On Christmas Pop Music, On 3voor12

Well hello there, new visitors of this holly jolly weblog. You got here via the Dutch 3voor12-website, the leading music site in the Netherlands. Where one 'Guuz Hoogaerts' (known here as 'Guuzbourg') got to write over 1500 words on what you really need to know about Christmas (pop) music. That Xmas music is all about the longing, the desire, the nostalgia. Not necessarily about Christmas as such.

You read about the new trends, how shoegaze is a factor in today's alternative, non-hitparade Christmas music. You clicked on the songs by Slow Salvation, Bleachers, Summer Camp Girlfriend. You read about the seasonal music obsessed, the consignati of Christmas tunes. They have websites, blogs even.

And now you're here. There are 18 years of Christmas music in the archives. Theme posts. Lots and lots of covers. Short notes. Might be a little overwhelming, if you're a newbie. But hey, just enjoy. Have a cup of tea and click away. Listen. Feel the warmth, the craziness and smell the spruce needles. This is Christmas music. We're here to help.

Four late night short notes

Of course our curiosity is aroused the moment you're describing your new track as 'my dumbass christmas song'. But Jave Foster from Canada a.k.a. Flat Pop actually did the opposite with this intriguing track, that floats from a Broadway-esque start into a painfully beautiful alternative Christmas pop song.

The clear voices of Taylor Curtis & Matt Richardson shine on this passionately sung alt rock plea, where the longing is almost palpable. Because "I don't need a thing underneath the tree, Don't want a letter or a call, I just need to see you sleeping next to me". Sweet. Here on Bandcamp.

"As the end of the world is surely upon us, hold your loved ones close, the last Christmas on earth." The image that I am the Unicorn Head paints is not very cheerful, but at least it's wrapped in a calm and cool indie track. Here on Bandcamp

Yes, we do love the weird and the wonderful, the odd and the old. But every now and then a tiny bit of contemplation is also needed and it's already late. So how lucky we are that Mateo Drew wrote his sad but moving piano driven Xmas song 'Lonely Christmas'.

Holidazed selections

When I find a new Christmas music compilation on Bandcamp, I immediatly go for the songs with the odd titles. So, naturally, this track was the first I heard from the most recent Eternal Bummer Records-compilation:

That certainly did not disappoint. I could really see her echoing there, in a corner. Great track, really tickled the imagination.

A country-fied, weeping ballad. Could fit very well in this post about songs about Christmas songs on the radio. You do know what John Candy-movie he's singing about, yes?

Third song, totally different vibe. Snotty fast rrrriot girl rock:
And there's more. That PJ Emery song is GOOD. So is the track by Teagan Johnston. The Milkers should do a remaster. If I find more good songs, will let you know.

VINYL GIVEAWAY TIME

To paraphrase those immortal words that start the legendary Alive album by Kiss: You wanted the vinyl, and you got it! Two free 10-inch vinyl EP's of A Dutch X-mas Party (red or green vinyl), curated by CAGG's very own Oscar Smit, are available for Christmas music fans.
That is: If you write a guestblog on your all-time favorite post-punk Christmas song. Can be anything (Waitresses, LCD Soundsystem, Cocteau Twins, The Fall, here's a Spotify playlist to get an idea), and you can make it as long or short as you want. Mail to dringendgeval@hotmail.com, with your name and address, please.

Why a post-punk theme? Because most artists on this 10-inch fall in this category. Oscar himself says on his selection: “Nowadays, there are many young acts active in the Dutch underground scene that I find original and good. I enjoy their concerts, which usually take place in small clubs. Being a huge fan of Christmas music, I got the idea to ask a couple of my favorite young artists to record a contemporary Christmas song. They could do this with complete freedom.”

