Category: rock

A day for “Surfin’ Santa.” Let’s start with a reprise of Lord Douglas Byron’s odd-rhythm tribute from 1964. Cool cool cool.

The Olds play “Surf’s Up Santa!” like a boogie woogie dance number. Falsetto city.

Youth on Track deliver with “Surf’s Up, Santa Claus” for my money. Less clever, perhaps, but on point. It’s surf rock.

The Bad Detectives encourage “Go Go Surfin’ Santa“–but he’s not on an island interlude; he’s riding his board through the sky to deliver toys. Or is that Norrin Radd? Boss rock, mostly surf.

The Beach Boys definitely surf up the rock with their “Melekalikimaka.” Almost not racist.

Wenatchee Valley Boys (NightHeart) bring it in for a smooth landing with the surf-rocking “Surfside Somerset Sunwavz.” Then it gets angry. White privileged angry.

Surf music is inescapable whether you’re a hodad or a monndoggie, and i’ve dropped a few curls before now. It’s refresh time for the great ones, so I’ll re-introduce as needed for each of these days. F’rexample, Soupy Sales rocks out of his comfort zone with “Santa Claus is Surfin’ to Town.” Dig it.

The Click Five got a surfboard as a gift, but “My Girlfriend (Forgot Me This Christmas)” in a kooky retro rock powerhouse. So, no waves?

The Barbary Coasters add surf rock to most of their Christmas caroling, but the tune that addresses the milieu is “Frosty’s Beach Party.” Crazy guitar solo seals the deal.

Grab your baggies, fire up the Woody, pack your blade, and head for the waves–they’re mackin’. It may be Xmastide, but the surfing is great in Fiji and Morocco about now. So let’s show those Barneys (that’d be me) how it’s done with some tubular tunes, and music that makes the drop. Shaka!

Album alert! We visited with Malibooz last year, A Malibu Kind of Christmas even got a shout out for an album of the year. These New Yorkers hit the chunder running in the ’60s, so they got the original sound.

Some of the album is wallpaper, or what i call the instrumental update on traditional Christmas carols.

More of the original songs (what i haven’t already featured), though, bear featuring, like the laconic “A Quiet Little Christmas,” the party sing-along “When Santa Comes to Santa Cruz,” the psychedelic “Seashells and Coral,” and the rocking parody “Rudy.”

Since i’m posting this one New Years Day, howevs, let’s back out with “And a Happy New Year.” Soft, soothing, like the afterglow by the bonfire.

Are you celebrating Christmas too early? You won’t find today on your advent calendar Because “Christmas Doesn’t Start in November.” Or ever for the punking Pablum. Cool song, tho.

Angry folk rock from Well Kept hates all civilization and Christmas, too. In “Advent Calendar” our pantomime of peace and love gets a beating.

Buy me an advent calendar, begins Camera Obscura’s “Footloose and Fancy Free,” a weird pop experiment with hockey organ and slide guitar. It’s about counting down to getting away, but not.

Not exactly cheering me, Cassie McMullin calls on how “Traditions Vary.” Plonking piano pop points out Our routines that give us cheer–Advent calendars or 25 movie nights. Almost accepting through the snidely whiplash.

Perking us up, Mark Fryars’s “(You Put the) Jingle in My Bell.” It’s a list of what you do for me (all Xmas related). It includes putting the advent in my calendar. Corny pop.

“December, Wherever Are You?” is a knockabout on both Xmas and Chanukah: Well I don’t get the advent calendar And eight straight nights is just crazy. Rocking pop (with a touch of Dylan) irony from Austin Weber.

Manger mammals didn’t go two-by-two, but other critters appear paired here.

[Plant sidebar: Federico Ramplona has happy electronica to spread out: Plenty room to spare A Christmas tree or two will be enough to “Decorate.” Salsa backbeat, humph.]

Look out! a saccharine sweet love song slipped in right here! Gemma Nicole does the plain piano lounge-bar pop to get across “Our First Christmas” in which was just us two turtle doves. Aww!

