Category: folk

Take a Card: folk rock

Mountain songs honoring the Old World (he means Europe, dude) of immigrants span centuries and inform our country, rock, and their offspring.

The message of good old folk music (poetic details of scratching meaning out of a lowly existence) leans nicely into protest rock. “Christmas Card” by Jon Latham is more modern than all that, but coulda been a contender around 1967.

Prison harmonica feists up Stephen L. Kelly’s “A Christmas Card.” This is a deadly serious love letter to the trappings of the holidays. He. Loves. It.

Nosie Katzmann pollutes his folk with flute and finger popping. But his “Christmas Cards” is alt folk, a modern emo unplugged whimsy about keeping in touch.

Scandinavians like our Wild West and cowboys and have contributed some interesting cowboy songs. The Ballroom Band plays sad moaning old timey folk like Dylan. “The Christmas Card” tells the story of loneliness and loss and that little ‘ol piece of paper.

Sing a Song of Singing Songs: now?!

Yeah there are a few more categorical cross-overs we might revisit here…

Many point out how early is too early (like a pig’s tail) for Christmas song playing.

Enna Chow needs a mic for Christmas. Strain for her “It’s Too Early for Christmas Carols.” No, don’t bother. Still November isn’t TOO early.

Try Hard Ninja gets funnier with a Bieber parody “Too Early for Christmas Songs.” Before Halloween might be a bit soon.

Paul and Storm bring it home with “The Way-Too-Early Christmas Song.” An actual song via musical talent always helps the satire, guys! Make bail soon.

Sing a Song of Singing Songs: the Bigger Guy

I know! We should sing to the birthday boy!

“Let’s Sing Praises to the King” sing The Sensational Nightingales. Pretty stuff.

The McKameys “Sing a Song About the Lamb” cleverly following the old sacrificial lamb to the old gods to the new lamb who is a Son of a God. Plodding ‘grass gospel.

Let’s get even more old Sunday school with a fine old album: American Folk Songs for Christmas, brought to you by Mike Seeger.

Included are tributes to The Jay-by “Sing Hallelujah” by Calum MacColl

and “Sing a Lamb” by Mike Seeger hisself.

As Seen on TV: Grey’s Anatomy

Slushy, sudsy, and saccharine, this replacement for human life weathers on yet today. The background music is brilliant at telegraphing the ‘complex’ emotions the scenes wreak within you. Some of it is well worth sharing, i will admit. Music from Grey’s Anatomy is nearly an industry in itself, despite the season often breaks around Xmas without addressing the holidays much.

SEASON 2: “This Christmastime” by Mascott is charming folk pop.

Any excuse for The LeeVees, please! “Latke Clan” bounces in that same realm.

“Christmas After All” by Maria Taylor is that self indulgent grown up pop that sounds better than it is.

SEASON 6: “A Magical Season” by Tim Myers is also adult bubblegum. YAWN.

“All I Want for Christmas (Is to Give My Love  Away)” by The Rescues is late nite FM porn. So sweet.

Ingrid Michaelson restores a tiny bit of integrity with authentic folk in “Snowfall.” Still too weepy by half.

SEASON 7: “It’s Christmastime” by Jules Larson is upbeat altpop. Something danceable at last.

Back to melancholia from Boy Least Likely To with “First Snowflake.” So thoughtful… snore.

“Nun Gimmel Heh Shin” by The LeeVees recites the dreidel faces with much ponderous portent.

As Seen on TV: My So-Called Life

A homeless person singing about home is touching enough to almost count as a Christmas song. When the show spawns a thousand hipsters and the pop/folk song is sung by Lemonheads’ Juliana Hatfield, then we must pay attention–quick–before the character freezes to death. “Make it Home” in its entirety here. On the show here:

 

As Seen on TV: Care Bears

These furry sapsters began as greeting cards, then movie stars. But they did have a TV series.

Oh, and a holiday album (or more): Care Bears Christmas (1982), and then the worse Holiday Hugs and Care Bears: Christmas Eve (both 2004).

Tiny tots may smile for “Holiday Hugs” and its smothering perkiness, but i find it analogous to being beaten with kittens.

“Christmas in Care-a-Lot” strives for more hep jazz, but comes off like a porkpie hat on a pile of feathers.

“Have a Merry, Merry Christmas” faux-rocks lamely enough to make me want to watch The Wiggles.

The original album

scores higher as a 13 minute story for kids to listen to, despite its arrival BEFORE the Saturday morning cartoon. The “Christmas Theme”

borrows from their own theme, but “Happy Christmas Time”

and “Here Comes Christmas” are a sloppy grinning hippie hug of family folk warmth.