“Dutch electro-garage duo De Delegatie chose to cover a song by Daniel Lohues (singer of Skik) and Herman Finkers from 2009. The choice of the Haarlem electro-wave band Dorpsstraat 3 goes even further back. In 1976, Dutch ‘volks’singer Andre Hazes had his very first hit with this Christmas song. The Amsterdam punky female trio Earwurms recorded a contemporary and adapted version of ‘Jingle Bells’. Schlager punk trio Yodel Queen also includes two women. They provide an impression of a flexitarian at the Christmas dinner. Both girl bands are appearing on vinyl for the first time. XA4 is Xavier Boot. He has already released an album on Philip Glass’s label and treats us here to minimal Christmas music. In contrast, there is the maximal danceable dark-electro from the Amsterdammer Raderkraft. He has already released a few records and is quite well-known abroad. On this record, Stippenlift, a one-man project from Amsterdam, has the most experience with Christmas music. Every year, he writes a new Dutch-language track, usually sad or melancholic in tone. This very danceable song sounds optimistic for his standards. Truus de Groot is a category of her own. She has been making music since the early eighties, in bands like Nasmak or Plus Instruments. She is still active and proves that you can still make urgent music after such a long time. She is an example for many young musicians. Her song is a variant of the music from the timeless Charlie Brown Christmas film.”

Here are two songs from the compilation:

Guuzbourg zelf · Earwurms - Jingle Bells

RADERKRAFT · Raderkraft - Het Huis Van Mijn Gedachten

Gotta Groove Holiday Single 2024

Gotta Groove Records is a pressing plant in Cleveland USA. They say the make “The Best Sounding Records On Planet Earth”. Whether this applies to their series of Christmas singles, I leave in the middle. Since 2011, a certain Tim, who once worked at the pressing plant, has been releasing a 7-inch record each year, in colored vinyl, featuring Christmas music made by people who work at Gotta Groove Records or have a connection with it. Here you can find an overview of all their singles. Among collectors of Christmas vinyl, these singles are a highly sought-after item. Unfortunately, for collectors in Europe, they have become unaffordable, just like all vinyl from America. This is what we wrote about the serie in the past.The music on the singles ranges from very experimental to poppy. This year, there are 4 tracks on the single that range from freaky and heavy to atmospheric. Like this light-hearted instrumental 'Holiday' with lots of Christmas bells.

Le Band à Boivin's charity Christmas song

'Le Noël de Marcel et Denise' ('Marcel et Denise's Christmas') by Québec City's Le Band à Boivin just dropped, raising money for a local charity that helps children succeed at school. The song talks about Marcel and Denise, two realistic characters who help the poor because they know what it's like to be poor.

Le Band à Boivin also knows how to party, as shown by 'On a joué un tour au Père Noël' ('We Played a Trick on Santa') from 2020. It's got banjo, violins, bright voices, sound effects, and it features a few more artists such as Bonhomme Setter, Claude Bernatchez and Guillaume Dumas.

Fun fact: 'Bonhomme Setter' (aka 'Bonhomme Sept Heures') is the French-Canadian bogeyman who scares children who don't behave. Some say it's a deformation of 'bone setter', the healer who would come by and set bones, others say it could be related to telling kids that seven o' clock ('sept heures', pronounced similarly to 'setter') was bedtime.

And nobody really played a trick on Santa. They just wanted to catch a glimpse of him while hiding behind the Christmas tree, camera in hand. The idea that Santa still came with presents during the health crisis was definitely reassuring in 2020. But today, in 2024, poverty is still there. Helping people on the street when it's freezing cold outside is the real deal, as 'Le Noël de Marcel et Denise' tells us

Kristian Noel Pedersen - Sauliday Party!

Christmas isn't Christmas without you, Kristian Noel Pedersen. This one is already his sixteenth (!) in a row and the thrilling conclusion to the Saul McCartney Trilogy. It tells this odd story and musically it pushes just the right Christmas baubles without becoming too Christmassy. Basically it's just really good modern alternative indiepop with some retro vibes, packed in a kinda Christmas concept album that should be heard by anyone, not only Christmas adepts. It's also an album that you don't do justice to by just listening to individual tracks. Take it from the start, one by one, in all its glory and enjoy Saul's latest feat, because this is another provisional highlight in KNP's oeuvre. And to think that we already had an eye on him last month too! 