More? Like two turtle doves We’ll sit perfect together, judges Meeks in the steady beat of R+B in “Mistletoe for You.” Lots of mmmms in the lyrics.

Yeah, this is a thing. Two turtle doves, they call us, according to Ziki Hexum with some Motown pop in the swinging “This Christmas Kiss.”

Shantel Sole’ is waiting on her sweetie, wondering what you’re bringing–A turtle dove or two? Tangled R+B dreams of “Holidays with You.”

E8 Profilensemble warn about “Drunk Drivin’ Christmas.” See, leaving Chicago they hit and run a deer… Then the second deer appeared. Howling garage pop that gets you to Idaho, but Santa knows when you’re naughty…

Brandi Ediss was alone last Christmas, but “This Christmas Day” is different:
I’ve got a couch now! I’ve got two cats now! Except, maybe that’s not entirely true. Oh well, sprightly alt-pop.

In “A Gothic Christmas” Santa’s gonna wear a black vest… and slay a dragon or two. Lite metal rock sure is purdy. Within Temptation scores.

One theory during the pandemic was to “Cancel Christmas,” We could have two in 2021, at last so says Averi Quinn with some dandy rock riffs.

Jolly in his BLUE ALERT Young Respect enjoys his parents’ divorce: Two Christmas’ cuz I have split parents. But “Mommy Milk ‘n’ Cookies” is more about the sex than the swag. That’s a rap.

I know what you’re thinking, it’s just two days How bored can you really be? reasons the Jewish chanteuse Jordana Lilly (somehow calculating Xmas as Eve+Day) in the hilariously ironic “Xmas FOMO.” She swivels from murderous Santa to hunky Hasidic, so it all winds up just fine.

Singing about two holidays (okay, nine days total), Starry Mossbridge gets nearly bluesy with his pop “A Jewish Christmas.” With the right connections, the protagonist made bank, though he does admit these two will always collide. A sad but satisfying salute.

OneRepublic is coming home, finally … I missed Thanksgiving, missed a birthday or two. But one can only stand so many “Christmas Without You.” Blues pop.

Ever mindful of the countdown, Willie Dinardo & The Corporates begin “Piffmas Eve” Christmas Eve is two days away. But this silly dance/pop is all about the blunt, the bong, the smoke. Under the influence.

Also counting, Barnaby Bright wants to extinguish that “Star-Crossed Christmas.” Just a night or two until You’re sleeping next to me, they hope via pop music.

Such proximity can lead to panic. In the two days until then I don’t know what the hell I′m supposed to do, admits Sad House Guest with groovy mandolin rock/pop in their angsty “Moscow Mules.” They’re drinking to live, not living to drink.

Terri Clark forbears the rough holiday times [A two day drive, stuck inside with you singing in my car], but she aw-shucks countrifies her sentiment in the rollicking “Merry Christmas (Wherever in the World You Are).”

My family is two time zones away, groans Harvey Danger in the masterful psychedelic rock “Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas.” You need to hear this one.

“Christmas is Coming (They Say),” but can you really wait/sleep ’til then? You wake up at midnight, then one, then you wake up and it′s only quarter to 2 a.m.Bouncy pop from Becca Steiner is more than kidsong, but can be served to all ages.

Get up now, time to go, No we don’t leave until two begins the misty rap of No More Saul in the scary “Christmas Nostalgia.” Childhood was the worst, right?

Fralphie Jenkins paints you a picture in the electronic slow dance of “2 A.M. Christmas Eve.” It’s a gutter-level family portrait of modern-age depravity. Dude, you’re drowning out the mouse-stirring.

That early can be a scary moment. Especially with the garage rock contrast of holiday and loss. Two A.M. on Christmas Eve You rejoice with angels as I grieve, moans Manic Drive in “December Mourning.” Harsh, though melodic.

What makes a Xmas presenter an “Indian Giver“? (yeah, that’s racist) According to Squirrel Nut Zippers Two hours later he wants it back! Rockabilly blues of the festive variety.

