Rising young Jazz singer Jose James first posted "The Christmas Song" in 2010. It was mentioned by our good friends at Christmas A Go Go and by the King of Jingaling over at FaLaLaLaLa.com at the time (I keep telling you that man does not live by Stubbys alone). But I'm pretty sure we didn't mention it here since, at the time, it was neither a free download nor available for purchase. Silly me, I didn't check back this year and, as it turns out, James posted the track as a free download a few days before Christmas. So, while it lasts, head to Jose James web site or use the Soundcloud widget above (click on the downward arrow on the right) and grab this super cool and special rendition of "The Christmas Song" from Jose James. The track also features Jazz and Blues legend Junior Mance on the eighty-eights. How cool is that?
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Ironically, "This Year" is from last year. One year ago today, to be precise. It's not the greatest New Year's song ever done. But it is different. And we like different here at Stubby's. Sort of an Indie Alt Rock Hip Hop thing. And I do like the part where the guy makes his resolutions and then admits he won't keep them, so let's forget all about 'em--especially that one about not drinking. Just a reminder: don't drink and drive. You'll find "This Year" by Noterock free on Bandcamp. 1. Resurrection 2. A Very Tennessee Christmas 3. New Years (New Tears) 4. Winter Skit DOWNLOAD FREE THROUGH BANDCAMP Comedic Hip-Hop? OoooohK. Whoever Awwwwdiculous are, they seem to want to do the Hip Hop version of Rock Opera (they call it "Mob Opera"). Whatever. We're offering you up this "Winter EP" from January 2010 for the track "New Years (New Tears)" which is, if nothing else, an original take on the changing of the calendar, rather than just one more version of the usual suspects (not that we won't give you as many of those as we can find, too).
The first thing I liked about "Coventry Carol" from Jaggery was that they describe their sound as "torture chamber pop"--you know, as opposed to chamber pop. But that wicked sense of humor is only going to get you so far. The second thing I liked about Jaggery is that they're a Boston band. But, while that's a plus with me, it's not going to cut it with most anyone else. No, what we really need here is some good music. And, fortunately for Jaggery, that's what we've got in "Coventry Carol". This reminded me, in a way, of the version of "Carol Of The Bells" by Zombie Western that we had last year (and, by the way, it's free again this year) in that there's just something dark and perverse going on here. It's not the obvious things (like the Satanic whispering); it's something lurking between the notes. Can't put my finger on it, there's just something disquieting. Now, should you actually read the notes Jaggery has posted with the song (which I didn't until I decided the song was disquieting), it sure as heck OUGHT to be disquieting (which brings us back to the whole question of downer songs like "Last Christmas" that people celebrate as "festive"; but I digress). And, oddly, disquieting in the world of Stubbys House is often a positive trait, as it is here. Download "Coventry Carol" free on Bandcamp (it's "name your price"). And, when you're done, it's just a short hop over Jaggery's 2010 Christmas single "Arabian Dance" (also free on Bandcamp). That one's just plain evil. Last year, this was my absolute favorite new Christmas song. I listened to it over and over. Put it on the Stubbys House mix and listened to it over and over again. Every time "Christmas Time" started to play, a big smile would come over me. It's just that good. Root Road is making it free again this year, albeit for a short time (until January 1). So, if you missed it last year, best grab it now. It's just a good, positive, upbeat pop song and I'd wager it'll stick with you and make you smile, too. (There's new cover art but I preferred last year's cover, so I'm sticking with it.) Get this one free from NoiseTrade. I never really understood "Walking In The Air" as a Christmas thing. I know, I know, it's a British thing and it's from some beloved cartoon. But let's face it, this is no "Christmas Time Is Here" and The Snowman is no Charlie Brown. "Walking In The Air" just doesn't have the proper festive spirit in my eyes. But Smerins Anti-Social Club has perked the song right the eff up with this horn driven Ska version and now I can dig it. This free download (via Bandcamp) from Smerins Anti-Social Club was the Christmas