And sure, we're certainly not Rolling Stone or Creem Magazine, but we do recognize a darn good Christmas album. And what's in a name after all?
So enjoy, here at Christmas A What What, this brand new and outstanding Kristian Noel Pedersen album. (Many thanks for the fun shoutout, Kristian!) 


More on Kristian Noel Pedersen at CAGG here.

Kristian's Insta here, his X there, his Bandcamp over there.

Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club: their new harvest

 

Is Snowflakes Christmas Singles Club from Amsterdam the only Christmas record label in the world? I think so. Please let us know if there are more labels like this. It specializes exclusively in 7-inch singles. For more than 10 years, Snowflakes has been releasing 1-4 white vinyl singles per year. As a result, we have written a lot about the label. For an overview, look here. Unfortunately, nothing was released in 2023. The label is making up for it this year with no less than four singles. The idea is that each artist comes up with their own song for the A-side. On the B-side, there is always a cover.

First band is Canadian based Holiday Crowd.They have a nice indie-sounding own song ‘Winterland’. On the B-side they chose to cover Dolly Parton’s Hard Candy Christmas.

 Les Pommes De Lune are also from Canada. They sing in French and their members played in bands such as Thee Gnostics, The Double Feature Creatures, The Saffron Sect or Les Séquelles. Musically inspired by the British Freakbeat scene of the late 1960s and the French Yéyé sound of the mid-1960s, Les Pommes De Lune have developed their own take on psychedelic rock. That’s what you hear on the very psychedelic A-side: ‘La Révolution Des Lutins' (The Elves' Revolution). On the flip you can find the Le Plus Fort, a cover of THIS track by yeye-girl Pussy Cat.

 The third single has jangle pop from Simon Chesterfield, member of the forty-year-old English band The Chesterfields. It’s the only single with a video. Their cover is of one of the absolute classics of British Christmas rock, Greg Lake's 1975 UK #2 hit 'I Believe In Father Christmas'. Personally I used to hate progrock like Emerson Lake & Palmer. But this version sounds less bombastic and very atmospheric.

'Wild Man' from the Nevada based Whatitdo Archive Group, is a very funky tune. But it has a strange subject: The myth of the Wild Man is a folktale that goes by many names: The Yeti of the Himalayas, the Bigfoot of North America, and, of course, Krampus of Eastern Europe—a yuletide beast with a reputation. Their version of ‘Greensleeves’ is jazzy and funky with some nice wah-wah guitars.

Last Minute Christmas List

Neil Brogan likes making songs, it says on his Bandcamp page. Christmas songs, too. I am not that familiair with his band Sea Pinks, but Neil's seasonal tracks kicked of with the covid-year-diary-album Weird Year, and the song It's Christmas with a Difference. About, well, Christmas during covid. Every year, a new track/tracks followed, with 'Christmas with a small c' from 2022 being labeled as a future classic.

Same can be said of this uptempo C86-y, anti-materialistic Christmas song. Love how his cool voice drifts on the jittery guitars. Proceeds go to Simon Community (who work with homeless people) and Oxfam Gaza Lebanon-appeal.
On the b-side, there's a tender acoustic song, inspired by children's book illustrator Shirley Hughes.
Here are more of Neil's seasonal songs:

Vetter - I Really Hope It Snows

Sorry about this, but I can't resist writing down this bad, late night after going out, Dutch pun: the vetter, the better. Judge me later, fellow Dutchies.
On topic now, because this really ís a good track. It's from Joshua Vetter, a musician from New York who wrote 'I Really Hope It Snows (This Christmas)'. Lyrically a bit depressing but it's such a beautiful semi-acoustic xmas track! Joshua's voice sounds a little like a slowed down version of J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr. sometimes, while the song drags on for over four minutes without reaching a real climax and still remains very exciting every single second. Fingers crossed for snow this Christmas.

