13
Dec
2005
I'm no foodie, but this year's home-heating costs make for luxurious reasons to fire up the oven and put your "bake on." And what better than a little holiday cheer to put some brushed snare in your whisk, or some hipster Santa soul in those stiff hips and soggy boots? What could be more perfect than mincemeat and Jimmy Smith's Christmas '64, smoking that mighty Hammond B3? Or decorating sugar cookies with Ren & Stimpy's Crock O' Christmas from 1997? Yes! How about vanilla extract with Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown and cloves for Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby"? Here's a handful of new Christmas music that might become your inspiration for some creative kitchen-craft and tree-trimming time.
May we all raise a glass or a plate this time of year, in thanks for our blessings, and share a little more. And turn the music up!
· My pick for the best square in the stocking is Camp Holiday from Martin Sexton, a delightful, sly, and laid-back solo CD of holiday favorites and a new original, "Welcome to the Camp." In this back-porch, acoustic setting - recorded in a cabin deep in the Adirondack Mountains - Sexton's soulful voice and tasty guitar licks are the perfect soundtrack for falling snowflakes and baking bread. Highlights include the lonesome, lullaby daydream of "White Christmas," an a cappella take on "Let There Be Peace On Earth," and his family gathering around the fire for a multi-voiced strum through "Silent Night." Sexton's artist-owned label, Kitchen Table Records, is releasing the album as a fundraiser for Camp Sunshine, a Maine organization that supports families of children with life-threatening illnesses.
· Western Beat Records is also stepping up to help brave children fight a fatal disease with their new To Kate: A Benefit for Kate's Sake CD, raising funds for three-year old Kate Kirk and her six-year-old sister Caroline, both of whom suffer from the genetic disorder Niemann-Pick. Sixteen artists have come together to aid these two young Nashville natives in 14 songs, featuring covers of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" from BR549, Raul Malo's take on Willie Nelson's "Pretty Paper," Joe Ely's walk through Bob Dylan's "Winterlude," and Jason & the Scorchers' stomp of "Oh! Holy Night." Nice new originals include Jim Lauderdale's "Holly & Her Mistletoe," The Big Happy's "Gift Wrapped Boy," and Henry Gross (remember "Shannon" from 1976?) and his "What a Christmas." Another laid-back gem with plenty of Western swing is Christmasville from the original "rockabilly filly" Rosie Flores on her Durango Rose Records imprint. With an interesting selection of covers and four terrific new originals, Flores and her merry band of pickers 'n' grinners bop through each number with smoky twinges of nightclub jazz and surf rock twang, getting lost in the secret-agent vibe of "Secret Santa" and the tasty guitar and accordion stroll of "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies." Other nifty picks include her covers of "My Christmas Tree Is Hung With Tears" by Austin, Texas musician Sarah Brown, and the Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick." Feeling a little mo' metal? Warcon Entertainment has gathered together 18 fresh tracks from the Plain White T's, Black Halos, Red Light for Blue Eyes, Bleed the Dream, and many bands that graced this past summer's Warped Tour in their new Taste of Christmas collection. Bursting with punk and aggro-emo riffs from Skindread's "Jungle Bells" to The Smashup's soar through the 14th Century traditional "Coventry Carol," more covers abound, with Roses Are Red's take on the Wham hit "Last Christmas" and the Street Drum Corps (with Bert McCracken of The Used) turning in an emotional "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Other surprisingly tender moments are the piano-driven "We Might Be Alone Tonight" from Like Yesterday, and Funeral For a Friend's "Miracle of Christmas." That song also shows up on another nice Christmas themed CD, Lakeshore Records' soundtrack to The Ice Harvest. With a storyline that takes place on Christmas Eve, the film's disc mixes cool classics like Charles Brown's piano magic of "Silent Night" and Alvin & the Chipmunk's "Chipmunk Song" with new songs from Louis XIV and Hidden In Plain View, and the film's score by David Kitay.
· To say this last one's a stinker is just too easy, but the silly, one-cheek sneak of Pull My Finger certainly caught the attention of my 10-year old, and would have made Chuck Barris smile broadly. Oglio Records' entry into the holiday market this season is Jingle Smells, tootin' its way through 13 unlucky Christmas classics with a fart for a fife. Unashamedly burping, groaning, and squeezing out every nuance of this "wet" winter wonderland, if there was a Jimi Hendrix-inspired award for flatulence fortissimo, I'd give it up for this nameless wind-breaker, really putting his heart and solar plexus into "Sugarplum Farties" and "Silent Butt Deadly Night." Whoof! Open a window!
