Thomas Rhett may love “Christmas in the Country,” but he overdoes all the decorative trends like any suburbanite: You could be ten miles away And see my house from the road. More pop than country, despite the banjo.
Jim White was crying in a Greyhound Station on “Christmas Day” in 1998. Why? P.A. said the bus broke down 10 miles from the station. This alt-folk mini-masterpiece of the hope for love puts us in the scene, bittersweet though it be.
St. Lucifer the Outcast haughtily raps: Hop in my sleigh let’s ride (uh yea) Crusing thru I-10 and 35 (uh yea) Hitting 88 travel thru time (uh yea) And you know you my ride or die (uh yea). BLUE ALERT, natch, but “Nighty Night” comes off kinda sweet for the holidays. Sweet dreams.
Jesse Malin made his baby cry in “Xmas.” This soaring garage ballad begins with 10$ in his pocket and no prospects (even tried to make it clean). Sad but worth it.
Miss Lou loves “Christmas in My City.” Not that she doesn’t have something to comment about there in Singapore. Warm and wet as it might be, It’s not a winter wonderland; But we can play pretend: Walk into a mall and it’ll be 10 degrees. Jazzily matter-of-fact.