesting choices here, and the result is an excellent alternate version of this ol’ chestnut to fill out your mix.

Bottom Line: I’m quite happy to have Dean back in the (sleigh) driver’s seat. 4.6/5

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Delicious Clam Records presents Delicious Christmas (2014)

Delicious Clam Christmas

Delicious Clam Records
Buy: Bandcamp

Delicious Clam Records‘ first release is Delicious Christmas, a 6-track (largely) Christmas compilation benefitting the Sheffield homeless teenager charity Roundabout.

Best Friends totally knocked it out of the park last year with their original, “When Christmas Comes.” Hopefully starting a tradition that will continue for many more years, they offer yet another Christmas song, a cover of Macca’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” Yes, I know. Truly awful song. So, what does one do with a turd, but dress it up in new clothes and make you believe that its a Baby Ruth. Best Friends have succeeded in convincing me that I just stepped in chocolate – I dig it. They have an attitude that exudes from their music that I enjoy enough for me to probably like a version of Little Drummer Boy, should they attempt that awful song. 

Pjaro’s cover of East 17’s “Stay Another Day” isn’t really a Christmas cover… it’s a Christmas #1 cover. So… I’m not really going to talk about it.

Radical Boy‘s cover of Shakin’ Stevens’ “Merry Christmas Everyone” mixes it up enough with a punk rock edge. To start, I do dig this song – and they do make it their own. I would have done without the hardcore cookie monster growl at the end… for me, it makes the song funny, and I suppose I wasn’t looking for funny.

Pet Rock‘s cover of “Walking in the Air” from The Snowman is one of the more rocking versions I’ve heard. I wasn’t expecting to hear any crunchy guitars on this track, and there they were. Certainly the only version of “Walking in the Air” that you might want to put on a more rocking-out Christmas mix.

“Have a Very Misfits Christmas” is a deceptive title for a cover of “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Its a solid, punk rock version of the oft-covered classic. The only thing holding it down is the fact that so many people cover this song.

Avida Dollars‘ “I Am The Christmas Ghost” is the only original on this release, and it is quite an interesting tune. What other Christmas song do you know that has “hide all your nazi gold” in the lyrics. It starts slow, then turns into an old school Oi! punk/hardcore song. I wish I could make out more of the lyrics, because what I can make out has me intruiged.

Bottom Line: For a punk rock Christmas release, pretty damn strong. It’s only £2 and benefits homeless kids – I’d say that’s a bargain. 4.2/5

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Small Reactions “Santa Claus” (2014)

Small Reactions "Happy Christmas to Y'all"

Deer Bear Wolf Records
Buy: Cassette | Bandcamp

Small Reactions are a garage/indie rock band from Athens, Georgia, who happen to also share members with the excellent Slumberland band Gold-Bears. In November 2013, they recorded a 5-track cassette in the band’s basement, which the version of The Sonics “Santa Claus” comes from. The reverb-drenched vocals huddle next to the rocking organ in this faithful, fun & dirty cover. I can’t wait to hear what the other tracks sound like.

Merry Christmas to Y’all tracklist:

1. “Santa Claus” (the Sonics)
2. “Run Rudolph, Run” (Chuck Berry)
3. “Christmas Spirit” (the Wailers)
4. “Don’t Believe In Christmas” (the Sonics)
5. “Dancin’ With Santa” (the Trashmen)

These Merry Chistmas to Y’all cassettes have begun popping up in various places in the Atlanta area, gift wrapped and gratis. However, for those of us who cannot travel a couple hundred miles to hunt one out can pick one up on their Bandcamp page. Hot tip, (likely for a limited time) if you purchase a CD/LP, you get the cassette for free!

Bottom Line: Excellent version of an excellent song. Can’t wait to hear the rest. 4.6/5

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Sol Cat w/ Kansas Bible Company “This Christmas” (2014)

Sol Cat "This Christmas"

Self Released
Buy: Stream

Nashville’s Sol Cat got together with the Kansas Bible Company, and what came of this unholy union? Why a funky cover of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” of course! Sol Cat plays danceable indie rock, and the Kansas Bible Company looks to be about 15 members… whose critical mass and horn section undoubtably took this song to the next level. So, turn your speakers up, and close your office door. We’re getting funky.

Bottom Line: Shaved a few off because there is no download – but the fighting the funk is tough. 4.6/5

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Charlie’s Hand Movements “Baubles” (2014)

Charlies Hand Movement " Baubles"

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp | Bandcamp | Bandcamp

Wow. What a find. Charlie’s Hand Movements are Adam Gardner and Lance M Keelbe, two gents from Benfleet, England, and they have just released their second Christmas song in as many years. Now that you are introduced, I must say, “Baubles” is really beautiful. “I was your bauble / hanging from a tree / wrap me in tinsel / make me believe.” Some nice turns of phrase, some beautiful music, and excellent vocals to round out the package to make “Baubles” quite spectacular. “If we fall, we’ll shatter / but it don’t matter at all.” I love that lyric. Each listen gets better… and it’s free! So what are you waiting for??

