Arbor Christmas 22

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Incredible, isn't it, 22 years of Christmas compilations. Arbor Christmas is a touchstone in the alternative Xmas music community, it's what staying power looks like. With only 8 songs, #22 is short; like the early days, not like #14 for instance, with 17 tracks.

Rule of the thumb, if the song by recurring faves The Not Fur Longs is good, the rest of the Arbor compilation is, too. This year, the NFL-song sounds like a cover from a Children's tv show in the 70s (it even might be, I'm not sure). In a long list of Not Fur Longs Christmas songs, it does not make the top 5. Better is the opening salvo, the Ramones-nod from Santa's Little Helper and the absolute gem from this year, the yacht-y track by Nightshift. Late night seventies coastal road FM radio, Donald Fagen Nightfly-worthy. Yes, it's THAT good. Mark Martucci's handwashed 'Snow Day' is fine too. The rest, not so much (tho I do like the analogue synths of FTLT).

Still, praise be for the Arbor.

Comments

sujit das said…
Excellent to read. Yes, we should know the significance of Christmas.
https://rinkudas919.blogspot.com/search/label/Xmas
2:34 PM
XmasLove said…
What am I missing, I don't see a Bacio track.
4:42 PM
Guuzbourg said…
Hm, it's the Nightshift track. I could swear it was credited to Bacio.
5:01 PM
Stubby said…
It was credited to Bacio when it was posted. It was, at that time, posted as "Bacio - Nightshift Xmas". They must have changed it at some point.
9:28 PM
XmasLove said…
Thx!
5:03 PM
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