Category: folk

Roll On: Carl

Languages are tricky. CARL could be peasant, citizen, or husband depending on how old of German you consult. Could be all three, i guess.

Lovebirds “Carl And Mavis” according to Otis Gibbs were cheapskates of a high order, especially around the holidays. Budgeteering blue grass.

In Tim McGraw’s “Beautiful People” ordinary schmoes like Carl (who dress up like St. Nick for sick kids) are given the deep dive so’s we know they’s okay. What passes for country these days.

Likely this is the same Carl in John E. Eagle’s “The Ballad of a Broken Mall Santa“. Just a pinch of honky tonk here helps the country.

Definitely not the same guy as “Uncle Carl” by Aaron LaCombe. This husband has a secret to tell at the family Xmas table. Sorrowful, yet slightly more authentic, country.

With a soft spot for Phineas and Fern, i might include their ensemble “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as the Major scolds Carl by name for dunkin’ the punch early in it.

John Boy & Billy have a notion that comedy results in odd combos, so they squeeze Karl Childer’s character from ‘Sling Blade’ into A Christmas Carol. “Christmas Karl I“, “II“, and “III” tell the tale. Lowbrow, umm hmmm.

More ‘A Christmas Carol’ comedy from Carla Jiminez, “Carla’s Christmas Message“. Tends to meander while tooting her own horn.

Carla may a bit more take charge than Carl. Seems “Carla Came Home” for Xmas… after murdering her abusive husband. Chris Knight twangs and hollers for even more country.

Spoofing on a ‘Grinch’ song Blayne Powder falsettos “Where Are You Carlyn?” for almost a minute at a time without cracking himself up.

“The Swedish Way to Celebrate” seems to involve watching the seminal holiday classic ‘Sagan om Karl-Bertil Jonssons Julafton’. For the kids. Easy listening from Kerstin Adeström, Ola W Jansson, & Sami Yousri.

Fugli returns with his “Pirate Santa Karl” yarn. Funny folk.

Then it gets dark. Carl Stevens swears vengeance in Angry Johnny And The Killbillies’ “Slaughter In A Winter Wonderland“. Parody in ‘billy. For mature audiences, or somebody with a nasty sense of humor.

In GenjiPenji’s AI metal screecher “All Hans On” the terrorist crew from ‘Die Hard’ are all named like reindeer, but Karl is singled out as the secondary boss. He crazy.

Miloh Ramai promises love “For Christmas“, ‘cuz he can’t afford Karl (as in Lagerfeld). Easy listening prettiness.

Lacy J Dalton’s “Carl the Christmas Dog” is trouble. His antics require a rush to the animal hospital. Perhaps a happy ending (not for the cat). NOT good dog Carl. Folk funnies.

Roll On: Ben

Whether Benedict (aka breakfast), Benjamin (aka hundo), Bentley (aka auto), or Bennet (cf Pride & Prejudice)… BEN is a son of a man. Unless the last name is Dover….

Wee Turtles totally rock “Benjamin, Santa’s On To You” like they can help that naughty guy.

“Bennet’s Wish” from King Dow is more commercial than musical.

xtcdreams gives a shout out to Bennet while counting Grandma’s presents in the mail. “chex mix.” is growly rap with a chip on the shoulder.

AI ruins more kidsong in “Benny the Christmas Goat” ‘by’ Mark Travlin & Mark Womack. He’s a magical Christmas helper.

House dog Louis sings “Benny It’s Cold Outside” seeing as how Benny wants to go out at Xmas time. Trent Austin (and significant other) represents the need to pee in parody.

Josh Belville describes Uncle Benny’s overreaction when he drops the spirit in his folk family revelation “Xmas Needed a Heretic Genius“. Fun stuff.

You remember Uncle Ben! He’s the one who first gets slugged in Yogi Yorgesson’s “I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas.” Classic Scandihoovian polka.

“Benny’s Dream” by Sir Prize & The Twomorrow Knightz plays with Elton John fandom around Xmas time. Benny Kline, as the story goes, wants The Jets for the holidays. And to play drums at Dodger Stadium. Downbeat pop.

Also dabbling with the famous, “Christmas And Ice Cream And You” by Tim Ponzek (feat. Lisa Pressman) belabors flavors and firms of icy treats (for the holidays), including a couple of my old employers: Ben and Jerry. Awfully amusing easy listening.

Norick Eve’s “You Give Better Gifts To Ben” is a whistling whine-fest of indie unseriousness. Everything’s a contest with you millennials.

Kathy Reid-Naiman intones the cautionary tale of “Big Belly Ben” who ate wa-a-a-a-y too many latkes for the holidays. Like 23. Jazzish folk.

Roll On: Arthur

ARTHUR means bear, or stone, or brave. Depends on its etymology. Or the guy you’re talking about.

In “Arthur’s Christmas“, he tries to best Trevor for the affections of Molly. But he’s too nice for her. So, country. ‘Cuz it’s from Gary Country.

Brett Campbell introduces “Arthur the Christmas Cat” like he’s the star of some overhyped sitcom. Pounding pop, yet cuddly.

“Art Song” involves Art, a naked Santa, accused of stealing a Christmas tree by the runners of Bob’s Burgers. For watchers of the show, this is NOT strange.

A filthy BLUE ALERT tirade from Art the Fart, “The Art B4 Christmas Terrifier Style” comes from Prioritize.Ltd records, but haunts us all forever.

