Tag: jangle pop

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World News “Xmas 101” (2021)

Austerity Records
Buy: Bandcamp | Crazy Limited Cassette

As I furiously try to listen to all that I can, grabbing large compilations for further listening, wishlisting all the singles that I need to come back to… every so often I hit play and gotta pop over here for a quick, dirty, and low-quality review of a great song. You know… feed those content gods.

Stereogum hipped me to this new track from London’s World News, “Xmas 101,” which if you reallllly want to get technical, was released in 2021. It is quite a fun, upbeat song that I’ve found benefits from multiple listens. World News has a flavor of jangle/college radio sound that I would RIYL if you’ve been a fan of Voxtrot, REM, or as The Line of Best Fit aptly tagged, Big Country. So if that is your jam, jam away! I’ll be jamming with you!

Bottom Line: Good times for all!

LISTEN

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Have Yourself a Merry Indie Christmas (Volume IV) (2024)

A Benefit for Crisis
Buy: Bandcamp

Today is the day. The fourth and final (…you never know for suuuuurrre) volume of this magnum opus of alternative Christmas music has dropped with a whopping 65 songs. Amongst these 65 songs, you’ll find many names that I’ve championed on an occasion or two (Whyte Horses, Dark Horses – ha! – The Photocopies, Skiing, Aux Caroling, and many more) – but unless you’ve been reading this silly blog since 2012, you likely haven’t come across many of these songs. If you have been close-reading this blog, you might even take special notice that Applennium’s “Is this Christmas” is on the tracklist. Not only is this a great track for that imaginary shoegaze/dreampop Christmas mix someone out there is making, but this is the first time one could get an actual FLAC of this song. I honestly had forgotten how great that song was.

This record is a fantastic afternoon listen, one that may very well get you in the spirit enough to finally put up your tree, finish your mix, or dig a bit deeper into that band whose song has just made you hit the back button to listen again. For a quick £7/$8.50, you’re that much closer to indie-Christmas nirvana. That, and ALL proceeds go to  Crisis at Christmas, a UK charity supporting people experiencing homelessness. Sounds like an easy call folks.

Bottom Line: If this is the first you’ve heard of this series – there are 4 of them, totaling 208 songs. They are required listening if you are at all interested in this alternative Christmas music. Now go! Listen!

LISTEN

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Autocamper “I’m in a Caravan (and it’s Christmas)” (2024)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (Mini-CD)

I don’t have much time (this is going to be a theme today). Indiepop funtimes with Manchester’s Autocamper. This song cannot (and I believe… will not) be streamed anywhere… so I can’t tell you whether it is good or not… but I’m guessing it is going to be good, because I bought one. NOW, how can you buy & listen to “I’m in a Caravan (and it’s Christmas)?” Well, you have to buy one blind and own a tray or top-loading CD player – don’t try to put them in a vacuum-loading one!!

Edit: Well shoot… I somehow read their listing initially as being released on Minidisc… not a Mini CD. Sorry about that! Sorry for the trouble I’ve caused for the band 😦

Bottom Line: Who knows?!?! I bet it is good!

LISTEN – Here’s what the band sounds like with a non-seasonal song

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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.

LISTEN