His Insta over there.

Impressive Indie

Have Yourself A Merry Indie Christmas Vol. 4, Welsh journalist Kevin McGrath has attempted (and didn't fail) to compile the best Christmas songs from the indie and underground scene of recent years.
With no less than 65 tracks, this is also the very last part of this digital series. For all 4 Bandcamp compilations, go HERE. All proceeds will go to the British homeless organisation Crisis. This fabulous Volume 4 includes the melodic indie from The Photocopies, solid guitar work from Shires, up-tempo tracks from Warm Digits, and the glamrocking TV Smith (ex The Adverts).

We also encounter old acquaintances and favorites, such as a remix of this synthesizer track from Ex-Rental (from 2021):
April March with 'Last Train To Christmas' (2022): My favourite is this silly titled song from Grandaddy (2021):

A Dollyrots Christmas

In recent years the punk couple The Dollyrots, from Los Angeles has regularly surprised us with a delightfully bouncing punk rock song. We wrote a lot about them, see here.  This year they have tackled the 51-year-old song 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day' by Wizzard. The track now sounds even faster and louder! It can also be found on the compilation 'A Very Dollyrots Christmas', which has been re-released and now features no less than 17 tracks, all Christmas songs they previously released. Including their ultra-fast 2019 version of 'Fairytale Of New York'.

Christmas on the isle of Texel

 The Dutch singer-songwriter Vic Willems undertook a very special Christmas project. In 2016, he won the 'Grote Prijs van Nederland', the most prestigious music competition in the Netherlands. This year he recorded the song 'Christmas on Texel' together with the 'Pop Choir of Texel'. The song is inspired by the fact that his mother recently passed away from cancer. She spent her last Christmas on the island of Texel. It has become a personal, intimate song about their last Christmas on Texel, with beach walks and glühwein (mulled wine). Moving.

Also on Spotify (HERE) and Soundcloud (HERE)

Short Notes Don't Stop

It's Bandcamp Friday, it's the day after Sinterklaas, so the new Christmas releases pile up. We'll talk you through some of the highlights:

Nicole Atkins' seasonal songs, can't have enough of them on this blog. On the heels of her duet with Gaspard Royant, here's a new dreamy ballad:

As announced by Jim/Christmas Underground, this GREAT alt rocking Christmas tune from Scotland's Cords:

London's Old Dirty Brasstards have made Christmas cover-EPs before, this year they're putting the horns to the Home Alone soundtrack, Feliz Navidad and this version of that ole' alt Christmas staple by The Waitresses:

Richard Cejer and m.demian made a groovy Christmas track, love that electric piano. Taking notes from Paolo Nutini, John Mayer and Tom Misch, these gents like their seasonal song to kick back and relax, with a cocktail instead of hot coco:

Joe la Panic is one of the most promising new French pop names. Her debut album is just out, as a surprise she released a tender, husky not-so-anti-Christmas song:

Cannot have Christmas with this cheerful lot, lighting up the seasons since 2016. Let the Ishmaels wrap themselves around you like a warm scarf, with this Muppets-cover

Lovely 50s style, torch song duet, from a musical production:

Gerhardt - Santa Is No Friend Of Mine

One of the coolest dudes here at Christmas A GoGo undoubtedly is Gerhardt. For a number of years now, he has been surprising us with the most fantastic and diverse original Christmas tracks. So it's no coincidence that he also made an appearance at our first CAGG spectacular in Paradiso Amsterdam two years ago.
Today, his annual release is here and once again he lets a completely different vibe flow from his multi-colored Christmas cocoon to us. Sleigh bells, handclaps, Ho Ho Ho's, choirs and church bells mixed with a touch of tango: in Gerhardt's Christmas universe where Bowie meets Tim Burton meets Queen, all is possible. And waddabout that intro? An absolute highlight! Oh, and Gerrie (as we may call him affectionatly) stresses us to mention that the single cover is NOT made with AI, but a handmade Gerrie's Imaginarium collage.
But despite all that beauty, the big guy in red is no friend of Gerhardt. No wonder, because "Year by year, he passed me by, A promise lost in wintertime, No gifts, no hope, no northern light, Santa is no friend of mine".
Applause.

