Category: R&B

AI targets the shutins when ‘Gnine’ sings “A Carol for the Lonely.” Jazzy depression.

Sofia Talvik makes her “A Carol for the Lonely” more specific. This cello-driven dirge offer surcease to the unhoused and self-harming, at least with melodic compositioning.

Nate OG DET offers “Caroling 4 the Lonely!” as an R+B record skip, perhaps bc when they succumb no one will notice to fix that problem.

So much more grooving black plastic….

Finally some moody rap that takes us on a nostalgic beat: “snow in las vegas” by ELITHEGR8 (Elijah Lee). Playing vinyl is just one more symptom of the season.

Jolly R+B rap from James Barmore instructs one to produce “Hot Chocolate,” including the often discounted step–holidays classic vinyl hitting on the spin.

“Big Price” is the rap Luke Jenison (feat. Big Wy’s Brass Band)–set to some killa jazz/blues band–identifies what’s on the vinyl (Marvin Gaye). So let’s stay specific.

Give me all the sounds, bemoans C-SKY in her R+B pop “Sad Christmas” song. There IS something about playing records that whirl us into self reflected misery.

Alfie Jukes plays the radio and Frank Sinatra on vinyl for the most romantic party in town when it’s the “Second Christmas Day” he’s in love with you. Sweet, but needy indie.

Wanting a “Cowboy for Christmas.” Runaway June oddly eschews Gene for more Frank with some bopping jump blues honky tonk. Yee (haw).

Also spinning Frank on vinyl, Emma Klein gets trembly in her indie pop when she’s feeling how “Christmas Feels Different this Year.” Love does that.

Alysha Amerson goes full pop (still showtime) with her “Christmas Town.” This time it’s Buble on this vinyl. The WHOLE album? Oh, there’s also Mariah. Oh well.

“holiday vinyl” is John Cedrick picking up ’90s emo-rock to spin the ambience (Take your pick/Is it Britney or Mariah?) of the fireplace party.

“Another Sappy Xmas Love Song” features Dolly-like Maja Francis adding to the western oeuvre of being naughty (she scratched your favorite Elliot vinyl).

Loretta Lynn and Ricky spinning on vinyl cause some boot-scootin’ bluegrass for Anne Wilson’s “Kentucky Fried Christmas.” Grab your rafters, kids.

Better taste from Jessie T strikes up the Dean Martin while CW “Decorating that Tree.” Sadly, better listening does not equate into better composing.

Jesabel sets the “Christmas Mood” with Bing on vinyl. THAT’s whole lotta love better. Thank you. Fluttery, syncopated R+B.

Again: PST recounts childhood trauma seeing Dad when it shoulda been someone else in the unplugged folk “I Still Believe.” I mostly believe you, too.

Ne-Yo R+Bs the sobering realities of wintertime when cousins be spilling tea in “Talk About It.” People do their own thing. You do yours. He does his.

“Christmas Bullshit” from Identity Crisis is drunk garage hopelessness, although it discourages suicide.

Durand Bernarr also invokes R+B to paint the picture of parental brutality in the affecting “Santa Ain’t Buy That.” Parents don’t like being discounted. So, ow.

Annie & Ben trample ‘Jingle Bells’ to sketch an amusing descent into chaos at the North Pole. “Wake Up Santa” they hail, hoping Daddy will set things straight. Kidsong blight.

Bud Kirsch’s lugubrious “Wake Up Santa” slows the roll call with country crawling pop. Neither the angel Gabriel nor the elves can do it. Threats are made.

Grampa rock from Ashford calls out “Santa Wake Up!! Wake Up Santa!” Off key shot calling from some armchair Claus.

“Wake Up Santa Claus” is equally atonal, but the big band backing Clarence Daniels covers for a lot of warbling.

Another diamond-in-the-rough novelty gem, “Santa’s Funky Wake-Up Call” by Rick Quarles (The Singing Science Teacher) does indeed get funky. He may have saved Christmas. Uh-oh, he didn’t!

