Christmas A Go Go!

After last year's succes, Universal decided to release a second ' A Very Cool Christmas' compilation. Number 2 is divided in a Rockin' and a Groovin' part. The double LP has 32 tracks and the 2CD package contains 47 tracks. Most of the artists are known to very known with names like Pearl Jam, Paul Simon, Johnny Cash, James Brown, Amy Winehouse or Michael Jackson.. The choice of tracks is good. They tried to avoid the most obvious songs, so there is a lot of nice and new music to discover here. Like this great Ramones cover from Little Steven, on both LP and CD version. Also on te Rockin' section  hardly known tracks from Baby Bird  (on LP & CD) and the band Harvey Danger (CD only) and a hilarious Dread Zeppelin novelty song. One of the CD-only tracks comes from the only Dutch contribution on Cool Christmas 2, this nice  Tangerine song from 2014.

Leave it to Christmas Underground to dive up the real pearls of alt. Christmas music. Read his raving review of Wake Up And Smell the Sun, who released one DAMN fine Christmas album. While CU hears references to Verve and Spiritualized, to me there's a huge Tom Petty vibe going on too. Which is nice. What's more, the songwriting is just excellent. Might we call the Best Chrismtas Album of 2020 yet? Electric Snow by Wake Up And Smell The Sun

Found this on Soundcloud, a track about celebrating Christmas inna covid stylee. By Dublin-based singer-songwriter Laoise Curtin. Could not find that much extra info about her, my guess is that she made this all by herself. Funny, cool, good. Laoise Curtin · A Very Covid Christmas Victoria Kennedy ('pro-quarantiner') wrote a song with the same theme: Victoria Kennedy · COVID Christmas Also, this sugary soul pop song about Christmas in quarantine: John Lindahl · Quarantine Christmas Totally different style, same theme: OJ · Christmas in Quarantine How'bout this good ole boy celebrating Xmas in quarantine, southern style: Christmas time in quarantine by Guy Foster TEN years ago, Gregg Yeti wrote this (very good) song about Christmas alone in q: Wonderbuckets (The 4 EP Collection 2004-2007) by Gregg Yeti & The Best Lights

So, when I heard Hunter Complex cover 'Another Lonely Christmas', I was thinking, are there more versions? Of course there are. Below, I lined up what I could find. Here's the story behind the Prince track. Jazz guitar player Dove McHargue made a solo tribute album to Prince, including this grooving version: Purple Politicians; a Tribute 2 Prince by Dove McHargue Indie rock darlings (or should I say 'darling', cuz it's a one man band) Dump did a very indie darling version: (more on this verion HERE ) Teen rock band Saving Forever did a teen rock version: D'you wanna hear a grunge-y version? Look no futher: Symphonic tribute, anyone?

Originally from Ontario, Canada, Damien Robitaille lives in Québec and sings mainly in French, but does a lot in English as well. He's multilingual and multitalented, and quite smooth, as can be heard in 'Bientôt ce sera Noël' ('Soon it will be Christmas'). Watch Damien sing to you here:

New Christmas single of Mariya May - sounds more upbeat than you'd expect from this title. LOTS of bells too. Cascadian Christmas Collection (Second Edition) by Mariya May

Yay! The dynamic Danish duo did it again! The other Raveonettes Christmas songs are:

 According to the  Bandcamp  from American violin player and singer Andrew Bird, his Christmas LP  'Hark!' (on red vinyl) is long sold out. That's a pity because it's a "different than the rest" album with fine music, not necessarely covered in bells or 'Hohohoho's'. But you can still stream and download it from his  Bandcamp . Or watch it on the 'tube.