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno rings in the holiday season with The Brian Setzer Orchestra on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Susan Tedeschi this evening overnight, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah on Friday overnight, and Isaac Hayes on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson features Trey Anastasio on Thursday overnight and Chris Isaak on Friday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly boasts Fort Minor this evening overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live hugs it out with Cypress Hill this evening overnight and Bo Bice on Tuesday overnight; Austin City Limits presents Coldplay this weekend; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Neil Young.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, December 20:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Ryan Adams- 29 (Lost Highway) fulfilling his pledge to release three albums this year
Mary J. Blige- The Breakthrough (Geffen) featuring a cover of U2's "One"
Depeche Mode- "A Pain That I'm Used To" (Mute) import-only new single available as a CD, 7", 12" and DVD, with remixes scattered throughout by Telex, Goldfrapp, and Jacques Lu Cont
Jamie Foxx- Unpredictable (J Records) with guests Snoop Dogg, Kayne West, Mary J, Blige and Twista
Guns N' Roses- Welcome To the Jungle: The Very Best Of (Geffen) two-CD set
Phish- Live At Madison Square Garden New Year 's Eve 1995 (Rhino) three-CD set featuring covers of Collective Soul's "Shine" and The Who's "Drowned"
Tool- "Schism" and "Parabola" (Volcano) two separate DVD singles with bonus remixes and audio commentary
various artists- Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped Volume 4 (Epic) featuring cover art by Sir Shadow and "jazz meets hip-hop" instrumental versions of old school classics by Naughty by Nature, Kid & Play, Slick Rick, and the Sugar Hill Gang
various artists- High School Reunion (American Laundromat) with liner notes by Ultimate Film Fanatic host Chris Gore, this long awaited 20-track collection salutes the music from hit films of the 1980's like The Breakfast Club and Repo Man, with the Blank Pages covering The Vapors' "Turning Japanese," The Dresden Dolls trying on The Psychedelic Furs' "Pretty In Pink," and Lori McKenna's take on Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes"
various artists - The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter(Bad Boy) with contributions from Jonathan Davis of Korn, Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band, Obie Trice, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Missy Elliott, Big Pun, and many more
· My pick for the best square in the stocking is Camp Holiday from Martin Sexton, a delightful, sly, and laid-back solo CD of holiday favorites and a new original, "Welcome to the Camp." In this back-porch, acoustic setting - recorded in a cabin deep in the Adirondack Mountains - Sexton's soulful voice and tasty guitar licks are the perfect soundtrack for falling snowflakes and baking bread. Highlights include the lonesome, lullaby daydream of "White Christmas," an a cappella take on "Let There Be Peace On Earth," and his family gathering around the fire for a multi-voiced strum through "Silent Night." Sexton's artist-owned label, Kitchen Table Records, is releasing the album as a fundraiser for Camp Sunshine, a Maine organization that supports families of children with life-threatening illnesses.
