Christmas A Go Go!

Guestpost! Ruud Houweling , once known as Cloudmachine, is an acclaimed Dutch singer-songwriter with a big heart for Americana music. He wrote a few lines on that very cool Christmas album by Los Lobos: Chicano superstars Los Lobos, the multi-instrumentalist rockers from Los Angeles with their unique musical blend of mixed cultural origin, recorded a Christmas album with songs from Latin America. Obscure traditionals from Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia and Venezuela. Save one; the inescapable classic sing along finale: Feliz Navidad. A flavorsome treat. (Tip: also give their incredible 1996 album Colossal Head a spin)

PussNBoots is a sort of all female supergroup from Brooklyn: Norah Jones, winner of 9 grammy awards, Catherine Popper who played with people like Jack White & Ryan Adams and jazz singer Sasha Dobson. For this upcoming season they made a nice (mini) alt. country CD/LP: 'Dear Santa...'. It also includes this great country song:

Leon Redbone  (1946-2019) was an artist who was often compared with Frank Zappa and and Tom Waits. He died on dementia this year. In 1988 he released a Christmas album  'Christmas Island'  (in fact a real island, located in the Indian Ocean about 350 KM south of Java). This october the album is rereleased on CD, with two extra unknown new tracks.

Stumbled on this album, originally released in 2017 but put on Bandcamp recently . A joyous seasonal album by singer-songwriter, all originals but chockful of references. Really dug this jangling, Beatles-y track: The Winter Garden Playtest by Joe Kane

Hiy'all. Usually, we fire up the blog on November 1. But since the lovely girls of Clean Pete decided to release their brilliant Dutch take on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen today, we had no choice but follow. Now, Clean Pete, you might remember them from this Christmas track . Or this one . You might have visited their Xmas shows (two coming up in Decemer). Even if Dutch is not your language, you have to admire their lush voices, and the effort they take to make original takes on Christmas songs. Dutch male vocal hero Thijs Boontjes joins the CP-duo. On the album, to be released late November, the earlier singles appear (everyting in Dutch), duets with comedian Stefano Keizers, jazz singer Ruben Hein, folkster Lucky Fonz and a few tracks without back up singers. We've already heard it, and think it's B R I L L I A N T. Really. All reworked versions of known carols, xmas pop hits and more. Something to look out for, surely.

It's the year of the pig, y'all. Happy 2019. See you back in November. Thanks for all your visits, views, downloads, tips, comments and Christmas joy. That Poor Little Pig (Christmas Free Single) by Banjo Bones

Nothing more to say here. Jezus Leeft! Merry Xmas.

The latest Arbor Christmas album is released, Volume 19. And of course, there's a song by The Not Fur Longs on it. These guys are present almost every year. What I like about this band is that they come up with great song titles, are very versatile (from jangly indie to reggae), it-is-what-it-is-lyrics and that honey-drenched voice of Brooke McAleer. Here's a collection of their bestest Christmas songs from Arbor Christmas compilations: Last year was a so-so song, this is revanche: Arbor Christmas: Volume 19 by Arbor Christmas Collections NFL get a bit Police-y, like this one a lot: Arbor Christmas: Volume 17 by The Not Fur Longs Heartwarming: Arbor Christmas: Volume 16 by The Not Fur Longs Cool sci-fi-intro: Arbor Christmas: Volume 15 by The Not Fur Longs Fa-la-la, pa-rum-pum: Arbor Christmas: Volume 11 by The Not Fur Longs Happ-i-i-ne-e-e-ss! Arbor Christmas: Volume 10 by The Not Fur Longs Arguably, their bestest xmas song. Yes, it lends from The Cure...

Sad13 = Sadie Dupuis. You might know her as part of Speedy Ortiz, or because she made 'Slugger', an album under the Sad13 moniker. And if you don't, get to know her because of this desafinado alt Christmas hit. It's a holiday song, but ' instead of a song filled with generic Christmas imagery, Dupuis gives us an illustration of her ideal holiday vacation, which involves blankets, TV and plenty of staying indoors ': Sadie made more xmas tunes, like this one . And this one .

Originally a musician from the Netherlands, Truus de Groot  moved to Amercia somewhere in 1980. Here she makes electronic music and calls herself: "Early pioneer of Experimental Electronica, soulful vocalist and not your run-of-the-mill Composer". Her X-mas track is only available on Youtube: It's Christmas Time! And it's created with the Analog Reco-Synth, on one track only.

