Category: altrock

It’s a “Lonely Winter” for the ‘experimental’ singer Zarik Yusaf. He’s 417 miles away from his significant other who’s off to see family. But this discordant indie is more painful than sad. Ah, the holidays–

Fralphie Jenkins growls into the monotonous altrock of driving “December 24th (600 Miles to Go)” making the journey to the folks a Sisyphean hell of never-ending mileage. Epic angst, kids. Might be dead. Damn. Don’t try this at home. [An alternate verzh of this, “Ice on the Floor (Christmas Eve),” takes a long long Dark Side of the Moon intro, after which reality melds travel with arrival, hazard with cozy–so much so that the end of the song is the beginning. Aahhh!]

Andy Churchill is sitting in your driveway wondering if it’s just a “Party of One” for Christmas. Alt-rock be-grunges the misinterpreted invitation: You said 8:30 But nobody’s here. Still he wishes you’d join his party (of one), i guess because it’s a time of forgiveness. Or he’s that naive.

Family Friend has nothing better to do, so they follow important historical Christmasses from 1968 (first humans orbited earth) to 1642 (Isaac Newton born). Yet the indie pop of “Boring Christmas (blaze away)” recommends you burn the tree… oh, hang on–drug reference! Are you so bored you smoke, or so smoked you’re bored?

Puritanical Powers compel thee to have a “Christmas 1670“! Not sure if 10 Killing Hands is pulling our breeches, but kinda doubt those austere pioneers woulda celebrated ANYTHING. (See: “The World is Turned Upside Down” about the Puritans doing away with this holy day in 1649.) Still, this soft indie rock is compelling me to enjoy.

Bible verses are read as chapter and verse, so we’ll allow a bit o’ stretch here to include the ominous tale of 10,000 Maniacs’ “Jubilee” in which Tyler (as afflicted perhaps as the son for whom mercy is asked in Matthew 17:15) takes time off from fixing up the Nativity scene for the church to burn down the licentious tavern nearby.

The 800 toll free phone number was meant to fire people so that busy businesses could do without long-distance connections. Hotels and car rental companies began this streamlining in the ’60s. Today we could care less. Who gets charged for Long D anymore?!

Humbugz revisits the ’80s with a “1-800-Christmas” number about the worst presents ever. Then the poor country-song victim has an idea… (it’s the phone line to buy this album)!

A surprising message comes from an 800 number wishing “Merry Christmas Mr. Peng.” This indie goes places you dmight not expect. I mean, IS it a happy ending?

Prohibition’s over! Drunkenness is okay again! Tom Dyer beats the stringed-box recounting that moonshiner ‘Doober’ he met way back when “It’s a White Mule Christmas.” Returns to him again in the ’40s… and there may be a resurrection acomin’ later on. Stay for it, or just for the back woods country glee of the whole parcel.

Virginiana Miller’s “Xmas 1933” is a gentle alt-pop about the re-decline of the civilization of the American worker. Christmas cheers!

“The Beatles 1968 Christmas Record” was a real trip, including talented fooling around. Here’s Side A.

Mary Chapin Carpenter has one memory of Christmases past and in her gentle folk “Christmas Carol” she mentions the Beatles’ White Album from that recall.

Chuck Brodsky spins a bluesy yarn “The Great Santa Snowball Debacle of 1968.” Halftime of an Eagles game the fans turned ugly on Kringle. Bad show, ya naughty-niks.

“Family Coach” from Lilac Time anticipates the moon landing of next summer, while traveling for the holidays. The similarities of the outer space capsule and the teamwork required melds nicely in this indie listenable.