· Western Beat Records is also stepping up to help brave children fight a fatal disease with their new To Kate: A Benefit for Kate's Sake CD, raising funds for three-year old Kate Kirk and her six-year-old sister Caroline, both of whom suffer from the genetic disorder Niemann-Pick. Sixteen artists have come together to aid these two young Nashville natives in 14 songs, featuring covers of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" from BR549, Raul Malo's take on Willie Nelson's "Pretty Paper," Joe Ely's walk through Bob Dylan's "Winterlude," and Jason & the Scorchers' stomp of "Oh! Holy Night." Nice new originals include Jim Lauderdale's "Holly & Her Mistletoe," The Big Happy's "Gift Wrapped Boy," and Henry Gross (remember "Shannon" from 1976?) and his "What a Christmas." Another laid-back gem with plenty of Western swing is Christmasville from the original "rockabilly filly" Rosie Flores on her Durango Rose Records imprint. With an interesting selection of covers and four terrific new originals, Flores and her merry band of pickers 'n' grinners bop through each number with smoky twinges of nightclub jazz and surf rock twang, getting lost in the secret-agent vibe of "Secret Santa" and the tasty guitar and accordion stroll of "The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies." Other nifty picks include her covers of "My Christmas Tree Is Hung With Tears" by Austin, Texas musician Sarah Brown, and the Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick." Feeling a little mo' metal? Warcon Entertainment has gathered together 18 fresh tracks from the Plain White T's, Black Halos, Red Light for Blue Eyes, Bleed the Dream, and many bands that graced this past summer's Warped Tour in their new Taste of Christmas collection. Bursting with punk and aggro-emo riffs from Skindread's "Jungle Bells" to The Smashup's soar through the 14th Century traditional "Coventry Carol," more covers abound, with Roses Are Red's take on the Wham hit "Last Christmas" and the Street Drum Corps (with Bert McCracken of The Used) turning in an emotional "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Other surprisingly tender moments are the piano-driven "We Might Be Alone Tonight" from Like Yesterday, and Funeral For a Friend's "Miracle of Christmas." That song also shows up on another nice Christmas themed CD, Lakeshore Records' soundtrack to The Ice Harvest. With a storyline that takes place on Christmas Eve, the film's disc mixes cool classics like Charles Brown's piano magic of "Silent Night" and Alvin & the Chipmunk's "Chipmunk Song" with new songs from Louis XIV and Hidden In Plain View, and the film's score by David Kitay.
· To say this last one's a stinker is just too easy, but the silly, one-cheek sneak of Pull My Finger certainly caught the attention of my 10-year old, and would have made Chuck Barris smile broadly. Oglio Records' entry into the holiday market this season is Jingle Smells, tootin' its way through 13 unlucky Christmas classics with a fart for a fife. Unashamedly burping, groaning, and squeezing out every nuance of this "wet" winter wonderland, if there was a Jimi Hendrix-inspired award for flatulence fortissimo, I'd give it up for this nameless wind-breaker, really putting his heart and solar plexus into "Sugarplum Farties" and "Silent Butt Deadly Night." Whoof! Open a window!
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno rings in the holiday season with The Brian Setzer Orchestra on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Susan Tedeschi this evening overnight, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah on Friday overnight, and Isaac Hayes on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson features Trey Anastasio on Thursday overnight and Chris Isaak on Friday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly boasts Fort Minor this evening overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live hugs it out with Cypress Hill this evening overnight and Bo Bice on Tuesday overnight; Austin City Limits presents Coldplay this weekend; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Neil Young.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, December 20:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Ryan Adams- 29 (Lost Highway) fulfilling his pledge to release three albums this year
Mary J. Blige- The Breakthrough (Geffen) featuring a cover of U2's "One"
Depeche Mode- "A Pain That I'm Used To" (Mute) import-only new single available as a CD, 7", 12" and DVD, with remixes scattered throughout by Telex, Goldfrapp, and Jacques Lu Cont
Jamie Foxx- Unpredictable (J Records) with guests Snoop Dogg, Kayne West, Mary J, Blige and Twista
Guns N' Roses- Welcome To the Jungle: The Very Best Of (Geffen) two-CD set
Phish- Live At Madison Square Garden New Year 's Eve 1995 (Rhino) three-CD set featuring covers of Collective Soul's "Shine" and The Who's "Drowned"
Tool- "Schism" and "Parabola" (Volcano) two separate DVD singles with bonus remixes and audio commentary
various artists- Hidden Beach Recordings Presents: Unwrapped Volume 4 (Epic) featuring cover art by Sir Shadow and "jazz meets hip-hop" instrumental versions of old school classics by Naughty by Nature, Kid & Play, Slick Rick, and the Sugar Hill Gang
various artists- High School Reunion (American Laundromat) with liner notes by Ultimate Film Fanatic host Chris Gore, this long awaited 20-track collection salutes the music from hit films of the 1980's like The Breakfast Club and Repo Man, with the Blank Pages covering The Vapors' "Turning Japanese," The Dresden Dolls trying on The Psychedelic Furs' "Pretty In Pink," and Lori McKenna's take on Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes"
various artists - The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter(Bad Boy) with contributions from Jonathan Davis of Korn, Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band, Obie Trice, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Missy Elliott, Big Pun, and many more