The Antwerp based Belgian label Jj funhouse  likes experimental music. They just released 'Icicle', their third annual Christmas compilation. It's cassette only and mostly electronic music. Think kraut, ambient, Warp records. Tracks are mostly  quiet instrumental soundscapes with lots of Christmas bells. You can listen to and check it out  here . or below

Scanned some other blogs for new Christmas music, and this is what I found, stuff you really should hear: Funny, rambling country song by Sun Sap on Santa being daddy [ VIA ]: The Greyhound Factory sound like an 80s alt rock band, think music from Sixteen Candles or Pretty in Pink-soundtracks. Which I happen to like [ VIA ] Auckland's Lucky Boy^ shares a song that's apperantly an old NZ xmas classic. It's dreamy, offkey and tropical [ VIA ]: Every Song Has Sleigh Bells! by Lucky Boy^ Eoin Dolan makes 'sci-fi-tinged surf pop that finds a space where sadness and beauty can coexist simultaneously'. So there. [ VIA ] Selection Boxes by Eoin Dolan To quote Christmas Underground , whom we trust blindly when it comes to xmas music, 'this band has CHRISTMAS MUSIC PERFECTED': Christmas On Mars by Christmas Aguilera

Dutch bard Bertolf wrote a gorgeous seasonal song years ago ( this one ), and adds to his legacy this beauty:

Track is deleted, alas. Happy Xmas (War is over) by John & Yoko is one of the few Christmas classics that bore me. Heard it enough times, does not rock my world any more. Could live without it easily. Unless, unless it's re-done by wonky synths and fx vocals. (Happy Xmas) War Is Over ft AK/DK by AK/DK

Christmas a Go Go contributer DJ Oscar is playing two instore DJ sets and a club set in Amsterdam. Please feel free to pass by and enjoy the christmas music! - December 20, between 15.00-18.00: Yearly  Concerto Christmas Special  with two live acts: The Avonden and Cordon Rouge. DJ Oscar will Christmas vinyl only. - December 22, 16.00-18.00:  Black Cold (Records & Coffee)  DJ Oscar plays a christmas vinyl set with hip hop, R&B, jazz and (northern)soul. - December 27, 21.00-01.00:  Nieuwe Anita (club)

Scanned the great Stubby's Free List , and found three songs (among a lot of other cheer) that struck a nerve. 'A tattoo of her baby's feet, was pressed against my eyes' is one of the many poignant lines in the sad, slow song by Missouri singer-songwriter Dearnley, about Christmas eve in a strip club. Just a guitar, a tired voice and depressing lyrics, make a great, great song. Really. Dystopian Christmas by Dearnley A tad LOUDER is this track by Georgia's Eat Lightning. From 2011, but brought back to life for the holiday season. Grunge blues, if that's a thing, well, it's this: Holiday Cheer by Eat Lightning As I wrote before , How to Make Gravy by Paul Kelly is one of the greatest Christmas songs ever written. On Saturday, it's #gravyday down under, because of the lyrics. This version by Anita Clare is stripped down to just a guitar and a back up singer. That's all it needs, really. Also on this compilation is a sweet, sexy version of Maria...

I dunno what's more impressive, the fact that Utrecht-based band The Wrong Reasons made a good countryrocking song about getting into the Christmas spirit (unironic, really what Christmas should be about), or the choir singing along with them, featuring Ken Stringfellow (The Posies), various Yearlings-members, Maurits Westerik, guys from Pondertone, Reiger, various comedians....anyhoo, give it a spin:

Hi. How about a really beautiful slow song about Christmas Eve and love? Piano-driven, a bit debut-album-Coldplay-ish? Sang by a Canadian songwriter? Hmmm? Try this:

Alas, the track's been deleted by the label ( Oddbox Records ) A cover of Sugababes' seasonal hit New Year, by indie sweethearts Darling Buds. Sounds great, no? Download for 'name your price' below, but be quick cuz it's only here until January 2. New Year by The Darling Buds Original version: (VIA)

We're all for having a sexxxy xxxmas, so when a band calls its EP 'Sexxxy XXXMas', we're listening. Aracana is a four piece brassband from Chicago. Like Youngblood Brass Band and Hot 8 Brassband, they rework songs by others. Earlier, they did a pretty amazing version of Prince's Darlin' Nikki AND Rush's YYZ. But now, Christmas. The sexiness 'comes' from the fact that the carols they bring, have 'come' in the name. O Come O Come Emmanuel, O Come All Ye Faithfull, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. Now, I'm pretty sure you never heard those carols played in the way Arcana does 'm over. Prepare for their O Come Emmanuel version. It has an interlude about Rahm Emanuel , mayor of Chicago. Who's is not running for re-election, so to do a song about him isn't really working (apparently), so instead they sing the original latin version of that carol. Oh, and they throw some Eminem in the mix. Yes, it's THAT good: the sexxxy xxxmas ...

Every now & then we post songs in Dutch on this blog, because a) hey, we're Dutch and b) they're good stuff! Take this short but sweet, Spinvis-ish track by Leiden's Kris Kringel. Dunno who disguises behind that moniker, probably one of the guys from Smikkelbaard Records. If odd, leftfield stuff is your thing (and it should be, why are you here then?!) check out their other releases. Back to Kris now, he recorded two covers, in Dutch, of 'O Come All Ye Faithful' (aka Komt allen tezamen) and 'El decembre congelat' (aka 'Midden in de winternacht'), plus an orignal. ' Flappie in de pizza' is a story about Christmas not being a feast for everyone, especially when you're a rabbit. Kerst met Kringel by Kris Kringel By the way, Smikkelbaard released a few singles from the Plurex catalogue, one of the first indie labels in the Netherlands. This was one of the very first punk singles ever released in the lowlands.

