About 200 inches of snow during “Winter in Eastport” Maine, right on the corner of the Atlantic next to Canada. But the 1300 population who brave the winters there get quite the tribute from Flooded Cellar’s chatty folk ballad. Top that, Bismarck!
Christmas Countdown: 1500 (BLUE ALERT)
We’ve about run out of yearly demarcations, so let’s get nasty again. Rich Homie Quan figures “1500” is the tipping point to A LOT. This year was a Merry Christmas ‘cuzza that many presents under the tree. Last year was sad ‘cuzza that many people shitted on him. So, yeah, that raps out to a lot.
Christmas Countdown: 15:34
“Christmas in the Suburbs” is the spoken word poetry of Croyden Tourist Office which sniffly announces the end of civilization with the imagery of small town ostentatiousness. Time of death fifteen thirty-four. Otherwise, timeless.
Christmas Countdown: 1642
Family Friend has nothing better to do, so they follow important historical Christmasses from 1968 (first humans orbited earth) to 1642 (Isaac Newton born). Yet the indie pop of “Boring Christmas (blaze away)” recommends you burn the tree… oh, hang on–drug reference! Are you so bored you smoke, or so smoked you’re bored?
Christmas Countdown: 1666
Celebratory in nature, “Christmas Day 1666” assails the rafters with coordinated hymn-ing. But the Chicago a Cappella seem to want wine as well as heaven in this modern day church paean. Is it the six-six-six part?
Christmas Countdown: 1670
Puritanical Powers compel thee to have a “Christmas 1670“! Not sure if 10 Killing Hands is pulling our breeches, but kinda doubt those austere pioneers woulda celebrated ANYTHING. (See: “The World is Turned Upside Down” about the Puritans doing away with this holy day in 1649.) Still, this soft indie rock is compelling me to enjoy.
Christmas Countdown: 17:15
Bible verses are read as chapter and verse, so we’ll allow a bit o’ stretch here to include the ominous tale of 10,000 Maniacs’ “Jubilee” in which Tyler (as afflicted perhaps as the son for whom mercy is asked in Matthew 17:15) takes time off from fixing up the Nativity scene for the church to burn down the licentious tavern nearby.
Christmas Countdown: 1772
One of the ‘cousins’ of Christmas music, the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ seems to have an curious backstory. Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron wrote a musical about it and its author, John Newton, a slave holder turned abolitionist. Here is “Nothing There to Love” about the love that inspired.
Christmas Countdown: 1775
Paul Revere and The Raiders did in 1967 what many pundits (esp. Garry Trudeau in his comic strip Doonesbury) tried: talking smack about the Vietnam war by encoding references to the Revolutionary War. “Their “Valley Forge” is about suffering young men who would rather go home (for the holidays) than understand what the war is for. Psychedelic pop.
Christmas Countdown: 1789
The Cuntifiers want you to know that since the constitution of this united nation, pretty much only the whites have happily celebrated in ways like Christmas. Their “White Christmas 1789” attempts to expose the disconnect if you didn’t know about it quite yet. Screaming punk metal.
