Nat King Cole “The Christmas Song”

I don’t mind holiday music–you know, that stuff that starts playing the day after Halloween–as much as I used to.

Last year, and in years recently past, I would’ve turned shades of red to hear holiday music THROUGHOUT November and December. But for some reason this year, I don’t mind so much.

As with all music, there are some songs and genres that bug me. And I’m not big on the spirituality that’s supposed to be the core of the holiday season. But overall, I really do enjoy some songs. They’re inextricably linked to childhood and snow and presents and all those wonderful things, and it’s okay to binge on glad tidings once a year.

If I can keep the consumerist engine of the modern holiday season from derailing those little happy bits, then I’m quite pleased to hear Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song”, and maybe even Jose Feliciano’s “Faliz Navidad” (but please, once is enough).

Nat King Cole “The Christmas Song (1961 Version)”

Songjackers: A Fan Tribute

I’ve always been a big fan of fan tributes, particularly ones with in which I’m involved. I’m cross-posting from The Rock Hard Times to share Songjackers, a double tribute album from the Eels fan community. I wrote and helped design the liner notes.

Download Songjackers: A Fan Tribute here. And read more about it at Rocking Eels.

Mama Cass “Make Your Own Kind Of Music”

Mama Cass (Cass Elliot) was not felled by a ham sandwich, okay?

The Left Banke

There are a few Left Banke songs I like more than “Walk Away, Renee”, but few are as piercing. I’ve known the song for the better part of two decades now, and only until about a month ago did any of the lyrics make the least bit of sense.

Ally Craig “Get What You Pays For”

Mr. Ally Craig of Oxford, England, was lucky enough to meet me through a mutual affinity for the music of the Eels. And consequently, a couple of years later, I was lucky enough to hear this uncommonly unassuming gentleman’s own uncommonly, fretfully (frightfully?) good music.

Jude Universer “Lingering Blue”

Jude Universer (AKA the Demon Beat’s Jordan Hudkins) mugged Rivers Cuomo. He got some spare change, an Almond Joy and Cuomo’s potential.

The Demon Beat “Shit, We’re 23″

Everything on Shit, We’re 23, the third release from Shephersdtown’s the Demon Beat, is so deliberate. And that is absolutely the essential quality for a timeless album. 

The Lemon Pipers

The Lemon Pipers were a fairly hard-edged sorta-psychedelic band from Oxford, Ohio. And when they weren’t blow your mind, they were a slightly dazed, folky band of the Lovin’ Spoonful variety. Suffice to say, they had ambition and vision, and they there’s a good reason we still hear them on the radio today.

Tom Waits “Live Circus”

Tom Waits is an amazing encyclopedia of weird Americana. Sheer unparalleled creepiness dribbles from nearly everything he records. And it’s all strangely familiar.

BBR

I’ve been remiss in keeping up with new releases from Big Bullet Records (I’ve been watching a lot of Star Trek: Voyager and sorting and re-sorting my record collection), so I hope these drive-by reviews will get me back up to speed.