Google translate tells me that 'När det lider mot jul' means 'When Christmas is nigh'. Swedish one man band (I guess) Ring Snuten made this Violent Femmes-y, hyperactive short track and it's very, very good. By the way, his name translates as 'Call the snout'. Just so you know. H/t to CU . När det lider mot jul by Ring snuten

Nobody's called Winston, and he/they didn't play jazz. Not even as a routine. Nathan Phillips was the brainchild behind WJR, they made two albums with gentle, nicely arranged songs, sung by Phillips high voice. Though he sings differently, WJR reminds me of The Blue Nile. On a now untraceable compilation from 2007 , there's a WJR song called 'Through the Snow'. I recently heard it for the first time, and I think it's really gorgeoous (I now see that Wouter put it on his TBASB-Xmas Mix in 2011 ). Couldn't find if Nathan is still making music, if you know more, please share.

It's here, the newest Christmas song by Dutch band Pondertone. Who, as you may recall, made this blog, this community of alt.Christmas lovers, this...world a better place with their great xmas tracks . Find'm all here . This is the most serious Christmas song Pondertone has written. In a year rogue presidents, populist parties popping up everywhere, famine, wars, climate change and environmental problems - you need someone, a song maybe, that helps to get things right. To make a stand. To draw a line. And to help celebrate the festival of light.

A follow up to the post below, more songs we forgot about, but shouldn't: From 2012, retro-soul outta Auckland, NZ. Only single they made, according to Bandcamp. Vocalist reminds me of Levi Stubbs. How'm I Gonna Lose You This Christmas by The Cosbys Weird 50s style waltz, deep deep horns. Think Addams Family. Oh, how could we forget this indiepop ballad from Boston. Love that golden horn that suddenly pops up. I'm Always Broke in December by The Hush Now When you listened to a lot of Phil Spector, and indierock, and decided to give it go. Glad they did. Whatever You Want (For Christmas) by Dressy Bessy Actually recorded in Ecuador, but by an indierock band from Minneapolis. A bit off, but that makes it all the more charming. Christmas in Ecuador by Buffalo Moon OK, I'm a sucker for vocals such as these (think She & Him), and the retrovibe. It's Christmas Time by Bearkat Way before Trump, this fierce rockin' track (love that organ) makes c...

This blog is online since 2006, and in time a lot of songs moved house (from Bandcamp to Spotify, for instance) or vanished in thin air. I've been updating some dead links and lost posts all day now. There are a few songs I cannot seem to find any more. Like The Love Me Nots' version of Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me (it's on Spotify, but not available in Holland, alas). So Sad Santa by the Girl with the Replaceable Head. DCTV's Noël Interdit is gone from Soundcloud, alas. Also, I reconnected with a few treasures from the past. Here's some blasts from years ago: That bassline reminds me a little of Depeche Mode, the atmosphere is very New Order, and that's all good. Moody synthy-xmas. Crying On Christmas by L.A. Girlfriend Female psych-pop, with wobbly organs and a wall of fuzz. Great! Alone Again At Christmas Time / Independence Days (7") by The Pink Tiles French Red Kross-style indierock. With bells on. Xmas by Cimrya Deal This is a song tha...

What's your next move when you're a comedian with a penchant for Christmas music that differs from the traditional stuff, and you have to listen to 40 new Christmas albums for an extensive review ( HERE )? Well, why not write a song about it? That's what Connor Ratliff did, after his mammoth Rolling Stone review. You might remember Connor (and partner Mikey Erg) from this alt. Christmas classic and this comic Christmas album . About 'I Listen to the Holiday Radio': "It is a plea for holiday radio stations to work harder at varying their playlists, and for recording artists to be more imaginative with their song selections if they are going to record new XMAS albums. But it is written from the point of view of a person who has been driven insane by listening to the same 11 songs in nearly identical versions, over and over." I Listen To The Holiday Radio by Connor Ratliff & Mikey Erg

You know how we do , you know how he does. So get down:

The Bartlett is a music venue in Spokane, Washington. Artists connected to that venue release a Christmas compilation every year, this is Volume 5. And this firey hot blue eyed soul track by Super Sparkle is one of the highlights (like that opening track a lot, too): Bartlett Christmas - Volume #5 by Super Sparkle

One of my all time favourite non-traditional Christmas-y songs. Never released properly (as in: on vinyl, on cd), which probably makes it even more covetable. Ed Harcourt, bless his blackened soul, on Satan acting as Santa: