Anything that gets the hard-core militant Christian right upset enough to make death threats (My, how Christian of them) has got my vote as a positive force for humanity. Don't get me wrong; I dig Jesus. And I'm not talking about rational peace loving Christians--they're good folk. But these people who approach Christianity with the idea that violence against others in God's name will be rewarded with everlasting life are sick, whether they are proposing the wholesale slaughter of Muslims or just the deaths of one rock band with a catchy tune. To them I say: have you even read the book you purport to live by?
The completely out-of-proportion reaction of some loose nutbars has resulted from a track on the latest album from UK rockers Babybird, "Jesus Stag Night Club". The song features an appearance from actor Johnny Depp, a huge fan of the band, and now that it's been released as Babybird's "Christmas single", many of the allegedly pious are spewing enormous amounts of bile. It's just a song, people.
The reportedly offending lyrics include: "I can't remember where I was last night, I think I was hanging naked off a church spire, tied by my ankles to a weathervane. Felt like I was Jesus on fire".
Ironically, people like me might never have heard of the tune if it weren't for the whining. Now, my only regret is that I didn't hear about it sooner. It's great mixtape material. And, frankly, controversy aside, "Jesus Stag Night Club" is a kick ass tune on its own merit. Can't get the mp3 on Amazon as yet, but iTunes has it.
The completely out-of-proportion reaction of some loose nutbars has resulted from a track on the latest album from UK rockers Babybird, "Jesus Stag Night Club". The song features an appearance from actor Johnny Depp, a huge fan of the band, and now that it's been released as Babybird's "Christmas single", many of the allegedly pious are spewing enormous amounts of bile. It's just a song, people.
The reportedly offending lyrics include: "I can't remember where I was last night, I think I was hanging naked off a church spire, tied by my ankles to a weathervane. Felt like I was Jesus on fire".
Ironically, people like me might never have heard of the tune if it weren't for the whining. Now, my only regret is that I didn't hear about it sooner. It's great mixtape material. And, frankly, controversy aside, "Jesus Stag Night Club" is a kick ass tune on its own merit. Can't get the mp3 on Amazon as yet, but iTunes has it.
Here's a new one from Indie pop and soul singer Thom Stone. "I Can't Spend Christmas Alone" is a down-tempo sway about a man pleading with his woman to just stay through the holidays in spite of the break-up argument they obviously just had. Most everyone I know has been there. You already bought the Christmas present and, whatever the fractures in the relationship, you just can't face the holidays alone on top of the rest. I liked this one a whole lot. But not quite enough to spend ₤1 GBP on, which has gotta be at least a buck and a half USD. Maybe earlier in the season, but I'm pretty well tapped, now. Anyway, give it a listen on Bandcamp and make the call for yourself. It's not a bad little Christmas song, Charlie Brown. It just needs a little love...and a 99 cent price tag. Well, maybe it'll find its way to Amazon and iTunes before Christmas.
I admit, I have been consciously avoiding the American Idol types this season. But there are some I'll always have a soft spot for, one of those being Jordin Sparks. Jordin's new Christmas single hasn't been widely publicized for some reason. Happily, "Angels Are Singing" is an uptempo Pop Soul romp from the ABC Family original "12 Dates Of Christmas". At the moment, at least, it's an iTunes exclusive. The movie is scheduled to air December 11 and stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Amy Smart.
Canadian Synth Pop Rockers Hello Bella.have released a Christmas single. The Ontario band, formed in 2007, is currently heading to Nashville to record a song benefiting the Kaitlin's Wish Foundation. Kaitlin Boyda, a sixteen year old girl, was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. When approached by the Children's Wish Foundation, Kaitlin's wish wasn't for herself, but for clean drinking water in Uganda. People from across Canada have donated to make Kaitlin's wish come true and, to date, about 21 drinking wells have been built through the Foundation. That song, "Coming Home", will be released in January. In the meantime, Hello Bella's Christmas single, "Christmas Without You", is available on iTunes in the US and Canada, as well as Amazon.
It's good to see Connie Kaldor back on Norad's radar. I don't think we've had a visit from the Christmas Connie since the 1985 album she shared with Roy Forbes, "New Songs For An Old Celebration", though she's continued to make non-holiday music through those years, of course. Connie is a Canadian folk singer and she has two new digital offerings for 2011. "I Just Want A Prairie Christmas" is a brand new tune with a country flavor though, as an American, I have trouble thinking of Saskatchewan as the prairie country she's singing of. "It Just Wouldn't Be Christmas Without You" is a pretty folk original that Connie originally recorded for the Tommy Banks television show several years ago. She's recorded it anew for this 2011 release. You can grab the two tracks from Amazon here and here, or from CD Baby here and here.
This one's a very nice Rock track from the UK group Soul Circus, but what really sells it is the video of a lost Prancer sending his letter to Santa Claus and hoping for rescue. For that alone, this one's worth the look see. All proceeds from "Picture Frames" will be donated to the Leeds homeless charity St. George's Crypt. Technically, the download is free, but Soul Circus does ask that you hit the big donate button on the right and give a little to the cause. Someone had to put on the Prancer costume for the video shoot; it would seem that the least you could do is cough up a few coins. Right?
I don't know how many of you have heard Johnny Cash's classic Christmas Greeting from the Kevin and Bean Christmas albums--the one where he says "It's not cool to kill on Christmas. But, if you must, make it the guy who sings that 'Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer' song." Well, what if Johnny and the Tennessee Three were to cut an instrumental version of "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer"? I wouldn't be at all surprised if it sounded like this new Christmas single from Brian Devlin. Well, except for the part where Brian goes all Ted Nugent on your ass. And that reggae bit, too; I don't see Johnny doing that. But the rest of it is a very nice rockabilly country shuffle. Just 89 cents at Amazon.
Everybody has a Christmas song they just can't stand and, while I'm not a big fan of "Blue Christmas", nothing makes my teeth grind more than "The Christmas Shoes". So I'm instantly a fan of any record that satirizes that manipulative record. Bean & Bailey are a Country Pop duo whose repertoire is likely more than 50% comedy. One of their most well known pieces is "Santa Stalker"--a fairly obvious approach to "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" ("he sees you when you're sleeping" is kind of a creepy thought afterall)--and the pair perform it in a way that calls to mind The Smothers Brothers. This year, Bean & Bailey have taken on "The Christmas Shoes", presenting "The Christmas Bra" with all the sickly smarmy earnestness of that Shoes thing. Not quite as funny as "Hanukkah Gloves", imo, but worth mentioning here certainly. You'll find this one at CDBaby and the pair's earlier Christmas album, "A Simple Christmas" (half serious, half comedy) is available at Amazon mp3 or on CD direct from the Bean & Bailey web store.
Are you up for some good time holiday Rock N Roll? Rhode Island's Yellow Snow sure hopes so. Yellow Snow is a holiday band, meaning they only come out to play when Santa's on his way, and they've been creating original Christmas jams for the local folk since 2003. This year, they're taking it national, with a pair of catchy rockin' tracks featuring Matchbox 20's Kyle Cook on guitars. Yellow Snow isn't in it for the glory, though--well, not entirely. They use the money they raise each year to help feed Rhode Island's homeless. Take a listen to "Man In Red" and "Giddy Yup Santa Claus" at CD Baby or at the official Yellow Snow web site. And, if you're a very good boy or girl next year, Yellow Snow may bring us some more rock n roll treats.
I'm probably the last person on the 'Net to mention this Americana shuffle from The Black Swans. I don't think I'm as high on it as everyone else seems to be, but it's not a bad tune and I shouldn't deprive you. The twist of "Christmas Alone" is that that's what the protagonist desires, not what they dread. Maybe you can relate, if you've had one too many dysfunctional family holidays. The lyrics are very well written and the song features Eve Searls (of Bird & Flower). It's just not reaching me, though. Oh, well, you can find this one on Bandcamp and Amazon, if you're less of a Scrooge about it than I seem to be.
Last year, the Alt Rock group Two More Weeks gave us "Father Christmas" and, this year, they're back with "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". I can't find anything on line about these dudes but my old friend smacque had this to say about last year's effort: "By the numbers alterna-remake of the Kinks classic." So now all you have to do is replace the word "Kinks" with the word "Spector" and you know what we've got here. It's not bad--in fact it's plenty good--but they don't really bring anything new to the table. I'll take Darlene Love's original and, for a modern rock version, I'll take Anberlin's. This version from Two More Weeks seems kind of superfluous. But I do love their cover art. You can get this one from Amazon.
RSS Feed