Bottom Line: Love it. Great song, free download. I am pleased as punch. What a day of great Christmas songs. 5/5

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(EDIT) – they took down their own page for this song, so here is an embed of the Dismas compilation that it also appeared on, or even better – download all their songs from 2014-2018 on one handy album!

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The Crookes “You’re Just Like Christmas” (2014)

The Crookes "You're Just Like Christmas"

Fierce Panda | Modern Outsider Records
Buy: 7Digital (FLAC/MP3) | Amazon MP3 |Amazon.uk MP3 | Amazon.de MP3 | Amazon.fr MP3

The Crookes are back with another festive treat. Previously releasing an extremely limited (50 copies) 3-track Christmas single in 2009, their 5-year festive hiatus was well worth the wait. I really love the whole vibe of the song – the lyrics, the melody, hell, even the video. There is just something jovial and romantic about it. It is only being released digitally, and one would hope, via their Bandcamp at some point, fingers crossed.

Hey, quick thought, anybody have that 3-track “It’s Just Not Christmas Without You” CD? Care to share? I know where to find the title song, but beyond that… would love to hear it.

Bottom Line: Perfect. I wouldn’t change a thing. 5/5

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Christmas Aguilera “Santa’s Car” (2014)

Christmas Aguilera "Santa's Car"

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

It is no secret that I absolutely love Christmas Aguilera. So… I keep in touch and annoyingly e-mail them each year, wondering if they are doing a new Christmas song. Therefore, I knew a song was coming, and think it’s well worth the wait. CA always takes a different tack when it comes to writing Christmas songs, and I greatly appreciate that. A tale is spun of Santa experiencing massive budget cuts, with Christmas spirit in steep decline. Yet he persists, and there’s a sweetness to the melody that lifts it from its dreary premise towards that glimmer of hope. As always, this song benefits their local homeless charity in East London – so you have no reason not to buy this song. Well done, Christmas Aguilera.

In a somewhat related matter, you should also check out Hero and Leander. Just cuz. Not that they might be part of this mysterious Christmas Aguilera band… Did Steve tell you that? That Steve…

Bottom Line: I never know what to expect, and this more subdued tune is yet another piece in a beautiful puzzle. 4.8/5

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Broken Records “My Beer Drunk Soul is Sadder Than All the Dead Christmas Trees in the World” (2014)

Broken Records Christmas

Self Released
Buy: Free!

It is a day of Scots I tell ya! Edinburgh’s Broken Records have recorded an original tune to be (no doubt) played at the Christmas Songwriters’ Club concert in Edinburgh on December 20th. I hope that all the participants release their songs – that would be amazing!! When I saw the title, I thought it might be a Joy Formidable cover, but it does appear to be a straight-up original. I love the swelling brass, the driving beat, and this vocalist is f*ing fantastic. Listen, listen, LISTEN (to both this song, and their others too. Just let the Soundcloud feed rolllllll).

Bottom Line: This is a rock solid addition to my mix in 2015, and top ten I’ve heard this year no doubt. 5/5

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Nieves “Cure (Christmas Song)” (2014)

Nieves Christmas

Self Released
Buy: Free!

I love a good Scottish brogue in my Christmas songs, as those who may have ever listened to a mix of mine, or listened to my non-Christmas music collection. Nieves already had a leg up coming into this, hailing from Glasgow, and then I heard their song. It begins with, “There is no Christmas / There are no bells,” and continues from there. “What have we to be grateful for? / This year has been a bastard / 12 months, crawling on the floor.” This shit is DARK. And of course, I love it.

Bottom Line: Scottish, dark and free. 4.7/5

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Dent May “I’ll Be Stoned for Christmas” (2014)

Dent May "I'll Be Stoned for Christmas"

Self Released
Buy: Stream

Brooklyn Vegan made me a very happy today. Today at 4:20, Dent May released a new Christmas song, equally as good as his earlier effort, “Holiday Face.” “I’ll Be Stoned for Christmas” is a glorious pop song about, you guessed it, getting stoned on Christmas. The song was good enough to snap me out of my stupor and tell you about it. “Got an angel on my tree top, and a devil in my mind.”

Bottom Line: Dent May can write a great pop song about anything. Perhaps a legit download somewhere? 4.8/5