Gerhardt's Insta here, his musical work over there.

Finnish Die Hard-inspired Christmas music

We all know that Die Hard is a Christmas Movie, and if artists keep making Die Hard-inspired tunes, we're going to keep track of them as much as possible.

From Helsinki, Finland, where some say Santa is really from, Riikkahoi offers us not only a poppy techno song about being the angel of vengeance (John McClane?), but also an entire Christmas album! Besides 'Die Hard', the slow vibe of 'Kirkka-us' (roughly, 'Brightness') has a mood all its own. Do listen to the whole album: it's not very long and it's a whole vibe in itself.

Besides being having very colourful art with or without cats on instagram, we don't know much about Riikkahoi, so if you do, let us know. Yippy-ki-yay!

Three more short notes

Slowly but surely things are finally starting to get better and better with good Christmas releases this year. So again: short notes, three this time.

We can't get away from it, Christmas covers. And we don't mind, as long as it's done in a good way. So over to Frosty. We haven't heard of him this year so far, but Strawberry Whiplash is changing that with this cool rattling indie track.
Apart from a howling wind in the distance, there is little that is Christmassy to be found in this track. But nevertheless, 'Xmas Sox' by B.Miles from New York turned out to be a damn good poppy (Christmas) song.

The loud post-Xmas track 'Santa's Coming Down' has to be taken literally, as Jimmy Stash wrote this banger during the final removal of a giant Santa from a mall in Adelaide. That means Arctic Monkeys-esque guitars from The Land Down Under! 

More Short Notes on Great Christmas Songs

Autista from Chile, with great loud riffs and cool vocals. Catchy song! The bandmembers are actually autistic, the bio on their Bandcamp says. This could very well be AI-enhanced, but still:

The idea of We Never was to record a Christmas album on a portable recorder, and then...that didn't happen. But this loud, pushy punk-track is darn good:

This was spotted by Santapalooza, but Christmas Underground revealed it's a re-release from 2011. The girls make acoustic nsfw country pastiches (random song title: Washin' my big ol' pussy), but this track has a drum machine, synths and screamy vocals. I laughed first, then I loved it:

From a compilation with bands from Portland, Oregon. A rambling, charming song about playing xmas dvd's. Alt Christmas rock at it's best, really:

From a very nice compilation with mostly alt pop songs (listen to the first three on the album!), but this late 80s sounding hiphoptrack is a real highlight, deep groove:

The return of Gaspard Royant

When we first wrote about him in 2015, we called him 'Frenchy and chic.' We referred to Gaspar Royant as a French crooner back then. Read more about him  here. In 2022 he duetted with Maxwell Farrington, but now he's back with the album All The Best For Christmas!

It’s a mix of some of his older songs and some new work. This uptempo song from 2017 is on it: (C'mon Baby) It's Christmas Time!
The new songs are mainly duets. Like this one with American singer songwriter Nicole Atkins, about the perfect Christmas song.
Nicole Atkins wrote a pretty meanrocking Christmas tune herself, in 2020.

Val Orendain - Navidad Acústica (Live Session)

Today was release day for the beautiful Mexican alt-rock musician Val Orendain. She recorded six great acoustic live versions of Christmas classics, only accompanied by herself on exquisite electric guitar. Partly sung in English and partly in Mexican, her wonderful, slightly hoarse voice puts an exciting thin frayed edge on the worn-out songs, making them sound cool and authentic again like crunching fresh snow under your shoes. Now I wonder what Christmas with Val Orendain looks like in Mexico. 

Her Insta over there, more of her on YouTube.

