Category: country sort of

Family makes everything complicated, from Oedipal issues to racist oldsters to genetic disorders. Is that enough to ruin the holidays?

Adolphe Adam wails some ‘grass country blues as “I Hate Christmas” away from home. See, in this case, Xmas means you miss the ones you love best when you can’t be there. Yeah, that’s heavy. Asleep at the Wheel honky tonks the hell out of it as well.

The real problem is diagrammed by Kristin Key with real lounge comedy in “Hate My Family at Christmas.” Some unasked-for banjo insists this is a redneck’s problem.

Sara Baker has a special reason when she belts out “(I Hate) Every Single Christmas.” The fam is all after her, like why no ring? why no kids? why no matchey matchey? Soaring country show tune.

That stupid Santa, the terrible tinsel, ludicrous lights… i could just explode! All together these are the thousands drops of water torture.

Ambivalently, Malach! Poe offkey garages “Dear Christmas (I Kind of Hate You).” Can’t commit to a feeling, or a key–the whole number is verisimilitude malaise.

Do You Hear What I Hear (feat. Joseph Cimino) salsas up the bad feelings with “I Hate the Holidays.” Because of a suggestion of singing curative, this smacks of aversion therapy.

Dr. BLT begins with general hating, but “I Hate Christmas (And Other Lies)” rosters up the fa la la loathing about the the little things around your decorated home. Is he kidding? Country fun.

Perhaps you have a good reason for being “sick”? What if you had to work?!

“Calling in Sick at Christmas” doesn’t hint at what awful occupation Harley and the Hoggbites are dodging. Who’s out there? Police, firefighters, air traffic controllers, doctors… nobody important we can’t do without. Nasal country honky tonk.

Underneath it all, we start the ensemble.

Courtney Stoddard has already described the “Mistletoe Bikini” of legend. Worth a second lick.

Considerably more family friendly, “Pink Panties, The Christmas Song” deals with presents (more later). Mark Scherbel spins a country tale of such decorous decorativeness, however, it must be visited here. Charming.

The best tribute to those novelty noel naughty underthings comes from Kacey Jones. Country comedy called “I’m Down to My Christmas Underwear” does not address that actual time of year, but the quandry concerning those things you won’t wear–ever.

The season is upon us… what to wear?! (Spoiler alert: it’s going to be mostly ugly sweaters and Santa suits.)

First off–what’s the weather outside (frightful?). Then we recommend “Winter Clothes” as kidsonged by Joanie Calem.

Tom Rambow (The Porch Owls) takes a different (folk) route with his “Winter Clothes” all about lovers’ regrets. Pretty stuff.

Back Pocket gets alt jazz with “Winter Clothes” about depression and pain.

“Winter Clothes” for Marrus is just baggage. Garage light.

Derek Fawcett eases the mood when he signs about the weather worsening calling out for “Winter Clothes.” But then his pop folk starts the blame game with some metaphor for his relationship. Crybaby.

Retro pop folk (like Simon and Garfunkle) is Grace Basement with “Warmest Winter Clothes.” See, his love will keep off the chill….

Since the mood is so poetical, let’s party out with “Winter Dress” (code for Mother Nature & snow) from Humming House. Honky tonk pop.

If it’s a card at Christmas, but it’s not a Christmas card… what is it?

The Effengee’s (by way of a fine John Prine sound) folk their Dylanesque “Card with No Name.” But it’s about (among other things) a gift with a blank tag. Enigmatically emblematic.

Jethro Tull’s “Birthday Card at Christmas” also dodges the traditional posting. This is the mad symphonic rock of Ian Anderson, expect multiple meanings.

John Vosel & The Partycrashers have a country swing-pop rock chimney warning for you: don’t send a “Belated Christmas Card.” This guy hates waiting by the mail box.

Country and rock’n’roll have the same progenitor (i guess most popular music does). Suffice to say, if you hear guitar twiddling, but the beat is up–you got us a hybrid.

Luke Pilgrim gets ‘Murrikan with “A Christmas Card” for someone he cares deeply about, but can’t open up to. So he ratchets up the backbeat.

Swinging electric for the “Cowboy Country Christmas Card” mashes up the old and new for Stephen Amos. Some fine licks, but the song’s all about selling it.

Jingle bells, fuzzy filters, raspy vocals should add to the country of Mitchell Stone’s “My Christmas Card to You.” But it’s awful. He wishes you joy, happiness, and Mitchell Stone.

Pretty as peaches, but weary as worn shoes Jim Starks troubs “A Christmas Card” about a lonely man reading more into that piece of mail than you prolly intended. Yeah it’s only a soft rock connexion.

Something as primal as ancestral (European) music evolves with our changing needs to feel crappy. Cue the steel guitar!

Someone decided that the scratchy screechy vocalists of yore could be replaced with boys with the pipes of angels. Doug Stone tenors tenderly into the sad regret of “A Christmas Card.” He wishes you well, wherever you are.

Steven Curtis Chapman might be country but his reassuring “Christmas Card” is soapy boy band pop. Cool song, irritating delivery.

Taking the John Denver approach, Brad Parker plays up our hopes (not a country trope) with a “Christmas Card.” But, i think he’s sending it home from prison. So that’s better.

Frolicking fun from Phyllis Sinclair switching up to pop music time beating on her guitar with “Handwritten Christmas Card.” The pickin’ bridge is wonderful. I’m dancing.