One fine Irish holiday morning, the singer and the cousin “Arthur McBride” are propositioned by the British army for conscription. A fight ensues. The spirit of Christmas may not pervade this folk ballad, but that’s the world for you. Cassie and Maggie go the distance on this Old World warning. [Paul Brady sets the vocal sex aright–sounds like a pubescent lad he does.]

Roll On: Arnold

Eagle Power!!! That’s ARNOLD!!!

Panic Moon Productions leans into the fussy connotations of the name with the comedy bit “Arnie Android“, an AI what’s gonna wish you happy… something.

“Arnold’s Christmas” rapped by Lärs (feat. Ragen & Lun) is overlapping muttering about some dark business. I think.

Three Day Threshold & Summer Villains power pops the folk of “Arnie’s Christmas Tree Farm“. It’s a rushed sing along of charm.

Roll On: Archie

ARCHIBALD from High German means truly bold. I mean, toto in yer face.

Not sure what to make of Master Solo’s “The Last Xmas Of Achiebald Sterling“, all 13 seconds of it. But this is an infertile concept.

Desperately, I’ll include “Duck The Hogs (Archie’s Christmas Song)” with neither hide nor hair of Archie himself, as presented by Millwood Ministries of SC. Bit o’ fun.

“Archie the Archaeopteryx” from Kara Kaufman’s Xmas tunes into dino profiles dwells in the precious kidsong pool.

Karl Williams strums and hums “Archibald Elf” with a bit of vim. But this folk kidsong resides in amateur purgatory.

Roll On: Alexander

ALEXANDER is a Great name, so don’t get defensive. Actors, inventors, Presidents, and Popes all sport this effortlessly.

Kenny J uses soca to search for “Alexander” for the holidays. The flute does it for me.

AI loves cats, too. “Alex and Olaf’s Christmas Glow” is FLUXCULT seriously taking on kitty pop.

I have not offered “Alex the Reindeer” before, despite my set of reindeer postings. It’s not because Al Walser’s lounge pop is terrible. I just didn’t. Now i did. It’s from a book.

A human Alex finds “Santa’s Super Sleigh I” in Shu Chen Hou’s cheesy pop AI adventure.

Under the spell of Grandpa Alex, Sarah Sherkhan decorates the tree while Pop’s singing “I believe in a miracle“. Glee club or AI?

Mattthew sings about Alec’s mother calling about the free Christmas tree she snagged in the spoken word indie “Bougainvilleas“. Getting weird here.

Holy Pinto is in east “Texas” Christmas Eve, whining and regretting and singing about missing Alex’s floor. Mystical folk, or i wouldn’t bother. I mean, what th–

‘God rest YE merry gentlemen….’

Darryl Gregory wrestles easy listening open with some pretty cool violin, but “Christmas with You” is for the old folks. Ensure eggnog, you know.

The Fake Swears beg for your return in “We Didn’t Start the Yule Log“, not a Billy Joel parody but an ADHD love rant set to garage messiness.

MORGEN (feat. Sydney Smithmartin) employs personification with the chimney indie pop “We Love You Christmas”. The addition of rap doesn’t ground it.

The Steeles also apply the second person to someone besides you, the listener, while hymning “We Worship You”. Credit where credit is dutiful.

Starshine Singers are looking at YOU when they itemize all the charity needed for the needy in the kid hymn “What Can You Do?” Step up, ye capitalist!

Thrice a Chuckle softens the interrogation with the folk rhetorical question “What Do You Know?” This retrospective over youth, love, parentage seems pointed even for poetry.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmFGQXMAUhw&list=RDcmFGQXMAUhw&start_radio=1

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Mick the Mongoose & St. Olaf & the Electric Reivers (Collaboration) fuss up the old style pop with filters and sentimentality with “You Glow“. Kissing is a theme here.

Make Like Monkeys does not mean to imply “I’m Gettin’ Nothin’ for Xmas” means they are empty handed. You are all they need. Nothing else required for dharma. Purposeful pop.

Molly Burch sweet talks her ootsie vocals until “I’m Yours (For the Season)” seems like a babysitting job. Pop and cheese.

John Pryne takes his own virtuosic time to posit “If You Were the Woman and I was the Man“. It’s a folk rock duet, so the labels may be self applied.

Mr. Devin Sellers may be soft-pedaling you when folksinging “In Love at Christmastime“. You are just an item on his laundry list of yule. But you ARE on it. Altfolk.

Ages completes out triptych of folk-like serenading with “It Came Upon A Midnight Hazy“. They don’t wanna let it by without you. Okay?

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Aloe Blacc works himself up with R+B and funk to determine “I Got Your Christmas Right Here“. Imagine the appropriate gesture for here at your peril.

The Mavericks play it cool through bebopping blues to reveal “I Have Wanted You For Christmas“ since the world began. Even before Christ. I guess. May be exaggerating a bit. Don’t care when it’s this good.

Andy Miller confesses to wanting you but also messing things up when he makes up the folk as he goes. “I Hope You Still Love Me on Christmas” is a bit wishy washy, but heartfelt.

The Goldiggers get stuck between repetition and scat when they big band their easy listening “I Just Want You for Christmas“. You girls!

George Stait stays aw shucks focused when he two-steps through “I Know What I Want for Christmas“. Despite the CW buildup, it’s just being with you. Not like a kidney or anything.

Winterval unleashes the power of gentle New Age indie on “I Love You More Than Christmas Day“. Kisses and ultimatums pop up in this simple simmering of feelings. But it’s courteous.