COAMB - Little Cat Xmas

A little cat to keep you warm, what could be better?
A little cat in a Christmas hat and a Christmas sweater!
What could be better?
Two cats in Christmas hats and you and me together!
Well, if that isn't the real Christmas spirit, I don't know what is. One of the best original indie Xmas tracks so far this season, as far as I am concerned, is made by COAMB (Cougar On A Meth Binge). No further information on them unfortunately.

(Oh and we heard about Christmas sweaters three times earlier this year.) 

Warm covers of 'As-tu vu le père Noël'

Québec's indie favourite Vanille wanted to celebrate her favourite time of the year with a Christmas song and decided to cover 'As-tu vu le père Noël' ('Have you seen Santa') by Québec country singer Renée Martel, released in 1968. We recently featured her father, Marcel Martel, who sang country and western Christmas music. Of course, The Beach Boys' 'The Man With All The Toys' is the original version.

Vanille's garage rock-flavoured version of 'As-tu vu le père Noël' should keep you warm all winter long. "Open your heart and your ears, and you might also see Santa go by!" Vanille is singer-songwriter Rachel Leblanc, who started her career in 2017. She was instantly popular and continues to earn her place in Québec's musical landscape. She oscillates between 1960s folk and French chanson, a winning combination.

Although more commercial, well-known singer Émilie-Claire Barlow's cosy and jazzy version of 'As-tu vu le Père Noël' featuring Québec 1980s sex kitten Mitsou has some lovely harmonies. Barlow has a lot of Christmas music and sings in English, French and Portuguese. Mitsou also has much Christmas experience and a lovely voice, which makes for a solid duet.

Vanille Émilie-Claire Barlow featuring Mitsou The original French version by Renée Martel

Cover time again: Silver Bells

Like any Christmas classic, there are endless covers of this one too: Silver Bells. The original is composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, but the first recorded version is by Bing Crosby & Carol Richards in 1950. We made a valiant attempt to separate the good from the bad and came up with a list of ten not-to-be-missed covers.

"Ring-a-ling, Hear them ring, Soon it will be Christmas day"

Let's start off nice and quiet with the one and only Billie Eilish (live) and her brother Finneas O'Connell on piano. She owns the track immediately and turns the Silver Bells into pretty delicate golden bells at once.

When Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings sink their cover teeth into something, you know it's going to be good. In 2015, they recorded this glowing soulful version of the classic. 

The Annihilators (earlier on the blog this year) came up with this wild 'n catchy, punky pub "woohoho" version.

The Thought Beings from California made Silver Bells sound synthy and digital.

They from She & Him took the plunge in 2010 and came up with a sensitive and basic ukulele only version, carried by the folky sound of Zooey Deschanel's voice.

The famous instrumental version that Booker T. & The MG's recorded can't be missed. They did it for the prestigious Stax label back in 1967 already.
The guys from Ashes To Arrows listened to U2 pretty well, but luckily not enough to ruin the song. What remains is a strong power-pop version of Silver Bells.
Reindeer Tribe are no strangers to CAGG, but they always manage to surprise. Like on their country-a-like version of Silver Bells from 2017.

You can always count on Anni Rossi when it comes to original covers. The New Yorker takes over Silver Bells with minimal resources.

And that makes ten. Time to finish this Silver Bells appreciation post with Silver Bells by The Appreciation Post. So that means no fuss, just loud guitars and going out with a bang! 

