OK, so, I realize that Christmas music isn't all tinsel and mistletoe. Sure, we're all looking for that next "White Christmas", that next Phil Spector "Christmas Gift" album, or even that next "Silent Night" by the Dickies. On some level, we all hope to uncover a Christmas record that will stick with us (and our friends and family) for decades to come. This is the ground nearly all of us trod every year. Whether its Idina Menzel or Seth MacFarlane or Mark Kozelek. But part of my job, here, is to steer you to that record that's far, far, far off the beaten path. Something your 24 hour Christmas music station is probably never going to play in a hundred years. A little something unique to make your holiday mixes sparkle. Something to make your listeners sit up, smile, and say (a la Steve Martin on SNL), "What the hell is that?" As it happens, we've got just the thing....or....things.
"Yule Analog, Vol. 1" comes to us from Brooklyn's Super Hi-Fi and features holiday favorites done Reggae Dub style. Yeah, mon! In addition to the horn and riddim rich beats, the tracks are simply drenched in a thick soup of reverb and analog tape delays. The band says the idea started out as a joke, but they soon discovered what many of us have known for decades--Christmas music features some of the best melodies ever written. Highlights on this instrumental offering include the trippy echoes of "We Three Kings", the soaring guitar solos of "Little Drummer Boy" and the genius of the album's one original, "Yule Analog", which is the group's majestic gift to Yule Log watchers. Hard copy CDs are expected November 25, but you can get your dub step on right now with a digital download via CD Baby.
When I grew up, most television stations signed off at one or two in the morning (yes, I'm that old). But there was always that one channel that ran "The Late Show". And then "The Late Late Show". And maybe even "The Late Late Late Show". Late night movies were a staple of my youth. And that's where you'd find, among other things, poorly dubbed Italian movies--mostly comedies. Though the dialog was dubbed, the soundtrack was intact. And that was the reason you watched.
There was just something super groovy about Italian soundtracks. They were magical and whimsical. Think of "The Now Sound" with a sense of self irony and an international twist.
A group of artists (in assorted fields) got together and decided to record a Christmas album true to those Italian soundtracks of the 60s and 70s, "Molto Groovy Christmas". "Molto Groovy Christmas" is sheer genius and you're bound to find something for your holiday mixtape that will make all your family and friends sit up and smile. "Molto Groovy Christmas" arrives November 28...on CD AND vinyl (and digital download, of course).
I'm not going to say anything more just now because I'm hoping to give you a full review in the not too distant future. But, unless you grew up on Italian movies, you wouldn't understand, anyway, without hearing for yourselves. So go now and sample "Molto Groovy Christmas". You'll be glad you did.
There was just something super groovy about Italian soundtracks. They were magical and whimsical. Think of "The Now Sound" with a sense of self irony and an international twist.
A group of artists (in assorted fields) got together and decided to record a Christmas album true to those Italian soundtracks of the 60s and 70s, "Molto Groovy Christmas". "Molto Groovy Christmas" is sheer genius and you're bound to find something for your holiday mixtape that will make all your family and friends sit up and smile. "Molto Groovy Christmas" arrives November 28...on CD AND vinyl (and digital download, of course).
I'm not going to say anything more just now because I'm hoping to give you a full review in the not too distant future. But, unless you grew up on Italian movies, you wouldn't understand, anyway, without hearing for yourselves. So go now and sample "Molto Groovy Christmas". You'll be glad you did.
If you're a genre hopper (and you know who you are), you're going to love Vinnie Zummo's latest, "A Retro Cool Mixed Bag Christmas". It's kind of like taking all your vintage Christmas albums and giving them a generous shuffle. Vinnie's played with just about everybody, but he's best known as Joe Jackson's guitar slinger. Want a little 50s style rock? Yeah, Vinnie's got that. A Patsy Cline-ish rendition of "Blue Christmas"? It's in there. Something Big Band to remind you of Billy May? Sure thing. A little Venture's style surf rock? Order's up for table five. There's even a Zydeco rendition of "All Through The Night"--likely for the first time ever--and it is Super Retro Cool (cause, you know, you never hear that song played any way but Folk). Vinnie is joined by wife Janice on the vocal tracks. The arrangements are awesome, the recording has that "you are there" fifties crispness. And the guitar playing is outta site. And, yes, there are some original tunes here as well.
Hard copy CDs are on the way, but may not arrive at online retailers until mid-December. You can likely get it sooner if you pre-order direct from Vinnie (email him at vazmusic @aol.com for details). Digital downloads of "A Retro Cool Mixed Bag Christmas" are currently available from CD Baby.
Hard copy CDs are on the way, but may not arrive at online retailers until mid-December. You can likely get it sooner if you pre-order direct from Vinnie (email him at vazmusic @aol.com for details). Digital downloads of "A Retro Cool Mixed Bag Christmas" are currently available from CD Baby.
What do you get when you cross Big Band music with cartoon sensibilities? As it turns out, you get a pretty amazing album. Fully adult, but high energy with a sense of whimsy. David Ricard has been Emmy nominated for music he composed for Tom & Jerry, The Pink Panther and other such cartoons. The arrangements are amazing and the playing is magnificent. Ricard's playfulness is evident throughout "Holidays With A Bang"--from "The Merry Mash-up", featuring virtually ever public domain Christmas song in existence, to the fun lyrical rewrite of "Auld Lang Syne" as "We'll Wrap It Up On New Year's Eve". This is the kind of stuff people comb used record stores looking for.
In fact, this is such a super Big Band record, it wouldn't even be in this post of "off the beaten path" selections for your mixtapes if not for one standout track...."God Rest Ye Merry Surfers". "God Rest Ye Merry Surfers" is the successful collision of Big Band, Surf, cartoons...and The Munsters. Even if the rest of the album sucked, that track alone is worth it. And, please note, "Holidays With A Bang" by the David Ricard Big Band does not suck.
Hard copy CDs are available direct from David Ricard and the digital downloads can be had at Amazon or CD Baby.
In fact, this is such a super Big Band record, it wouldn't even be in this post of "off the beaten path" selections for your mixtapes if not for one standout track...."God Rest Ye Merry Surfers". "God Rest Ye Merry Surfers" is the successful collision of Big Band, Surf, cartoons...and The Munsters. Even if the rest of the album sucked, that track alone is worth it. And, please note, "Holidays With A Bang" by the David Ricard Big Band does not suck.
Hard copy CDs are available direct from David Ricard and the digital downloads can be had at Amazon or CD Baby.
Now for something.....completely....different. An experimental artist who goes by the name of Poundskin has released (frankly, I think it escaped) an album for the holidays, "Past Christmases Were Once The Present". I have to admit.......I don't get it. Then again, I didn't get the movie "Eraserhead", either, and lots of people thought that was genius. Every once in a while, on Poundskin's album, there seemed to be something going on and then....just....not. Not for me, anyway. If I had to name a favorite, I'd go with the title track. But that was over 11 minutes long and I bailed about a third of the way through. But, hey, maybe you've got a spot for noise and chaos in your Christmas heart. And Poundskin's "Past Christmases Were Once The Present" is free. So its got that goin' for it. Which is nice. And it is.....something....completely....different.
RSS Feed
