Jim Bob thrashes rock intentionally when he faces his own mortality in “The Ghost of Christmas Boring“. And then he woke up. Or did he? (Spooky!)
In the rearview, Ben Coleman (welcome back!) has “Boxing Day Blues“. Not connected to the loss of the holy day, but instead a glum epiphany of how pointless it all was. Bit more jazz than blues.
In “Holidays to See” Cassie McMullin fusses over YOU, but dismisses this holiday as a poor excuse to show her affection. A rhythm machine, a girl, and a message. What more does homegrown pop need?
Ben Folds is “Sleepwalking Through Christmas” without you around. Big band indie with toilet paper stuck to its shoe. Why, oh why?
“Christmas Without Them (Unmixed, Unmastered & Unloved)” has Confused celebrating love and joy at home, while HE is somewhere else keeping the world safe. The dueling genres of indie and pop seem to whisper Why bother?
Bobby Goldsboro has something he needs to get off his chest: You’re doing it wrong. “Look Around You (It’s Christmas Time)” he pleads to the miserly and the miserable both with his trademark country middle of the road rock. Love it.