Category: jazz

Could mean bird, could mean First Woman… AVA is self-contained, short palindromic perfection.

“This Kind of Christmas” by Howlin’ Chip is AI funky country, almost convincing. But it’s confused subject matter about fears and tears and wars and jukes–at least there’s a bartender named Ava.

The protagonist in Davis Smith’s carol isn’t a social butterfly. He attends the Xmas party reluctantly and does NOT fit in. He does notice Ava’s with John (huh). But he’d rather be “Home Alone“. Kick ass pop.

Morris & Rivers’s “Shopping Mall Santa” deals with too many names (oopsie), including Larry (night shift) and Timmy and Hunter (lap sitters), but in this jazz lounge torch burner Ava stands out–asking Big Red for a blowtorch. Burnout’s a’comin’.

Dorothy seems to be you, provided you are a dinosaur, in The Wiggles’ “Will You Dance With Me Around The Christmas Tree?” Kidsong with a hint of psychedelia. Okay then.

Why Don’t We make with the music, not the meaning so much, in the R+B love assault “With You This Christmas“.

“Are You Coming Home for Christmas?” wonder The Webb Brothers with rocking love.

Tom Odell means well, but will be “Spending All My Christmas with You (Next Year)“. Timing, my man. Bluesy rocking pop.

Wheelchair Full of Men center me into a novelty universe with the barely BLUE “Merry Christmas, You Son of a Bitch“. It’s an off key indie toast to an alcoholic.

While novelized, let’s give an ear to Waylan St. Palan & The Magic Elves ragtime declaiming “You’re Off the List“. He knows when YOU’re naughty, not when I’m naughty.

“Where Were You On Christmas?” BulletRiddled asks, a drear tone suggesting you know more than you’re letting on. Spill! Where’s your soul?!

When The Peter Pan Christmas Players sing “Won’t You Come Home” it’s not for Bill Bailey (same tune), but for Dear Andrew. So, that’s who you is. Kidsong, for Christmas, probably.

As childish, R+B pop music from Liz Thresher, “Wrap Me Up in Your Cheer” flirts with candy canes and reindeer games. Odd.

Chris and Bri champion codependency with “Wrapped Under the Tree“. It’s gotta be you. Sassy R+B.

Jump Back Jake favors thoughtful lyrics with his reflective, self doubting “Xmas Time“. It’s a profession of love, from an amateur. Driving blues rock.

LaLa Deaton torches “You” all loungey and jazzish and heavy lidded. She’s got moves, vocally.

Jeff Dunham voices his dummies for a holiday wish “From Us to You (The Whole Gang)“. The Whole Gang in this case is the US. But with this watery country pop, who cares?

The Boston based ??? make fun of you, or themselves, or brain damage with their frivolous “It Reminds Me of You!”. Pop doggerel, with your daily allowance of irony.

The Wiggles mean someone especial when they kidsong the pop of “It’s Always Christmas With You!” They mean Santa. But they say you. Kids get it.

Why can’t we all just get along. Stop you’re crying. So singeth Jamie Cullum in his big swing band number “It’s Christmas“. Brassy!

The Haystack Cookies take their feet off the pedal with their thoughtful band number “It’s Just You & Me (This Christmas Eve)“. Very slow dance.

Amazing Amar explains “It’s Xmas Everywhere You Go” in measured jazz slush, just to let you know you’re interchangeable with it. I’m not sure how happy he is about this.

Music with Mar. finally adds some kidding to our month with “Happy Holidays to You“. Kazoos herald Santa. Dreidles spin under the candles. Insistent wishing.

The Whispers Motown their harmony for “Happy Holidays to You“. It’s quite a production for such a simply sweet sentiment.

You and me, according to The Crystalairs, will make a “Happy New Year“. Christmas, too. Doo wop warmed over with R+B.

This year I want you alone, explains jardinière covering The Maine’s “Ho Ho Hopefully“. Not sure who ‘she’ is in this context. But, you got this. Indie monotony.

Kat Perkins draws a line with “Holiday for You and Me“. If you cross it, you will have a good time. Unpasteurized pop.

Dave Barnes is thinking about you while picking out a tree. “Holidays Made for Two” is finger popping lounge jazz, but he gets it right.

“All I Want from Santa” is an ukulele attack from Martin Blasick. He only wants one thing. It’s you. Cue the trombones. Cazh blues with an island air.

“All I Want from Santa, Baby, Is You” is a bongo approach from Ralph. Beat blues that’s up all night… for Santa… and you.

“All I Want Is You This Christmas” is an AI attempt from Dennis Johnson. It’s traditional country whining, unimproved by algorithms.

“The Cute Lepers Christmas Song” is a punk workaround from Cute Lepers (duh). Loads wrong, you’re right. Sounds like love.

“Anything But You” is a provisional from Vista Blue. See they don’t want anything… [insert title here]. Romantic garage.

“Apricity” is a requiem from Bri Kaye. It’s focused on YOU, but your absence drives the New Age indie sorrow. Doesn’t look like that absence is ever going away….

Loss is often mocked with others’ joy, Xmas being especially unsympathetic. “Alone @ Christmas” is R+B from Fave slickly getting back at the merry makers.

“A.A.C. (Alone At Christmas)” is echoic soul pop from Des Hume. It barely takes a breath in its misery. But the solution is pretty straightforward: Just Hold Me.

“Alone At Christmas” is measured folk rock from Kevin Wilson Scott. It’s pretty crummy, he insists. But he might mean the music. Eating could be the cure.

The Pink Tiles up the echo to eleven with the retro pop “Alone Again at Christmas Time“. Bangin’ that axe like it’s the one what left you. It rox.

“Alone at Christmas” is New Age indie from Jeffrey Lorne. There’s mystical gloom and doom, without angry accusations. So, it’s settled.

Kimaya Diggs gets her torch song on with “Alone at Christmas“, protracting her holiday complaints into a single sad–but not that bad–sitch.

THE AUX would rather have “Christmas Alone” than be with you. Rocking garage indie.

Also rocking–now with ‘billy, Bob Wire & Chip Whitson declare “I’d Rather be Alone” than deal with Xmas traditions. It IS a lot of work. But now i’m dancing.

The Haystack Cookies bring the bluegrass to “How Can I be Alone?” They ask the hard questions with their soft vocals.

Absolutely swinging jazz from Darlene Love, “All Alone on Christmas” takes isolation and smacks some dance into it.

Parodying Shakin’ Stevens with glee, Pete Jones lays into “Snow Is Falling (A Crappy Old Christmas)” with British obscenity [BLUE ALERTish] and jazz band wankiness. Angry fun.

Clanky old indie from L’Resorts who are “Trying to Christmas“–in others words ‘not do.’ Nice ’90s feel.

Marzo Urrabaco & The Electrolyte Orchestra chats up a storm while old school riffs fill the background of “Cookies & Pies, Demolition Derby…Let it Ride“. Beat poetry never ends well for traditional celebration.

Austin Martinez revs up the garage pop to propose the imponderable: “So This is Christmas“. Now my emotions all starts going down.

A parody of Mel Blanc’s ‘Christmas Tree’, Joel Kopishke takes the holidays to task with a “Stupid Christmas Song“. Salvation Army, cards, stockings, and even this song make his list. And it’s not a nice list.

Greg Alexander is walking around with “Sleighbells in My Head“. Jazzy indie with hopes for a happy holiday. But it’s stuck in his head.