Look to the skies! (when looking for Santa) advises Karl Vrålstad with new age country in “Ringing for Christmas.” Takes itself pretty seriously, but it’s pretty serious stuff.

Kidstuff from bickerers Scott and Mia Staton who pop out “Hey Hey Santa” to get his attention Christmas Eve. Cute and annoying at the same mo’.

Life-size Aussie dinosaur puppets churn out the pop “Magical Christmas.” Let’s all look out for the sleigh, they recommend, along with other chores. Kidsongs do that.

“Funky Sleigh Ride” from Chris Meijer and Carl-Johan de Neergaar (feat. Pia Bergler, Alexander Larsson & Stina Meijer) gets the funky beat down, but the order not just to look out for, but Watch Out For S.C. rankles a bit. Danger, Goodwill Robinson!

Dedicated to all those up past their bedtimes, “It’s Christmas Time Again” is family-friendly rap from Tyler Van Den Berg. It’s a whole show.

Kelly Clarkson has reasons to be up late: I need your arms now /Wrap me up all night long in the R+B stormer “You for Christmas.” So not sleeping with–?

Less obvious, Courtney Lashelle claims she “Don’t Need Christmas” so long as she got you. Up all night I stay awake/Playing our favorite song, she R+B purrs… then soul shouts later to get your attention. Yes?

Catherine Pittman tries for the olde-timey operetta in “A Mother’s Christmas Dream.” Too loud to be a lullaby, too boring to be a dream.

Enya New Ages “Dreams are More Precious” to put you in an hallucinatory mood. What day is this?

“A Christmas Sort of Dream” from We Know, Plato! explores the minutiae of the holidays with retro pop fancifulness. Some fun.

When you’re all I want for Christmas, then you’re my “Christmas Dream.” Thus reasons Ivan Tolbert (feat. Tyler Stone, Ashton Cash, August Royal & D. Ella Flowers) with finger popping R+B. You don’t have to be asleep for this dream, but you might wanna sleep WITH her.

What else can we do in bed Xmas Day?

Hey Monea! pop down the fun with “Christmas in Bed.” They don’t need the snow to show them where their lips should go. (?!?)

Eliza Doolittle also wants to spend “Christmas in Bed.” This time the finger poppin’ R+B smooves the innuendo into a rocking rhythm (not rolling, just rocking).

Even more “Christmas in Bed” from Jade Novah soulsters the R+B back into romantic realms. But, when she says she doesn’t need any gift wrapping in bed… am i reading too much into that?

Christmas stocking troubleshooting certainly involves technical issues, but can deal with overall seasonal hiccups as well.

The Martial Arts key into ’70s hard synth (pop verging on punk) to cry out heartbreak in their flaming “Stockings.” I’m doing the slide! I’m about to pogo!

“Stockings Hung by the Fireplace” according to Goiter incur one significant problem. Experimental weirdness.

Trouble in paradise in the form of “Stockings,” a wonderful retro pop-sterpiece from How to Swim. He feels abandoned, but rhymes that with no longer companions. Fun.

Those Death by Disco boys commiserate with hard rocking in “Hang Up Your Stocking.” Yeah, I know we’re through.

Shylo’s “Broken on Christmas” has a wish, but hanging the stockings gives no relief. You’re not here. R+B catastrophe.

Grownups want stockings filled as well!

C’mon back! Guns of Nevada funk up the American rock/country with a bottom line demand: “Liquor in My Stocking.”

Lynn Cornell hits a 1960 sweet spot with …not exactly RnR …not exactly R+B …not exactly big band pop …but exactly “Xmas Stocking.” It’s like a love song and a Christmas song had a baby …in a stocking.

The Men resort to begging (Santa) for their “Christmas Stockings.” R+B piano lounge list out their wishes: girls. And common sense.