Category: altrock

Xmas Music Delivery System: Radio [dedication line]

Are listening WITH another, FOR another, MISSING another? What song will you ask for in their honor?

Play of Curves is so in love that, when it’s “Just You And Me This Year” for Xmas, you’re my drink, my song on the radio, my present. Figuratively. Lite rock.

Choirs singing soft and low/On my old red radio are part of the easy listening country “Christmas Memories” of Jim Witter. This time, it’s personal.

With a mantra of Bring the snow, turn on the radio, Joel X Martin (feat. Shaugnah) asks you to “Bring the Snow” with an R+B panache. Catchy (repetitive).

“This Isn’t Christmas” has Dana Cain (feat. Cameron Sprenger) bereft despite all the trimmings and the radio/Keeps playing Christmas songs. Have a cookie! New age folk pop.

Fighting the isolation, Denny Love asks to Turn up the Christmas carols on the radio in “Santa, Don’t Let Me Down.” It’s pop, and R+B. Turn those tears into cookies, man.

Miley Cyrus goes BLUE ALERT with folk pop in “My Sad Christmas Song.” Beers, bongs, radio, and bingewatching all do not fill the void. Lovelorn stuff.

Troubadour Dan Sullivan scratches out the folk complaint “It Doesn’t Feel Like Christmas This Year” despite all those songs on the radio. May i suggest this blog instead? Oh, it’s a heartbreak thing–

The “New Tradition” of The National Parks is crying over falling snow, Christmas songs on the radio, and Hallmark movies. ‘Cuz, you guessed it, loneliness. Near miss alt rock.

Samu Haber’s special move is to offer comfort to the jilted with his “That Time Of Year.” Then he reacts for that dial, because There’s Christmas songs on the radio/Creeping in like Radiohead. Strangely foreign country pop.

Actually tired of songs on the radio, Kelly Clarkson begs that “Christmas Come Early” so she can get all romantically in her special Kelly Clarkson diva jazz way.

Also so alone that despair reigns And the radio still plays all the classic sοngs “This Christmas Day.” Amy MacDonald slyly alludes to other songs here, but her orchestrated pop overwhelms their charity.

So in love that Christmas barely matters, even When the radio stops playing those holiday songs Dugger Band keeps those “Christmas Lights On.” Country ballad.

Kensie Mann slings indie country like butter when “(Dancing)Underneath The Mistletoe” to the Christmas songs on the radio. That’s a slow dance!

Punk response? “Christmas, Christmas” by Kayde & Katrina overflowing with cookies, mistletoe, presents, Christmas music/Playing on the radio. Could be upbeat, but it’s punk. Wacky.

A cappella? Straight No Chaser, with a diamond ring in pocket, has got music on my radio. Figurative or not, “Home by Christmas Day” is a harmonic winner.

Disco time. “Christmas for Me” has Rick De Hey, Marc V, Jacy Janice razzling and dazzling as The radio plays those vibrant songs,/Melodies that keep me moving on. Staying alert, staying alert.

Light garage from Roses Are Black supplies “Roses For Christmas.” Kids are running, radio is playing, stars and balls are aligned. Like that.

Boogie woogie spills the news “Santa´s on His Way,” but the clues had been there, like A choir singing christmas carols/On the radio. Kingen brings it.

Jazzy cool from Collin Derrick swings the pop for “Holiday Hallelujah.” He hears Christmas music on the radio everywhere he goes. And i don’t think he’s half trying.

Soft rock indie from Philip Labes wishes “happy hanukkah (will we still be friends?)” as opposites attract. We meet at a lot off of I95/We aimlessly drive, Christmas radio. Pretty Semiticly sweet.

Xmas Music Delivery System: iPod

Shortly after Apple cornered the song market with iTunes, the portable mp3 player, the iPod, swept down upon us. Almost a half a billion of these came and went through the wash.

Mark Hewes weighs the difference in Xmas gifts, ie: “The Frankincense vs. the iPod.” In his tickled pop, the music machine wins–even for Baby Jay.

Hello Saferide revisits “iPod-X-Mas,” an indie bit of insistence that makes millennial priorities clear. (Gloria Gaynor?)