Short notes on a Netherchristmas

Going Dutch in the holiday season, with one of our favorite, ehm, songbirds: Merel Koman aka Blackbird. She released a festive Xmas single in 2021 (this one), that is part of a new seasonal EP that floats on nostalgia. Listen to that gorgeous ragtime piano in this oh so sweet family scene:

Krezip and Danny Vera are big room fillers in Holland. They joined forces earlier, but now for Christmas. As with any good Christmas song, it's longing for the good ole days:

Marcel Kapteijn was featured before on this blog, he claimed fame with THIS Dutch pop classic. This is a very upbeat, good time Christmas pop track:
You can take a girl out of Holland, but you cannot take Holland out of a girl. Because, when from the Netherlands, you make a Christmas song about bikes, right? Stevie Bill, a huge talent from Holland living in NYC, is doing just that:

A mirrored hat like Noddy Holder

Slade's Noddy Holder is very much present at every Christmas. It's his hoarse cry you hear near the end of Merry Xmas Everybody, THE seasonal glam rock standard that's all over Xmas radio. On this blog, we had various references to Noddy, of course in our big 50 Years of Merry Xmas celebration (HERE and HERE) the honourable mention HERE, and listen how this starts:

And here's another, by Swansea Sound. Their third Christmas single is about dancing to Manfred Mann, while wearing 'a mirrored hat like Slade'. Cool glam riff there:
Thanks to Christmas Underground for this.

Second Hand Orchestra & Gary van der Steur

Last year we had a guestpost by Joris 'Stereo' Gillet on the first album by The Second Hand Orchestra from Sweden. And we're thrilled that they've released a brand new Christmas album again this year, called 'SLOW, this is Christmas!'.
The concept of this album is pretty much similar to the first one: the Swedish 8-piece DIY orchestra with a loose line up of ace musicians coming and going and who is led by Karl Jonas Winqvist, wanted to bring back the love they once had for these Christmas songs. But for this year they like to do it, the album title already gave it away a bit, "in SLOW, trippy versions to avoid any kind of stress". And that has been more than excellently achieved with these ten tracks. Some are new, some are SLOW edits of last year's recordings, but all are a welcome addition to the slow Christmas winter landscape and not to be confused with easy listening.
Wonder what's coming up next year. A binaural beats Christmas album?  

The Second Hand Orchestra Instagram.


Even more remarkable Christmas music. His name sounds pretty familiar to us CAGG Dutchies, but he really is from Los Angeles, America. Gary van der Steur is not only a designer in various disciplines, but also a musician. At least, he has made a Christmas track that you must have heard and that he himself has filed under the name 'Seasonal Brass' and is "for those who dread the Christmas season". Point taken. 

Gary van der Steur Instagram.

Loser Company - Christmas Mourning

It's a very drizzly rainy morning in da lowlands as we speak. And if twas Christmas right now, this would be a perfect morning for mourning. Beautifully drawn out Christmassy indie rock track by Loser Company from California. Love the bells, love the choirs that sound in the distance, love the little drummer boy-esque drums in the beginning, love the lyrics. Must fit to your mood though. Happy monday morning y'all! 

Their Insta here, X over there.

Let the BBC take over

Grapes of Grain is a Utrecht-based, Dutch band; Americana is their genre, with some indiepop tendencies. GoG have quite the discography (see HERE), but this is their first dip into Christmas waters. With an EP, three seasonal songs about missing the sun (can relate), about a house lighting up around Christmas time and the prize song, Christmas TV (great theme!). About handing over the reigns to the BBC, and following their flow of Christmas movies. Because, well, is there any better way to spend the holidays?
The video, up above, was shot in one of the most gorgeous Dutch cinema's in Amsterdam.

Fifties rockin' Christmas gems from Québec

Marcel Martel from Drummondville, Québec, was a pioneer of the country and western genre. One of his daughters is a famous country and western singer, Renée Martel, who has a few Christmas albums of standards. Over the course of a 35-year career, he released nearly 200 records, frequently collaborating with his wife Noëlla Therrien, his daughter Renée, who also had a very long career, and fellow country singer Paul Brunelle.

Irène McNeil recorded a song with a similar name called 'Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël' in 1957, produced by French immigrant businesswoman Michèle Sandry, who also sang and recorded herself. Good luck finding those rarities. McNeil was also nicknamed 'Mademoiselle Rythme' ('Miss Rhythm'), the title of her first album. Listen to the entire album here, which features another Christmas song, 'Noël en Italie' ('Christmas in Italy').

