Year-round Yuletide oddities
A nod to that Mayan apocalypse once again, “Christmas 2011” by Molly ‘Danger’ Bracknell lays light folk on the doom. Hey! Live for the moment!
Back to rap. This time a showdown ‘twixt Kuniza, Bizarre, and Swift recorded Christmas 2011–so ‘expect topicality up the wazoo. “Kill Zone Freestyle” gives credit to D12.
True story from Tom Dyer, “Propane Santa” rocks the encounter with a bedraggled red-wearing someone who just vanishes. But, it happened.
September Stories regrets “Christmas 2012” with downbeat pop about how you BLUE ALERTed her when we shoulda all been friends.
The Deadbeats prophecy death, zombies, and needing nothing for “Christmas 2012.” Garage grunge for today.
Weird timpanic rap from Tramaine Hopkins Unhs and rhymes that “Christmas Rocks 2012.” Discouraging.
More bummer from Glove Compartment from whom 2012 is when “Christmas is Ruined.” The old marrieds are miserable and the holidays make it worse with piano-heavy pop/rock. (Reminds me of the theme to Cheers.)
Bugle and Street lay out creole with “Jolly Christmas,” a hollering parang (‘m flashing back to Bobcat Goldthwait) that–i swear–mentions the year somewhere.
Prog rock rulez! “Christmas 2012” is on a plastic sign that appears in the relics of a past age. Spooky mysticism from ifsounds. Guitar solo!
Finally! A true Christmas novelty number! The Benefit posit What If– God sent his only child to save Earth when the apex species was dinosaur? Jaunty folk rock with speechification (rather than singing). “T-Rexmas (A Nativity Story 65 Million Years in the Making).” Fun!
Maybe all those reindeer need to take a step up is a bit of encouragement. Santa does call ’em out, after all.
Eclectic Blonde chants “Fly Santa Fly” as a child in a letter she finds in the attic. Cheerleading done to country pop, but the guitar through line is pretty catchy. Nana nana nana.
“The Reindeer” are reminded how good they are in the Withers parody. I think the snowmen are telling them… not sure.
Watch Out for Rockets knows how to command with the driving music power rock of “Fly Reindeer Fly.” Lift off!
Whaddya do with a dead reindeer? (Many of our blogged songs have covered this territory afore, we’ll focus on some new juicy cuts.)
Other reindeer don’t seem to take it well when Santa snacks on “Rundown Reindeer.” Mark Cummings infuses his band number with some fiery honky tonk piano.
Justifiable hoof-icide from Arthur Kill and The Pollutants, “All of Santa’s Reindeer” is a jolly pop punk salute to disappointment. It didn’t solve the problem, just made them feel angry.
Well, let’s eat (more sugar!)–
Chuck Picklesimer returns as is right with “Reindeer for Breakfast on Christmas.” Traveling weird country music.
Gregorian chanting from The Withers wonders “Flank, Hock, or Hoof“? Pass the salt.
Back Pocket take some roadside Blitzen for their roast beast feast in “Reindeer & Gravy.” They were driven to it! Boisterous folk rock fun.
The power of Christmas compels you… to quit your naughty ways! In defense of the bad some reindeer do:
“Lesser Known Reindeer” rocks the metal out of some of the accomplishments of our grateful eight, but there’s some trouble according to Revenge of the Egg People. Be wary.
More familiarly, Michael Stipe carols out the ‘Olive the Reindeer’ rocker “We’re Not So Bad.” What say ye, jury?
How much do we love Santa’s reindeer?!
Jonathan Groff as Sven from ‘Frozen’ has his musical moment in the ‘duet’ “Reindeers are Better Than People.” Folk musing.
Erica Fleischmanns kid assembly song “Reindeer on the Roof” associates the beastly herd with glorious treasure. Hooray! Clatter!
Leelu gets ’60s folk hand-holdy with the anticipatory “I’ve Got Reindeer on My Roof.” We’ve been waiting so long!
Just as kum ba yah, those Hawaiian melody mavens The Brothers Cazimero make magic of “8 Tiny Reindeer.” Despite the brand name dropping, this is imagination-pricking.
Kid song gone too far is The Yule Logs letting their freak flag fly as each in turns sings “I Walked with a Reindeer” Last Night over and over again. Sweet mindless repetitive rock is the true tribute.
Hang on a sec, or a coupla secs anyway–we all on the same page when it comes to reindeer? Y’know, Rangifer tarandus? Sure you’ve got the cartoons in your head, or you’ve seen the European pants-wetting children’s petting zoo antics… but ARE they caribou? DO both males and females have antlers? WOULD they eat children? Time for some fundamentals.
Sam Jones takes us on a journey of folk rock mythos (it’s not just what you see; it’s what you believe) covering the pretty little lies in “Tell Us Tales About a Reindeer.” Enchanting.
Animal Facts (Nick Naylor) has a splendid myth-busting pop rock recitation humbly entitled “Reindeer.” Tell me you knew all this already; didn’t think so! (Now you do.)
When The Hot Buttered Elves take on an icon, watch out. “Steve the Reindeer” is a punk-pop-cowboy rock mashup about a carousing party animal. Whew.
Rock’n’pop from 1964 has Gary Ferrier cashing in on Beatlemania with the dearest of them all “Ringo Deer.” Clap along now.