The Decibels from Sacramento, CA, are playing power pop since the 90s. In 2018 they recorded some Christmas tunes, including (edit) what turns out to be a cover of a John Denver track. We @ CAGG totally missed that EP, so we're glad Dean Savers from The Decibels reached out and told us about it (Mistletunes DID notice , but we kinda missed that too). So, here it is in full glory, a raucous power pop classic-in-the-making. UPDATE: Dean writes: 'I have to confess though - it's not an original. This was a John Denver tune that was on the Muppets Christmas LP back in the 1970s.' Christmas Moods by The Decibels

Haarlem, Holland, based synthesizer great Hunter Complex is, like us, a Christmas music fan. A few years back, he covered a nugget by Volendams own country hero Specs Hildebrand, for a cd compiled by co-CAGG-conspirate Oscar Smit. It came to my attention that Hunter Complex also recorded a special version of Prince's Another Lonely Christmas (Hunter/Lars is also a massive Prince-fan). He spiced his version up with quotes from an x-mas laced horror movie - can you guess which one? Hunter Complex · Hunter Complex - Another Lonely Christmas / Street Value (live @ Concerto - December 2014)

Grant-Lee, he of the indestructible Fuzzy (and a whole lot more great tracks) made a Yuletide EP, featuring three covers, and his own Winterglow. The latter's best known for this serie s. Highlight (for me) is his ultra-gorgeous version of NKC's 'Take me back to Toyland'. Yuletide by Grant-Lee Phillips

In Charlie Darling's own words : On 1st December 2020, residents, family and friends of Morston, north Norfolk, will be able to download and listen to their very own Christmas song, written by a local musician to celebrate life in the village during the festive period. In these uncertain, unprecedented and changeable times we can at least appreciate that there are some things of which we can be quite sure – Christmas Day will fall on December 25th. Usually, no Christmas Eve is complete until the voices of the Morston Carol Singers fill the village starry night sky air as they entertain locals and guests while collecting money for the maintenance and repair of All Saints Church. However, under current restrictions it is difficult to guarantee that this annual delight will be feasible (or even permitted) under COVID-19 guidelines. As a form of alternative festive fare, Morston-based musician Charlie Darling, together with Sandra Morris, has written ‘A Morston Tale’ – an exclusiv...

Next week, CAGG can reveal the first track of this soulful Christmas album by Dutch-American band Michelle David & the Gospel Session s. Singer Michelle was born 'n raised in the States, the guys behind her are also active in hard funk band Lefties Soul Connection and Beans & Fatback , you may remember them from THIS Christmas single. MD&tGS started out as a very minimal (just voice and acoustic guitars) ode to folksy gospel, but have grown into a scorching live band. See this , for instance. The Christmas album features two covers (Stevie Wonder's What Christmas Means to Me and Silent Night) and the rest are self-penned songs. Think Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, that's a good reference.

First track from the upcoming Christmas album by CHilly Gonzales. Read all the details here . This is a beautiful rendition of the ole' classic:

25 year old Canadian singer songwriter Scott Helman is sure he wants to go home for Christmas. He made a beautiful song about it with acoustical guitar, a soft layer of synthesizers and bells. On the road for Christmas!

Benjamin Scheuer is a relatively new American singer songwriter living in London and in New York. He is into the late John Prine (1946-2020). This songs sounds like Christmas will be a bit of a drama for him. BenjaminScheuerMusic · Christmas Is Black And Blue

 I must admit 'Holidays' from Chicago born singer Josie Dunne sounds a bit commercial. But hey, it has a great christmassy atmosphere, is well orchestrated and has bells all over. So have listen :-) JOSIE DUNNE · Holidays

 Former Hanoi Rocks gitarplayer Andy McCoy recorded a Christmas track in 2016, 'Xmas Song'. This year it will be pressed on a Finnish  7 inch  vinyl single  on Ainoa Records. It's a sort of rock ballad and has even a saxophone in it.

Reggae superstar Shaggy is going to release a real Christmas album entitled 'Christmas In The Islands'. It's recorded with a lot of friends like Joss Stone, Junior Reid or Beenie Man. Bassicly a lot of original new songs with a couple of oldies like 'Have Yoursef A Merry Little Christmas' or '12 Days Of Christmas'. 