Then there’s the backlash of not getting an expensive item: A R C A D E S uses nails-on-a-chalkboard falsetto to complain “i wanted an ipad for christmas.” The protagonist of this indie resorts to tantrums to make feelings more apparent.

Swimming against the stream, Skinner and T’witch list out their dislikes in “I Don’t Want an iPad (I Just Want World Peace).” Odd easy listening pop.

Sil gives in to tech with “FRIENDS_DVD.EXE.” ‘Twould seem, the iPod for Xmas was the gateway device in this modulated indie pop.

Xmas Music Delivery System: Boombox

The ghetto blaster of olde took tunes wherever old people would frown.

“Christmas on the Streets” is the outdoors old style rap from Department of Creative Affairs featuring recorded players.

“Xmas” from Shelby Lynne is the regretful lack of radios, ghetto blasters, stereos for Christmas. Bad times via soulful blues.

“My Favorite Things” gets a 1990s update rapped by Amerigo Gazaway. N64, Pokemon, and a boombox make the cut.

“Christmas With My Old Boombox” is a reggae adjacent indie from The Transplendent about wistful nostalgia. Sad, really.

Xmas Instruments: Keyboard

Not a piano, well not entirely, the 88 keys are their own thing.

BLAINE & HIS KEYBOARD narrates his morning of gift openings with his mixed genre “Keyboard for Christmas.” This rising showtune takes us on a (long) roller coaster ride of NOT getting the instrument, but then–

Dillon M. self consciously sings Christmasly about singing about himself and offers to add some ’80s keyboard to make it less dull. But, “It’s December” novelty rocks with its comic pop. Thumbs up.

Speaking of which, Nerf Herder’s tribute to “Vivian” invokes Flock of Seagulls, eyeliner, and you’ll play the keyboard when we rock the Math Club Christmas party. Retro rock, for sure. Order that on your RCA Record Club, duderino.

Keyboards and drums get short-listed in several Xmas songs, including the fun pop rap of The BreezeWay’s moody “Christmas has Come a Long Way.” I’m asking for one of those cardboard coats.

Xmas Instruments: Drum (pt. 1)

The skins get big ups on Christmas ‘cuz of some starstruck urchin banging and pounding on whatever he could find at the Nativity. Typical kindergarten behavior. Let’s respond.

Mighty Magic Pants begins the parade against the noise complaint with the honestly folk “Lay Down Your Drum, Little Drummer Boy.” Take that drum and beat it, kid.

Herschel Cedricson aims for that joke about the drum solo that overstays its welcome in a song with his Something Awful “Little Drummer Boy.” Sorry, Bing.

Rapping for Jaysus, Zach S embarrasses himself with the mixup “Drummer Boy.” Look away.

More appropriately, Pineapple Posse raps the ups and downs of “Drumma Boy.” They got the sticks.

The Little Drum Machine Boy seems like an obvious alt-play on the legend. Beck may have started it with an observance over Hanukkah. Vice Versa plays it pretty straight with apparently a robot wanting presents. Wolf Blitzer lays the digital on thick with their electronica. Jane’s Party goes all out when a kid raiding Gramma’s attic for her old Roland gets invited by Santa for a ride-along for being so dope. [Check out synthesizer offerings for more.]

Ray Stevens spoofs up the tune with “The Little Drummer Boy–Next Door.” No peace on earth with that noise! Boy that’s a bother. (Even more of a bother is Pat Boone‘s original retake.)

Watch Out for Rockets pairs that boy with “Drummer Girl” for some frolicking garage frisky-do-dah. Why’s he waiting in a tree?? Must be an indie thing.

Xmas Instruments: Chimes

Just more bells these chimes, eh?

Charley Pride recalls “Christmas in My Home Town.” Chimes in the square call all together for this easy listening big band kind of stuff.

Alternately, Geoffrey Savage savages the opening melody of 1974’s animated special ”Twas the Night Before Christmas’ entitled “Christmas Chimes are Calling.” It’s Santa they’re calling for, btw.

Todd Michalik chants out “Christmas Chimes” with mixed media in the pursuit of madness.

“When The Christmas Chimes Are Ringing” by Lewis James (1922) is that operatic ragtime love crooning that comes off so grating nay more. hey, those are gongs!

