Category: country sort of

Christmas… No Biggie

Rob From Amersfoort has a bone to pick with Christmas. Rather than force gratitude for crappy gifts, he rock-pops about how he’s like to “Smash the Elves” instead. It’s what he’d really rather do. Frolicsome sociopathy.

He then uses choice descriptors like wretched, forced, and cheap to excuse his excuse: “Christmas No Thanx (Hallelujah)“. Twisty pop with loads of synth that points out the spike in suicide for the season. Ouch.

Bird Mancini thinks he needs a pill, “Because It’s December“. You know, when all those headaches happen. Folksy blues.

Maybe “Merry Christmas to You… Anyway” qualifies Miss Jackie and the Sass. Much more bluesy, as uncertain a genre as could be.

Zoe Imperium has had several troubles during “Another Messed Up Holiday“. Take your cheer and go away. Rocking long list of woes.

Tagged as a Spoof Song, DrScythe’s “Like Christmas” is a Western strummer that asks for your pretense more than your presents. Exciting inertia.

Blasé Christmas

The Plurals “Ask Nich?” as in St. Nich–but their screaming garage metal is good enough for me, not.

In the “Holiday Hospital” Holographic Crew autotunes a real bitchfest of Xmas excesses. Rap, in a side way, with a measure of pornographic parody BLUE ALERT.

Two sides of the coin, “Lovely Christmas” by Jason Ringenberg (feat. Kristi Rose) presents the maudlin country praise offset by the punk pissiness. Debaters shake hands, and come out swinging.

Sending up Mariah, Smokey Katie country complains “All I Want For Christmas is a God Dang Break“, with a full inventory of wrongs done unto her.

Christmas? Unimpressed

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.

X-Games: Bowling

Paul Kelly’s “Behind the Bowler’s Arm” waiting for the day after Xmas to hit the lanes. Gentle and thoughtful folk rock, surprisingly.

For Laura Dern and the Dinosaurs, bowling is just something else to do with their “Christmas Friend“. Cautious garage.

Joel Kopischke enlarges the parody universe with “Bowling Wonderland“. It strikes.

Dr. BLT (feat. Roxie FT) hollers about Santa in his country pop “Candy Cane Lanes“. Ol’ Nick’s a baller.

X-Games: Cards

Do card games up the ante for Xmas?

Certainly the pasteboards figure into the “Christmas Casino Dream“, but Nicola Maurantonio slops the AI into soft lounge jazz. so who cares?

Hans, Angelo drunkenly raps “Christmas Poker” with his strategizing all over the rooftop. Even my notes don’t help.

Pokemon is also a card game. Sadly the supporting music doesn’t rise much above the BLUE ALERT “A Relatively Poke Christmas“, in which the Poke Gangster raps nonsense from his poke of view.

Bob Rivers barely saves that day with his parody “Pokemon” about how obnoxious the over-hyped hobby is to parents.

Or maybe the odd pop of ChikënFist’s “Christmas of Want [Adolescent Lament]” will help. Pokemon joins the list of must haves, along with Stretch Armstrong and a Gameboy.

Remy molds a more learned parody “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Grixis” for all the MTG players out there. In-joke fun. (His “Tarmo the Green-Nosed Lhurgoyf” is also amusing.)

Stephanie Waldvogel’s “Carol of the Spells” succeeds not quite as well for the same card game. Quit caring about good music!

Brian Falduto’s “Christmas Solo” celebrates all things lonely, including playing solitaire. Peppy country pop undercuts this table for one, but that irony sells it.

The coolest Christmas card-player song must be “Dingo” by A Harris and Hart Holiday. This cowboy tale told in spoken-rap is traditional novelty. I mean that in the best possible way. The game goes wrong, spills into the street, and then….

Big Screen: That Time of the Year Flicker

Marlete Volz’s movies are homemade, but a big sore point. “All Christmas Does” is remind her you’re gone. Barely hanging in there vocals over slow symphonic pop.

Keyla is more convincing with her sultry snarling R+B “My Christmas Blues“. Even with enough movies and cookies, joy not gonna happen. He gotta come home. Damn.

Niquio claims there’s “More To Christmas” than presents and movies. His soaring pop diva delivery makes me believe. Hand me the remote.

Josefine Luna traps a childhood memory in amber with her breathy country/pop “Christmas Day“. Movies on repeat may have more to do with her upbringing than the season, sadly.

Big Screen: Natale Cinema

Jake Hadrick dutifully synthesizes out the list of wintry attributes (movies!) in a sort of rap for “A Christmas to Remember“. What was i talking about again?

More confidently Teauxbba childchants “Ho-Ho-Host a Christmas Party“. I wouldn’t say no; sounds fun. And the movies are for inspiration, not a party activity.

Haylee Joe would prefer to ditch the overplayed movies for a better Xmas treat: a big man. Overplayed–albeit calm–flirty pop delivers “Santa, Did You Get My Letter?”

AI to the rescue! Eh I By brings us “Christmas Movie Nights“, where we’re back to title-dropping with morals attached. Country rock of the boot scooting sort.

Big Show: Xmas Roundup

AI squirrels around the idea of a “Christmas Rodeo” until we get a mischievous exploration of elf downtime. Electronic country pop supposedly by Trinity Jones.

In “Santa’s Rodeo Dream” AI hoots and hollers the country rock so know what bronc busting must feel like. Epic Powers Potion goes for it.

Sandra Tingalay gets quieter (with harmonica) for a better AI “Rodeo Christmas.” Recognizably country western.

Big Show: Nativity on the Road

Lilac Roadkill is none too kind when describing the “Nativity Scene” they came across. Indie dissent.

Joshua Jesty gets reflective from the annual “Nativity Scene” with his spoken word folk rant. There’s name calling.

Garage odd, “Why Did I Put Mayonaise On The Nativity Scene?” by SLUGGISHA TAPES is less public show and more embarrassing table spread.

Bryan Mangieri celebrates a nasal country “Trailer Park Nativity.” It’s a state of mind. Like Alabama.

And So… Caroling.6

New age indie spaciness from Amanda Rogers challenges you to be ready “When the Carolers Come.” Have snacks and your soul ready.

“Caroling on the Prairie Line” is AI from Rachid Boutaicha about partying down in a swinging hometown. That’s country swinging, sir.

“Caroling on the Range” by Rachid Boutaicha is a mess of cowboy country, kidsong pop, and homey traditions. Love it.