Year-round Yuletide oddities
Celebrity birthdays on Christmas Day have some weird following somewhere somehow. So, let’s swing Keys-ward to Margarita-ville.
“Happy Birthday Jesus and Jimmy Buffett” is more fun than it oughter be. Rick Carter lays the blues to rock while rhyming ‘stomach’ and ‘Jimmy Buffett.’ Audacious.
Out of the 1990s Santa Barbara college rock circuit hales Munkafust with their post-punk pissiness. The title “My Birthday’s Near Christmas (And It Sucks!)” is all the lead in you need to feel prepared for this synth-banger.
No special release for the guilty during the holidays. Unless….
“Slim Tall’s Christmas on the Lam” starts out in jail. Then Charlie Parr picks his way on outta there. Earthy blues.
“Break Momma Home for Christmas” depicts a breakout by Three Day Threshold & Summer Villains. Hard rockin’ bluegrass defends the poor old lady from deerslaughter. She was trying to feed the starving poor ones, not take out Santa’s team. Sorry!
Look at all these presents i got for Christmas, i made a killing!
Kunt and the Gang roast Mike for drunk driving and vehicular homicide for the holidays in “Killed a Kid at Christmas.” Hilarious (dark) British sketch musical.
The same thing done suitably depressingly blues rock (Tom Waits-ish) spirals down with Billionaires Club in “Happy Holidays from the Taggarts.” What coulda been dysfunctional-family-brutal takes its time to ballad out a horrifying manslaughter. I mean really upsetting. Guess that makes it an I-dare-you song. Don’t look away, or i’ll double dog ya. (I happens to love it.)
Revenge of the Egg People have a bone to pick with Father Christmas. “Seasons Greeting Felony” is a rock party tribute to taking the life you didn’t want to have around. Ouchies.
The usual suspects around this time of year includes one slippery red-suited sneaky surveillor.
The Mafia Guys moan a minor key dirge “If Santa was a Criminal.” Pretty cynical… wait, i’m getting convinced of his nefarious ways! (Many crimes enumerated.)
In the BLUE ALERT “Santa Killa” Dark Half charges Mr. Klaus of burgling cookies, jaeger, weed, and the coin as well. That’s a rap.
Wendell Ferguson closes the case with “Santa’s Doing Time,” a gnarly blues recitation of injustice. A flimsy folk take on “Santa’s Doing Time for B and E” has Steven Pugh entertaining/horrifying the kids.
Nigel Cuff looks at Santa and sees two things: B & E. Rollicking rock with a tint of punk in “Santa Claus is a Criminal.”
As tragic as this social illness is at this warmest of times, attention must be paid to violence in the home over the holidays. I mean shit.
Danny Peralta’s “Domestic Abuse on Christmas Eve” is an odd way of observing the betrayal of the hearth. This unplugged guitar jam is all excuses and insults as if POV the abuser. This mumbling prevarication neglects even the mention of Xmas, which may be the unkindest cut of all. Cold.
Envy rears its green eyes this time of year, so lock up your Daisy Springfield rifles! Domino-masked nogoodniks are a-commin’ for what you believe is yours.
The presents were stolen! in Scud FM’s “Christmas Crime.” Lounge blues highlighted with some disco electronica. But they even took the dog!
It was the “Selfish Elf” who stole it all! A bit of the old Bo Diddley from James Leo Oliver pointing blame hither and yon.
Psychedelic rap from Splish Splash and Youngicewater twist the real out of “Christmas Robbery.” BLUE ALERT, or is it?
Lyrical pop from Ages revives the ’90s enough to romanticize “Stealing the Season.” The miserable ones.
The Screaming Thieves light alt “A Christmas Story (A Robbery)” with smiling slight of hand. Dig the picking.
In a strange twist, Bah & The Humbugs bear witness to some punks “Stealing Nativity.” Simple vandalism you say? Lord no, the bastard.
Barry Thomas Goldberg & The Ironweeds shred the soft rock out of “Christmas Robbery.” Sweet thievery.
Christmas party season ends at some point. Now what?
For a fun addition, Jethro Tull weaves a newage rock tale about the “Last Man at the Party.” It’s a rollickin’ frolic about the wind down after all’s done.
For my money, the best holiday song is “New Year’s Steve” from Fortress of Attitude. Yeah, it’s not Christmas. But it’s on their Christmas album, and Steve’s party is rock awesome. My hero!
Not every Xmas fling is worthy of song. Some are best forgotten. Or listened to, then pretended to not really be a thing.
Dr. BLT (feat Roxie) complains “You Crashed My Christmas Party” with such bluesy American rock verve that the ‘bitter pill’ seems yummy from way over here.
It’s a ‘bore’ bemoans Weezer of their rock “Christmas Celebration.” Wah.
The Walkmen pooh pooh the festivities of “Christmas Party” with Rolling Stones wah wah. They can’t stand it. ‘Cuz it’s over.
The Monkees can barely survive their pop/rock “Christmas Party.” One listen to it a year is enough.
Joy Riding is all ‘partied out’ in their “Christmas Hair.” Alt-pop that claims no more drinking, just wanna see your hair.
Unable to remember the party at all, Hunky Graham posts his amateur fun uke rocker “The Christmas Party Song.” No regrets, until he recalls it.
“Holiday Party (Cocaine Tonight)” from “Co-Op: Original Cast Recording,” peformed by Renée Elise Goldsberry and Alex Brightman is that drug trip nightmare in the middle of a party that… i think you now what i’m talking about. Whew.
La Pistolas get silly retro rock for a Monster Mash inspired “Creepy Christmas Party.” Eek, your secret Santa got you a coffin!
What kind of Christmas party is this?!
Melanie Anne Pademal may be a bit judgey when she pop raps “Filipino Christmas Party.” There’s required drinking, i think. Still, i had fun.
Five for Fighting bar scratch a fun-filled “Policemen’s Xmas Party” song which turns out is more showtune party rock than social criticism. Thanks!
The Wiggles play like ADHD children for “It’s a Christmas Party on the Goodship Feathersword.” Ghastly kidsong.
“The Ohio City Singers Christmas Bash” is a Stones-inspired soul rock sung by The Ohio City Singers. Daresay they know what they’re talking about.