King Diamond's funny and LOUD x-mas metal song 'No Presents for Christmas' is a staple in loud rawk 'n roll. And gets covered every now and then. Recently, these metalheads did a version: So I looked around, and found a bunch of other covers, like this one: No Presents for Christmas by Kill Wealthy Dowager From Southern Cali, with a great cover art: Seasons Bleedings 7" by Holy Grail Gothic vocal jazz, didn't know that was a thing, but it is: The D.O.O.D. really turn it up to eleven: And if you have the time and the stomach, see this acoustic butchering of the song.

Here's a confession. I like the cover The Ataris did a few years ago of 'Boys of Summer' . There. Deal with it. Love the line about the Black Flag sticker (instead of a Deadhead sticker) too. When looking for versions of Tom Waits' 'Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis' I found that The Ataris released their version on Bandcamp last summer. It's a good, genuine rendition. Nothing too special, but well done. More Rare B-Sides and Covers (Vol. 2) by The Ataris

November 27 is Black Friday and a special Record Store Day . Among the many releases there are a few nice Christmas ones. Like a holiday 7 inch from Juliana Hatfield  'Christmas Cactus'  and t he first ever 7" single for the Vince Guaraldi classic  'Christmas Time Is Here' from the classic movie A Charlie Brown Christmas. There is a  Dave Brubeck 12 inch, with    an elegant festive holiday etching on the B-side. It contains two tracks  'Sleep Holy Infant' and 'Away In A Manger' .  Another 7 inch,  on Martian Green vinyl,  is this one : ' Hooray For Santa Claus - Milton DeLugg & The Little Eskimos b/w 'Hooray For Santa Claus' - The Fleshtones.   Included is a DVD from ' Santa Claus Conquers The Martians' . (Wonder how this package looks like).  Finally there's a new release of the soundtrack from the horror movie  'Silent Night, Deadly Night' 'Silent Night, Deadly Night'. This was  released in 1984 and wa...

We've been on and on about the importance of Christmas bells in a proper Christmas song. So Mo (Ryan, really) really dug that, and made this bell overload xmas track. No need for lyrics, MORE XMASBELLS! Mo's Lonely Christmas (Single) by Mo Douglas

Also, I'm updating a Spotify playlist with all the new Christmas songs of this year. Not only songs that appear here, and not everything's that up our alley. But it might be up yours (sorry, had to make that joke). Find it HERE

First track off of a full holiday album ! Heard the full album already; in short, it's great. LOVE the Spanish tracks, even the 'Happy Xmas War Is Over' version is bearable (thanks to the mariachi-infusion).

Released this summer, a song about winter flings (and Tinder, apparently) by fierce Phoenix-rockband Ghost in the Willow. Sounds a bit Irish to me, folkpunk-y, think Dropkick Murphys and the like. Something else, for sure. X-Mas Tinder (single) by Ghost In The Willow

OH YEAH. Kelly Finnigan is releasing a holiday album (see HERE ) and this is the first single:

If you're a Christmas music blogs regular, you've heard of A Rock by the Sea. They raise money to help out those hurt by cancer, by releasing compilations and (help) organising music festivals. The Christmas compilation is up to volume 11 this year. Lots of covers, and a few originals. Christmas Wrapping by Ultrababyfat and the REM-y version of In the Bleak Midwinter are very notable, but so is this original track by Melissa Ferrick (17 albums in 24 years!): A Rock By The Sea Christmas, Vol. 11 by Various Artists

 My Christmas 2020 started in the middle of summer, with this fine clip from a corona proof  exchange of Xmas presents. Alex The Astronaut is an Australian girl who released her (non christmas) album  The Theory Of Absolutely Nothing   last summer. 

Jenn Grant, Canadian songstress, cover goddess, could be the saviour of Christmas this year. Listen to the first song of her upcoming Xmas album. BOY this could be a great year. Forever On Christmas Eve by Jenn Grant