Unlike Marcel Martel's 'Rock'n'roll du Père Noël', which he wrote himself, McNeil's 'Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël' is an adaptation of 'Boogie Woogie Santa Claus', first recorded by Mabel Scott and popularised by Patti Page in 1950. 'Mademoiselle Rythme' is said to be the first female rock and roll album released in Canada, an honour that goes to a French-speaker as well, which culturally was no small feat.

Just dropped is Germany's Monokini with a nice straightforward and minimalist cover of McNeil's 'Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël' - bonus!

Marcel Martel - Rock'n'roll du Pere Noël Irène McNeil - Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël Monokini - Rock N' Roll Du Père Noël

COVER TIME: LAST CHRISTMASSES 2024

Yes, we did celebrate 40 years of Last Christmas earlier with a blogpost (THIS ONE), but then we ran into more fine versions from 2024. So we had to do another one. Because, this version by baritone Daniel Knox is quite something. Reminds me of Neil Hannon (of Divine Comedy-fame), Dougie Poole and Stuart Staples (Tindersticks), but with just one red wine too many: Smart arrangement, smart instrumentation (ooh that organ). You need to buy this one to hear 'Lost Christmas', an eerie instrumental of one minute long. Nice, tho.

Already posted on Christmas Underground, but if you missed that, here is Kestrels in all it's dreampop fuzz-pedal-down-glory:

Kestrels · Last Christmas

Boyz of Kumbia! Totally different vibe, electronic cumbia, in Spanish:

Boyz of Kumbia · Last Christmas (Español)

I don't know what to make of this track by Thomas Kavanagh, is it emo-pop? Layerrrrsss of guitars, pop singing:

Thomas Kavanagh · Last Christmas

Also heavy on the guitars, but with a sweet tooth, Flor from Oregon:

flor · Last Christmas

Fierce 'n slow, loud 'n strong. Very good version! On the album (which you have to buy to hear 'm) are two more versions, an upbeat, indie-soulful version and a poppunkish one with a Casio synth solo).
Hop Hop Diablo Funk. It's a real band from Mexico, and if that name makes you smile, you should hear their sunny LC version:

Hop Hop Diablo Funk · Last Christmas (Cover)

Dreampop pop, is that a genre? Captain Crybaby might be the first to make it:

pilar · Last Christmas - Captain Crybaby! Wham cover

Burial Quartet are from Sweden, I think it's just two guys, who make surf rock that's a little rough round the edges. Try their lp, because the Little Drummer Boy version is also quite cool:

Mary Moore - Santa Baby

"Hit it boy", well allright then. It's friday night after all. Lots of covers over the years of this one, which is originally performed by Eartha Kitt in 1953.
And you may think that this one doesn't add much to all the previous covers, but come on, it's sooo tasty, tempting, sweet and lovely. So let's give it up for Mary Moore (I'd buy her anything she wanted anyway). 

Her Insta over there.

Short Notes on Christmas

We have known her for a while at CAGG and unfortunately she was absent last year, but this year Trella is back with a beautiful cover of 'Grown-Up Christmas List'. Her sultry voice is still as irresistible. 

Buffalo Tom, the eighties alt-rock heroes, are still going strong and so is Bill Janovitz, their singer, as we can hear on his first (!) subdued solo Christmas track. There's a first time for everything. He sketched this one out on Christmas Eve 2023 and finished it on Thanksgiving 2024.

An Overnight Low has an original take on Santa's sleigh in this this track that is slightly reminiscent of R.E.M. from the Murmur era and bands like The Feelies.

We met them earlier, Sugar World, with a cover of Low's 'Just Like Christmas'. This year they recorded their very first Christmas original. Call it indie, call it dreampop, call it DIY, but love it. 

Guitarróns, accordion en mariachi music in the U.K. you wondered? Listen to these guys from England and Ireland who call themselves Track Dogs, because "I'd rather have burrito's than a big turkey meal".