song of choice of BBC listeners who voted "Walking In The Air" as the holiday tune they most wanted Smerins Anti-Social Club to funk up. And clearly the listeners were right on. Now it's befitting of one of those there Heineken commercials. You know the ones. This is from 2010, so grab it before its gone. I guess there's something about San Francisco that makes your music just sound sunny and bright. Ratherbright tagged this tune with Indie Pop and Pop Punk. The first one fits "It Never Snows In San Francisco", the second one not so much. This has got a bouncy pop 60s feel to it, which I really like. Ratherbright is essentially James Wenzel and whatever friends he can gather up at any given time. For "It Never Snows In San Francisco", Takumi Nakagawa provided the vocals while Brendy Hale was on keys. This was recorded last year, but it sounds as fresh as the first time I heard it. Oh, wait, that was just now. Seriously, though, I liked the song a whole lot. I suppose it would be bad form to say, "Young man, your future is Ratherbright." Yeah, let's just forget that I did that, 'K? Bandcamp. Away with ye. 1. The Yule Cat 2. The Owd Tup 3. Wassail Branch 4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 5. Oak Moon 6. Coventry Carol DOWNLOAD FREE AT BANDCAMP Golau Glau is an anonymous collective of artists, photographers and musicians. A lot of their interest in in cultural history. Who else but a cultural historian would have uncovered an Icelandic myth about a "Yule Cat" and who else but anonymous musicians would then write an original song about it? With purring, no less. Musically, the Golau Glau collective tends toward experimental electronica, with the occasional synth driven poppish New Age number (on this outing, that would be "Oak Moon"). Golau Gau's 2010 Christmas EP, with the terrific title "Myrrh and Myth", is also available as a free Bandcamp download. And the Bonus Track on that collection, is Golau Glau's 2009 holiday single "Foolstide" about the Puritans banning of Christmas, which actually occurred both in England and in the New World (particularly New England). "Myrrh and Myth" was quite popular with Christmas collectors last year, so consider downloading "The Masque of Burma". Do it for the Yule Cat. Just a quickie here for you. The Ruffled Feathers are a chamber pop group from Vancouver and, last year, they produced one of my most favorite free Christmas downloads, "The Highest Mountain". I see this year, it's on Bandcamp and free again for the season. Don't miss it again, if you did before. The instrumentation is genius, Gina Loes' vocals are irresistible, and the lyrics mention a cat (who also makes an appearance on the cover art). How ya gonna top all that? 1. White Christmas 2. The Christmas Song 3. Cradle In Bethlehem 4. What Child Is This? 5. Silver Bells 6. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 7. O Holy Night 8. I'll Be Home For Christmas 9. Silent Night 10. Christmas Is All Around 11. Snow DOWNLOAD FREE THROUGH NOISETRADE Each year, Indie Rock band Sleeping At Last (actually Ryan O'Neal and a rotating cast) records a new Christmas song and adds it to the list of Christmas songs they've done in the past. Now that Noisetrade is what it is, it's all the easier for Sleeping At Last to get their "Christmas Collection"--whether it's for the first time or whether, as I mentioned last year had happened to me, you lost their songs in a computer crash. Last year's collection numbered 8. This year brings two new Christmas songs to the collection--well, three actually. First up is a new cover of "Silent Night", the group's "official" Christmas recording for 2011. Next, just for fun, Sleeping At Last cut "Christmas Is All Around", the Billy Mack song from the film Love Actually. Finally, it appears Ryan decided to include "Snow", the original Winter/Christmas song that appeared on the group's "December" EP--part of their Yearbook series. As I mentioned last year, this is really beautiful stuff. If you want the full "Christmas Collection", download from Noisetrade. If you just want the new tracks, you can supposedly get them from Facebook (though all I get there is a big blank page for some reason). |
The FREE ListHere we hope to direct you to some of the Christmas music on the web that can be yours absolutely free. We will not direct you to mp3 or sharity sites, here, but only to artist sites, label sites, and other authorized and unquestionably legal locations. Archives2010 Free List Categories
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