I've got lots of bits and pieces of things to post, but I want to get the info to you quick and I just don't have time to pretty them up right now. Like, for instance, people might want to know that Target has an exclusive version of Carole King's "A Holiday Carole" containing three bonus tracks. And I'd really like you to know that Volume 8 of "The Twelve Bands Of Christmas" out of Georgia, raising money to fight pediatric cancer, is available for pre-order--this year featuring all original music. We'll also be reviewing John Zorn's "A Dreamers Christmas"--that should be going up later today. I've got some more freebies to post in the next day or two and we're hot on the trail of several international releases. So much Christmas music, so little time. Here's some more...
Zakk Wylde and the Black Label Society have released a 3 song digital EP entitled "Glorious Christmas Songs That Will Make Your Black Label Heart Feel Good". And it's not bad. It's actually pretty good. All 3 are instrumentals. And fairly mellow. But the guitar work is exemplary. This is the kind of thing you used to get on those "Merry Axemas" CDs. Anyway, I enjoyed it. Only available, right now, at iTunes and, supposedly, eOne (though I couldn't find it on eOne).
The Beantown Swing Orchestra, a Boston based big band swing outfit that features American Idol finalist John Stevens (from Season 3) is releasing their holiday album on November 15. It was only 2 years ago that John released a solo Christmas effort that not too many people noticed. Well, Stubbys wasn't around back then but we are now. Jitterbug your way over to the Beantown Swing web site to listen to song samples and place your pre-orders. "A Beantown Christmas" includes 4 original tunes and heeeeere's the track list:
1. Dancing In The Snow
2. I See Christmas
3. The Christmas Song
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
5. White Christmas
6. Let It Snow
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
8. Christmas Memories
9. Frosty The Snowman
10. Snowflakes
11. O Holy Night
12. Winter Wonderland
13. Santa Baby
14. Christmas Land
15. Auld Lang Syne
1. Dancing In The Snow
2. I See Christmas
3. The Christmas Song
4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
5. White Christmas
6. Let It Snow
7. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
8. Christmas Memories
9. Frosty The Snowman
10. Snowflakes
11. O Holy Night
12. Winter Wonderland
13. Santa Baby
14. Christmas Land
15. Auld Lang Syne
Joe McElderry has released the cover art and track list for his Christmas album. McElderry, the winner of Britain's X Factor back in 2009, is a Classical Crossover artist which puts him in roughly the same grouping as Susan Boyle, Jackie Evancho, Faryl Smith and Hayley Westenra. If that sounds like the sort of thing you like, then you'll definitely like this sort of thing. "Classic Christmas" releases in the UK November 28 but only shows up in America as an import on December 27. Well that sucks. Early start on 2012, perhaps?
1. Mary's Boy Child
2. White Christmas
3. When A Child Is Born
4. In The Bleak Midwinter (featuring Kathryn Tickell)
5. O Holy Night (featuring Rolando Villazon)
6. I Believe In Father Christmas
7. Silent Night
8. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
9. Santo Natale
10. Last Christmas
11. The Little Drummer Boy (featuring Kathryn Tickell)
12. Driving Home For Christmas
1. Mary's Boy Child
2. White Christmas
3. When A Child Is Born
4. In The Bleak Midwinter (featuring Kathryn Tickell)
5. O Holy Night (featuring Rolando Villazon)
6. I Believe In Father Christmas
7. Silent Night
8. Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful)
9. Santo Natale
10. Last Christmas
11. The Little Drummer Boy (featuring Kathryn Tickell)
12. Driving Home For Christmas
The always intriguing Schuyler Fisk (star of The Baby Sitters Club and more recently having appeared in the film Restless) has been teasing a Christmas album for a few years now and, if her Tweets and Facebook entries are to be believed, its finally about to drop. Can't wait. Just wish I'd known she was giving away the song "Zombie" (from "Blue Ribbon Winner") before Halloween. The track was a freebie through the 31st (but if you sneak over to her web site real quick, you might still be able to grab it). Sorry I missed that one, gang. Early start on 2012, perhaps?
The eclectic Christian collective Sojourn will be releasing a new Christmas album later this month. The artists that come together as Sojourn have musical backgrounds as diverse as jazz, country, folk, and punk. And it certainly showed on their previous seasonal disc "Advent Songs". According to the group's announcement, well, I'll let them tell it:
It’s an indie rock record, recorded the indie rock way, piecing together what we could to give you this homemade gift. It’s not perfect, but most home-made things aren’t.
We’ve also reached out to some friends and borrowed their songs. We’re happy to have Bifrost Arts’ “Joy Joy” on this album, a song based on a very old melody that perfectly captures that tense, advent joy. We’ve also recorded Bill Mallonee’s “Knocking at Your Door”, a song we sing every Advent season whose gritty and earthy words bring the season home. Sandra McCracken’s “This is the Christ” is a text she reworked from Martin Luther, and it was an instant favorite for us last year.
In addition, we have a number of originals and traditionals, including a punk-rock inspired “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, the grittiest version of “Go Tell it On the Mountain” you’ll ever hear, ambient pop versions of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Silent Night”, a John Newton text reworked by Brooks Ritter (“Oh Glorious Hour”) and an ancient anonymous text reworked by Jamie Barnes (“A Voice is Sounding”).
Pre-orders are being taken (for both the physical and digital release) at Bandcamp. "A Child Is Born" is expected to be released on or about November 22.
It’s an indie rock record, recorded the indie rock way, piecing together what we could to give you this homemade gift. It’s not perfect, but most home-made things aren’t.
We’ve also reached out to some friends and borrowed their songs. We’re happy to have Bifrost Arts’ “Joy Joy” on this album, a song based on a very old melody that perfectly captures that tense, advent joy. We’ve also recorded Bill Mallonee’s “Knocking at Your Door”, a song we sing every Advent season whose gritty and earthy words bring the season home. Sandra McCracken’s “This is the Christ” is a text she reworked from Martin Luther, and it was an instant favorite for us last year.
In addition, we have a number of originals and traditionals, including a punk-rock inspired “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, the grittiest version of “Go Tell it On the Mountain” you’ll ever hear, ambient pop versions of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and “Silent Night”, a John Newton text reworked by Brooks Ritter (“Oh Glorious Hour”) and an ancient anonymous text reworked by Jamie Barnes (“A Voice is Sounding”).
Pre-orders are being taken (for both the physical and digital release) at Bandcamp. "A Child Is Born" is expected to be released on or about November 22.
And it's really turning out to be a good year for Appalachian Bluegrass and Old Timey music. The North Carolina musicians putting together "The Gathering" reached their Kickstarter goal (second item down), so that one should be available real soon.
Now comes the release of "Christmas Along The Crooked Road" featuring some of the finest mountain musicians from the Carolina-Virginia border including Jeff Little, Helen White, Wayne Henderson and more. Order one up at the Crooked Road Store or from the project's home.
1. Deck the Halls - Steve Lewis
2. Christmas Promise - Helen White
3. Winter Wonderland - Spencer Strickland
4. Silent Night - Gerald Anderson
5. What Child is This - Jeff Little
6. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM Kids)
7. Blue Christmas - Wayne Henderson
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Josh Scott
9. Christmas Lullaby - Helen White
10. Joy to the World - Gerald Anderson
11. I'll Be Home for Christmas - Gerald Anderson
12. Away in a Manger - Jimmy Edmonds
Now comes the release of "Christmas Along The Crooked Road" featuring some of the finest mountain musicians from the Carolina-Virginia border including Jeff Little, Helen White, Wayne Henderson and more. Order one up at the Crooked Road Store or from the project's home.
1. Deck the Halls - Steve Lewis
2. Christmas Promise - Helen White
3. Winter Wonderland - Spencer Strickland
4. Silent Night - Gerald Anderson
5. What Child is This - Jeff Little
6. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM Kids)
7. Blue Christmas - Wayne Henderson
8. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Josh Scott
9. Christmas Lullaby - Helen White
10. Joy to the World - Gerald Anderson
11. I'll Be Home for Christmas - Gerald Anderson
12. Away in a Manger - Jimmy Edmonds
RSS Feed
