Tag: UK

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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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Vom Vorton “One Turkey Sandwich” (2023)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (NYOP)

In response to the excellent song posted over on Christmas A Gogo today (Pen Pin’s “Office Party”), I have decided to hip you all to another excellent office party-themed Christmas song! What can I say, I want to join the party and the peer pressure is intense… The A-side to Vom Vorton’s new Christmas single (also the titular track) is the excellent “One Turkey Sandwich,” which follows the narrator’s bad decision-making at an office Christmas party. He begins by being quite sensible, as he has just started working there. Well, the night goes on and the drinking increases, and some poor decisions are made… though it doesn’t get too unbelievable to not be relatable. Simply a clever, very well executed song that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Bottom Line: Well that was a rather quick and sensible review. It’s early, and I don’t want to make a scene. Great song! Mixworthy!

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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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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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A Very Cherry Christmas 17 (2023)

Cherryade Records
Buy: Bandcamp

Weirdo, underground Christmas music is a labor of love. Believe me, our community is quite small… small, but dedicated. It would make sense that one of the biggest flagbearers for this scene is a small compilation, released by Cherryade Records and lovingly assembled by Gareth Jones of Dandelion Radio, for 200 lucky collectors each year. This is the 17th year of the A Very Cherry Christmas series, a CD-only compilation that collects underground bands from France, America, England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Canada, and Japan this year. There are 16 brand-new tracks recorded for this release, as well as 9 more that have never had a physical release. Highlights for me include the punk-infused “Keep Your Christmas Tree for Burning” from perennial Christmas superstars Goddammit Jeremiah, the indie-rock fuzzy fun of “Christmas Number One” from Problem Patterns, and the percussive “I’m Not Coming Home for Christmastime” by The Photocopies. There is a lot more to dig into on this record, from surf Christmas by The Surfisticats (“Santa Bring Me a Surfboard Please”), the glitchy, electro-infused indiepop of ToyDisco (“A Gameboy for Christmas ’96”), to the oddly-touching emotional comedy of Canadians in Space (“Peace & Gravy”), there is something here for everyone. I wish I could do it justice and highlight every single band, but I don’t want to set any unattainable precedents here. All that said – keep that flag flying Cherryade, I’m here for you.

Bottom Line: It comes out today, so best of luck being one of the lucky 200. Especially if you live in the States (as I do), you best jump on this, as Europe has had the jump on you.

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Collars “Christmas In The 90s” (2022)

Laundry Rooms Records
Buy: Bandcamp

I have this feeling that someone sent me this song last year… and I just can’t remember who. It was on my Soundcloud list last year, and somehow I didn’t write about it, and I have no clue why. My best guess is that I added it without really listening to it, which in the heat of the season… well… it happens. A well-meaning, “save something to listen to later,” kind of gesture. Well, if you tipped me off on this, and I have plum forgot, I apologize.

NOW, how about this very British bop about “Christmas in the 90s!” (Look at me using bop…) Hidden towards the end of a proper, non-Christmas record, 2022’s Clyde, Collars are really channeling the Britpop wars (well, the war between the Gallagher brothers), the Hacienda, raves, and gentrification. Wrap that up with a catchy-as-hell beat and that wonderful layered ending… this one is bound to be a popular mix-addition.

Bottom Line: This song is a ton of fun. Pair it with The Futureheads’ “Christmas in the 80’s” to begin a tracklist of decade-specific holiday fare!

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Hotel Lux “The Carvery” (2022)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp

Portsmouth, England’s Hotel Lux dropped a nice jangly sing-along Christmas cracker last year, and like many things in life… I missed it. The song is very English, with some references to Nigella (which I assume to be English chef and writer Nigella Lawson) that may be lost on us stateside, and a sing-along chorus purpose-built for shouting out down at the pub. Hotel Lux’s lead singer, Lewis Duffin, excels in the milieu of talk-singing post-punk (e.g. Art Brut), and this song does perhaps highlight that he’s not going on The Voice anytime soon. But fuck, neither am I. The character of his voice is what matters, and the creaks in those boards aren’t a bug, but a feature, as I detest perfection. The song came together quickly with what I have gleaned was some gratis studio time for a charitable purpose (Shelter, a UK homelessness charity), and you can actually see the process in one of the videos posted below. It is rather fun to watch the song come together. Hopefully, they’ll grab some more time to record another this year, as this is actually their second Christmas single, following 2019’s “Stop the Calvary.” Lean into this guys, I’m here for it.

Bottom Line: A solid pub singalong that gets better with subsequent listens.

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Bag of Cans “Sorry Mum that I Was Hungover This Christmas” (2023)

Fierce Panda Records
Buy: Bandcamp | Apple Music | Amazon MP3 | Amazon.uk MP3 | Amazon.de MP3 | Amazon.fr MP3

Just so we are clear, everyone knows that the best Christmas songs come out in March. Right?

Norwich-based Bag of Cans blend of humor and Wave Pictures-esque laid-back instrumentation scratch a rather significant itch that is always so damn itchy. I believe there is a cream for this, but then I wouldn’t be enjoying this song so damn much. Christmas A Gogo has been jamming on it for a bit as well, deeming the song good enough to emerge for a mid-summer post (a rare feat for my seasonally-inclined friend). You really have to sample this track yourself… as it is certainly a contender for mixes this year…

Bottom Line: If a Christmas song makes me RIYL Wave Pictures, be rest assured you are on the right side of history. God Save Bag of Cans!

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Health & Wellbeing – Christmas Demos (2022)

Self Released
Buy: Bandcamp (NYOP)

Who is this mysterious Health & Wellbeing? I can’t find anything on them! Too bad, because I’m jamming to these Christmas Demos and they are quite good. Power/dream/brit pop original Christmas songs. I’m absolutely positive that they are going to be somebody’s favorite from this holiday season. There’s even a little nod to The Rolling Stones in “Take it Easy this Christmas,” and it totally works. These were all recorded in the past 3 weeks, and if these are the demos… look the fuck out for the full versions, because these sound great already.

Bottom Line: Well that was a short, rather shitty review for what are 4 pretty great songs? Well… yeah. But now you know about them at least, even if we know nothing about the band!

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