Month: October 2024

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Elizabeth Mitchell brings us that age-worn hymn “Ain’t That a-Rockin’ All Night” but it’s not what you think. Rather than worry about any old Herod thing, Mary is meant to rock that baby into comfort and joy. Timeless.

“Alleluia (A Christmas Lullaby)” from Skip Ewing is a pop song transitioning into gospel. But the tinkly piano motif urges me to put a five in the goblet.

Back to Brahms for Spike Jones and His City Slickers to orchestrate the “Christmas Cradle Song.” Children! Prayers!

The Pizza Carolers make it indie with extra sass in their “Christmas Eve Lullaby (Demo).” It’s that snare that walks me off the beaches of wary and into the sea of nod. Zzzz.

Huguenots get poetically personal when they alt rock to Emily about hounds and dancing and the Spaniard’s Inn in their “Post Christmas Lullaby.” Do with it what you will. Oh, i will.

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Powerful pipes from Alison Trelfa draw out the same old same old “Christmas Lullaby.” But that voice is like a warm hug.

Speaking of VOCALS, Tennessee Ernie Ford booms out “Sleep, My Little Lord Jesus” commensurate with the importance of the sleep therein. Back it up, manger animals.

Stephen DeCesare uses his vocal strengths to sound like every other singer in “Reading Three with a Christmas Lullaby.” Sorry, i’ll stay up.

“Even as a Baby – A Christmas Lullaby” is Graham Davis0’s religious rite to proselytize with smart indie chords and sharp jazz changes. Respect.

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Suo Gan’s “Welsh Christmas Lullaby” retells JC’s arrival with a slow tempo and lots of recorder. In two languages.

Richard Schletty, André Van Haren threaten us with organ creeping and vocals tenoring in the musically catchy “Sleep, Baby, Sleep.” Alright already.

Amati Bros. stop the sleep and sail into blues with “A Christmas Lullaby for Me.” It’s moving, mushy, AND meta.

“A Christmas Lullaby” by Louisa Manuel peels off the softness and revels in jazz diva-ship. It’s a country warbler full of love and uncertainty.

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Laura Ridgeway’s “Christmas Lullaby” is not about her baby but about The Baby. Unimaginative soft pop tells The Story. You know this one.

Is it a cappella when it’s a big ol’ choir? Parry Music tickles the earlobes with harmonics in their gospel-ly “Christmas Lullaby.” Refreshing!

Brad Tassell (feat. Steve Goodie) make complete sense with a rostrum of reasons why you should “Sleep Til Christmas Morning.” Great kidsong rock.

The “Midnight Christmas Lullaby” figures all the children are asleep. Which gives The Predicates the opportunity to sound off with New Age pop about how good life is now. Ahhh.

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Practicing his operatic pipes, Len Francis Monahan sings “Christmas Lullaby” as a country gospel piece with crisp cutoffs and succinct syllables. Not gonna drag out the bedtime routine.

The Bug Club rocks out their “Christmas Lullaby” with no hope of respite. In space?? Two sucked-thumbs up!

Erasure sets up something like a cartoon scenario with the electronic tempo and over-hoarse ‘scary-guy’ voice in their “Sleep Quietly.” Pretend, then run!

Sotto voce goes far for a lullaby, but Jim Dimzey’s adult “Christmas Lullaby” is more husky, throaty, predatory… back away slowly. Great guitar work for this indie seduction.

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Bert Nievera keeps up with the chiming in this big-eyed “A Christmas Lullaby.” I expect a boop on the nose by the end of this jazz-lite condescension.

Alex ‘Elvis Claus’ Smith uses a bossa nova beat to belabor this “Christmas Lullaby.” Now if i hadn’t told you it was an Elvis impersonation you wouldn’t have gotten that, would you, little baby?

Starlet Knight impels powerful singing into a quiet performance in “Sing Me to Sleep.” Just so.

Now try Jamie Aaron Kelly’s “Christmas Lullaby” and tell me the difference to that last number. Taking care of Christmas.

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Haven’t had enough of Lower Lights? Unplugged and rugged, “Mary’s Lullaby” harmonizes urgently. There’s a message here.

Phyllis Travis’s “Christmas Lullaby” checks all the boxes for a lullaby, but with its easy listening fuzzy vocals it works on a verisimilitudinal level.

David Michael Carrillo drones through “The Christmas Lullaby (God’s Love Revealed)” with capable strumming and one-note singing. Can’t get too musical when it’s for the Lord.

“Christmas Lullaby” by John Dato Valentine is overly chime-y, but in music-box style its repetitious lyrics and just fine for the job they’re assigned to do.

Sol Roach doesn’t seem to know when to come in or what key to reach in his “Christmas Lullaby.” But he does keep going….

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Let’s start with a Good Recording: “Mary’s Lullaby” from Madisen Renee is whispery/slurred, but effective and reverent.

Jim Adams gives the good old college try to his easy listening (sorry–that’s ironic) “Christmas Lullaby.” It goes to bed, or it gets the hose again.

“Close Your Eyes” by Douglas Murphy is poorly recorded, but quietly serious for a folk ballad. I like enough to want it to change.

Tumbling all over itself, “A Christmas Lullaby” by Hubert Dorigatti (feat. Laura Willeit) brightens up our corner with bluegrass pop and artistic virtuosity.

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Childish lisping may be adorable, but how many repeat listenings will you take of John G. Elliott/Michaella Elliott’s “Christmas Lullaby“? Massive string section, itty bitty voice.

More professionally, The Marty Gold Children’s Chorus follow the bouncing ballad with “Lullaby for Christmas Eve.” I can understand most of this.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles pipe up with falsetto for their “Christmas Lullaby.” Promises of a bike and something Mommy will like compel compliance with the request: Go to sleep. No peeking!

Britpop (OZZIEpop?) from Fezziwhig pumps up the style for this “Christmas Lullaby.” Not simply a matter of slumber here, folks.

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Sting has the psychology in hand with his “Lullaby for an Anxious Child.” New age whiteness so that Hush, Child doesn’t sound like a spiritual at all.

More educationally, Caspar Babypants allows actual music to underscore their kidsong “Alphabet Christmas Lullaby.” Pretty clever stuff. Guess what Z is for!

“A Christmas Lullaby” also brings us uplifting country pop from Bryan Lanning. That’s Christian pop, you see. Dancing in your heart, dear. That’s not for a baby–that’s for his baby.

Grownup adulting from Karen Drucker, “Christmas Lullaby” is new age indie stuff about love and arms around me and you rock me and soothe me. Good night, nurse.