The Lost Connection tell a fabulous tale of a mysterious visitor and mysterious gift on Christmas Eve. How mysterious? I stood in silence for a minute or two, in response to it. “If Only (Pigs Could Fly at Christmas)” is prog rock, though with a bit too much sinister harmony. Still, props.

The Bingle Jells (feat. Andrew LLoyd Baughman) tune up the brass to jazz up the lite rock of “Latchkey Kid at Christmas.” How tough did that get? Mom left a note on the fridge It says ‘Dinner′s on the top shelf, heat it for 2 minutes I’ll see you later, working late tonight’. Sigh.

Time to double down on the count. The number two is so primary, every other Christmas song mentions it. We’ll wend our way through the options to see if we can score pure silver

Having fun with some old friends, Some I’ve known since I was two, American Authors pulls out all the cheese to pop perform “Christmas Karaoke.” No irony here.

Having grief without friends and family, Paul Rhea (feat. Susan Shewbridge) sing folk about how “Christmas Just Ain’t Christmas Anymore.” We’ve nearly starved for two long barren years after some cold and heartless war. Metaphor? Or is this the perennial question of how ANYONE can have joy? Whew.

MBG BadBoy busts the rhyme slowly for a lonely “Christmas.” Two years now I’ve been looking for a girlfriend, he slurs. So that’s not a great holiday.

Also sad, Checklist laments that sometime, 2 years before You passed me by, though I was a pretty good boy. What follows, in metal toned rock earnestness, is a description of what our forlorn one found under the tree. “Next Year for Sure.” they conclude.

Snidely, Brato Useba charms with “The Proper Christmas Spirit,” which includes starting too early, buying crap, and silly emergencies [Shit we forgot to get something for your sister in law, Didn’t she have a baby two years ago in March?]. Symphonic pop that pleases.

After a tantrum by a “Pouty Kid (I See No Reason for the Season)” over disappointing gifts–Two years more the wiser, brother starts to speak up to set him straight. What results is a haunting, melodic philosophic dissertation about sucking it up from The Ornaments of Bowling Green. Nihilism ahoy.

Blue Alert! Shotgun Soul slow R+B/raps the cynical “It’s Christmas,” as in It’s fuckin’ Christmas like two months a year. Lots of cultural name-dropping to make hot-button points, but it’s millennial mopiness. Great for the disenfranchised.

Pissing and moaning, Thrice a Chuckle grunge pops how it’s “Too Soon for Christmas.” How too soon? It’s still two months away. Hey, that’s the holiday season! So, it’s ninety degrees outside! How do the Australians do it?!

Collin Derrick wants you to “Take Me South for Christmas.” The parameters? Just give me an ocean view for a week or two, baby–This Christmas. Ukulele pop happiness.

The suicide-by-chop tree in the woods is begging passersby to “Take Me Home for Christmas.” Aubryn makes scary lines like Let me be your family For a week or two pretty with her beer barrel slow folk pop.

Circling the drain, Currier describes a depressed one: suffering, desperate, immobile [Haven’t left this spot for nearly two weeks]. “How About Another Rum and Coke (Merry X-mas)” is glacial garage, slo-mo tragedy.

Dandy country rock from Cammi Rockey exposes “Rudolph’s True Glow“–he’s a lush! A menu of alcoholic beverages details how the lead-dear got completely lit. Two weeks after Christmas Rudolph’s senses had come back and couldn’t remember a thing. Don’t tell the kids.

Frozen Black Rose follows four mooks in a nudie bar with 3, 2, 1 days until Christmas Eve in the folk-pop “Merry (Les Miserables) Christmas.” It’s a testament to how awful we all are. Enjoy!

When conducting the Quaddy Junior Chuoir one must count: we go after three, yeah, Yeah, a one a two a one a two a one a two a one two three–Its Christmas! So, “Christmas Time, Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas” by Tim Johnson -Hull becomes staccato, repetitive, a marching tune of pop music. But, they’re on beat.

Uncertainly, Wapgang (feat. Carter Morrissette) counts through the rounds of “How the Grinch Copped Christmas” to keep the beat. Doesn’t work. Strange experimental song results.