Southern rock the tells a tale, “Chimes of Christmas” is Beat of Alabama unraveling the ones who didn’t get none. (Or AI, p’raps.)

Snappy zydeco from Brenda Lee, “Papa Noel” also has chimes down on the Bayou. Hot stuff.

The Chills sing out those “Christmas Chimes” bong bong bongbongbong. It’s all a metaphor. You know, like life. Indie zippiness.

“The point is there ain’t no point”-C.M.

Well, if Christmas’s all just someone else’s story… what are we gonna do?

“Let’s Pretend It is Christmas” from Marthie Nel Hauptfleisch and Bill White is a pretty folk pop ballad about going through the motions (for the baby?) that’s almost hopeful.

Paul Parnell is troubled by the lack of snow (and brotherly love?), so he’ll “Pretend It’s Christmas.” Cheesy easy listening.

Jigsaw Seen unspools prog rock for a more mystical “Pretend It’s Christmas.” Now we’re getting nowhere.

Sampling like crazy, Akira the Don sets up a “Game of Pretend” (no harm intended). Spoken word new age self delusion. What?

Making pretend is the goal of Them Dirty Dimes who carousel pop for “Let’s Pretend (It’s Christmas Time).” A lovely, waltzing illusion.

Shane James is gonna “Just Pretend It’s Christmas” this year with insistent pop back beats and repetition. That’s the way we do it at my house.

The Non Traditionals broaden our lack with the sea shanty adjacent indie “Let’s Pretend It’s December.” I pretend that every day on the blog.

“Doubt is the beginning, not the end of wisdom”-G.H.

Let’s get to the reasoning of disbelief vis a vis Ol’ Nick: Again: Andrew X asks if you’d believe him when he excuses his absences in your life with the song “I am Santa.” Masterful folk yarning.

Hilary Marckx nasals the folk for “Christmas Carols, Christmas Lies.” It’s more about love gone wrong than the great Santa conspiracy. Still, the more you know, the more you’re snowed.

Joe Henson also wrestles with complicated relationships with his handclapping folk country “Lies on Christmas.” Sounds kinda like eating with braces on.

Worth the Wait is sick of “Christmas Lies.” But this western pop is fooling for love. That’s holiday adjacent at best.

In “Passing the Polargraph” The Classic Brown pleads the fifth while testifying about the whole Christmas kerfuffle. Ironic indie flippancy.

“He that knows nothing doubts nothing”-G.H.

Useta believe is akin to not believing. As again: Jeremy Walker reminds us in shambling country that we used to believe but now we’re “Not So Wise Men Anymore.” So there.

Or like when Clint Black remembers being “The Kid” and with slow country aw-shucks condescends all over innocence. Not ‘cuz he knows better now, but MIRACLES… or something.

MNEK croons R+B over the loss of innocence (and love) via “Stopped Believing in Santa.” A broken soul who can really hold a note.

FullMoonPoet slurs up an indie storm with “I Used to Believe in Christmas” and bunches of other myth. But, you know, older/wiser.

Also again: Checklist decides this whole believing schtick is too much for right now. “Next Year for Sure” they indie out so they’ll get presents anyway.

I Want to BELIEVE:XVIII

“Is Santa Real??….” is BLUE ALERT practice time from ƒucĸvɪlle & Lil Dookie. This supposed comedy is masturbatory garage experimentalism. Erm.

HorrorScene rehaunts our blog with the echoic indie “Believing in Santa.” It’ll keep you up nights.

Aspiga will do anything–out of a broken heart–and “I’ll Make You Believe” apparently in love. But comparing your heart to the North Pole connects us to the holidays. Reverb indie.

Insistently Make Like Monkeys figures The Jig is Up when they retro pop as cool as Big Daddio when they attack in the mall. “Mr. Santa Claus, I Know Who You Are” results in an humbling melee, but belief is maintained. Groovy.

Jaime Adler, Ilan Galkoff, & Harriet Turnbull also wrestle with misidentification (wrong as wrong gifts!), but apply reconciliatory pop with “Santa, You’re Still My Friend.” Despite snitching, this letter ends in a kick line. Weee!

Will you still “Believe in Me” Cassie McMullin chants to a toy piano. This oddly underdeveloped indie shares vulnerability, but inspires little hope. The season’ll do that to a body.