Year-round Yuletide oddities
“Adam Ant’s Christmas, 1977” is a tell-all about what MAY have happened at a certain person’s party. It ain’t pretty, but that’s between ZATH’s lawyers and him. Garage tomfoolery.
A two-parter from Hector Collectors: “Christmas 1977” starts out cursing playfully, but then turns wistful for the year in question wishing they had a junket like Mike Bevins. Quite Brit’sh. But punk pop.
It had to come to this. That inconceivably produced ‘Star Wars Christmas Special‘ has engendered its own music as reaction. “Holiday Special ’78” by Tristan Kovacs (feat. Lauryn Kovacs) is about the mind melting notion that Chewie’s got kids and shit (so mild BLUE ALERT). Lovely indie crooning. I am floored.
Aptly punk, “Christmas 1979” is a candy colored crackup of drunkeness, death, and a lover’s betrayal. Salad days from Billy Childish.
The Rebel Yell admits that for “December 8,1980” christmas not too far away— but John Lennon was gunned down in front of his home due to the socio-political climate. Punk infused metal and, boy, is it pissed.
Missed chances are recalled with “Kodachrome Ghosts” by James DeanBradfield. Just happens to be a holiday candid in there to stir up hard rock emotions.
Let’s round down. Marshal Keep’s “Winter Blues” measures heartbreak with–well, not exactly yodeling–uncertain percussive pop. Looking back a ways, he’s mumble mumble sorry. He eventually admits This song is more about the breakup, it wasn’t really about Christmas.
The Merry Kinsers tout “Christmas in the ’80s” as a materialistic wonderland before Facebook went and ruined our family. Pop shebop.
On the other side of the pond, “Xmas in the 80’s” pops wise about media overload and–duh–toys. Scouting for Girls adds to our downslide.
“Christmas was Better in the ’80s” rants The Futureheads. Not a polemic, but a strongly held UK pop belief for the childish innocence lost.
Road trip! Robbie Williams begins his journey in his “Family Coach” Christmas 1981. Whether or not this bus was a real thing, or just a cool pop metaphor for home, i am riding along with this troubadour. Cool cool cool.
It all started On a desert Christmas morning, 1981 for Pedro the Lion. That “Yellow Bike” he got back then was the gateway for getaway. Never looked back. But left everyone behind. Now lonely. Damn you, best Xmas present ever. Slow rocker.
miniMatthew gets raw in “50. Christmas, 1982.” This elegiac tender pop about sexual abuse sets the past in a harsh, but accurate, light.
At Swim Two Birds has more pleasant mem-files of Christmas ’82 in “Down By the Stream.” The dreamy alt carpal tunnel chords reveal a sucky present day, however, in ’03 when a revisit with a lost love means a road not taken–dammit.
David Phelps belts out the cheesy kind of pop with “If Everyone Believed.” His long ago Xmas lesson haunts him today. Cue the bells.
Greg Laswell goes lovelorn with “Out of Line” in which you left your heart under the Christmas tree in ’83…. Why’d you do that?
Mr. Oh Shit sings at “A Karaoke Christmas at the Wet Beaver Lounge” for Mr. Cork. While hating on Christmas he admits to leaving up the tree since ’83. What’s that look like?
How long has Santa had an eating problem? Since 1983 claim Thee Elfmen in the jangly surf rockabilly “Santa’s Here.” Gotta believe.
The Drop Shadows hold court over a satiric/satanic “Christmas 1983.” Experimental cat birthing.
The Kinetics romp and stomp the pop with “Christmas 1984,” a time of superficial glee. Bodacious.
Low Fidelity Love Songs is more introspective with “Christmas (1984).” Just wants to feel like he’s alive, guys. Alt-garage.
The Fragments get bitter with “Merry Christmas 1984.” Indie as she goes. Stop crying in the gutter!
Well, this is no silly old year. This is a literary allusion you should all recognize. Meet the Seavers go highball low lounge jazzy with “Christmas 1984,” pointing out the lengths and depths surveillance Santa will go to. Watch out! Be good!
Memories are getting slipperier this far back. Marvelann folksings about prison and making stuff up with “Christmas 1985.” Not quite the season of forgiveness that year.
More on point, Megathruster slowrocks about the Wishbook the kids dared to peer in (soon to be overrun by mailboxes full of crap catalogs) the “1985 Sears Christmas Catalog.” Omnibot 2000! Gi Joe Battleship!! Page 444!!! And this is why this blog exists, dear friends. To make sure you have heard THIS song.
Keeping it weird, yeah. Cate Le Bron DJs over Bradford Cox recounting a tragic holiday fire he came to too late in “Fireman.” That’s… that… uhh… yeah.