Speaking of experimental… John David Lees sets Santa to flying, and SAILING [Racing out across the sea Ships drift by: One two three] to get the presents distributed. “Going to be Fine This Christmas Time” may be sampling ‘I Saw Three Ships’ or it may just be tweaking. Cool.

Antithetically, “X-Mas in Hell” by Sixx AM chronicles a diarist giving three reasons for writing in a diary, naked, under a Christmas tree, ODing. Spoken over metal.

Lowdy (feat. Shin Bia, Emily Sung, Khai & Zensang) is counting blessings: One time for the family, Two times for the friends, Three times for the people that always got your back no matter what you’re going Through. “Dear Christmas” is easy listening rap, though. Messy.

McKenna Noh can’t wait for your flight to arrive, so she prettily pop counts while Watching every snowflake falling like One, two, three (Two, three) in “Eve.”

Full of love and happiness, Patrick Vargas announces it’s “Christmas Time” 1, 2, 3, go! Rocking pop with a nice backbeat.

Shy Boyz are willing to share “The Meaning of Christmas.” Stand back… I know the meaning of Christmas now, Here we go, you ready guys, 3, 2, 1… blast off! Don’t let this R+B pop fool you, the meaning is actually

The kid telling the tale of “Selfie With Santa” is lying in wait Xmas night. At the right moment he’ll ambush and say, Well on the count of three give me that magic smile. Big band fluffiness.

As a charming bridge in “The Day After Halloween (It’s Christmas Again)” Hidden Horizon stops rocking to yell out Nice sled brother, Let’s go to the hill, 1 2 3 Go. Look out below! Worth it to include this gem.

Gonna put some ornaments on the tree, And at the count of three, We gonna see the lighting, sings Christafari in a fine Reggae rendition of “Deck the Halls.” Ya, mon.

Vinny the Comb calls on us to “Recycle Christmas” tongue in cheek. He rocks on sending back the cards, watering down the whiskey to redrink, and We’ll gather up all Frosty’s balls Stack them one two three.

2mx2 bilingually settle in to party alt-pop style with “Wish You Merry Christmas.” Like if your birthday Fell on a Thursday, Three-day weekend getting prettier the later that it’s turning. All the more to party you with.

Uncertain this season, Three days before Christmas David Childers with the Bank Cormorants softly folk-pops “Christmas Bells” about love, loss, and loneliness. Get off your butt and help him, listener!

Unhappy this season, Three days away is Christmas Day… Stuck in bed with a throbbing head, Jeremy Walker has “Strep Throat for Christmas.” Electric country from a previous time. Classic.

Terribly unhappy this season, Denny Strickland outlines his woes: Mother’s a closet smoker; Daddy’s 3 days sober; Joy is spilling over… “Merry Christmas (Real World)” is a soft rock spiritual cold drink in the face. Then a match. Go with it.

In polar opposition, Marcy Playground soft rocks Three days ’til Christmas, I can’t wait that long; If I could I’d be a saint, I have this complaint: Why can’t Christmas be today? “Keegan’s Christmas” is a winter wonderland of slurry joy.

I woke up this morning and found it had rained; Three days till Christmas; was it too late? begins the epic prog rock from Liquid Eye. “All I Want for Xmas is Snow” they emphasize. I’m on the edge of my seat.

SKA BREAK! Mu330 anticipates YOU as a gift when it’s “Three Days Til Christmas.” A countdown commences. I hope you’re not socks!

Jay Dub had you, but BLUE ALERT lost you three days before Xmas. Rap anger-regret throttles “12/22 Forver.” I may or may not be rooting for them.

Aragorn (from LOTR) has more than the burden of helping save Middle Earth. He also misses his betrothed three days on the road. “Arwen (Are You Leaving Me on Christmas?)” is another of those kookily professional pop love ballads from Brendan Dalton with The 1740 Boys Choir. Awesome.

More resigned, St. Mick and The Angel still rock happily “It’s Christmas Didn’t You Hear?” Dad is busy putting up the lights, The Same ones have fallen down the past three nights. Ironic hope, my favorite.