Here's a new Anti-Christmas anthem released last year that hits the spot about now. Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites with a Lo-Fi Indie Pop masterpiece, "This Christmas (I Just Want To Be Left Alone)". I know how you feel, Ben, truly I do. All proceeds raised will go to the UK's Shelter.org, but it's a "Name-Your-Price" download at Bandcamp (re-released by Audio AntiHero), if you're not feeling particularly charitable. I think you're going to like it. A lot.
Here's a new Anti-Christmas anthem released last year that hits the spot about now. Benjamin Shaw & Fighting Kites with a Lo-Fi Indie Pop masterpiece, "This Christmas (I Just Want To Be Left Alone)". I know how you feel, Ben, truly I do. All proceeds raised will go to the UK's Shelter.org, but it's a "Name-Your-Price" download at Bandcamp (re-released by Audio AntiHero), if you're not feeling particularly charitable. I think you're going to like it. A lot.
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1. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 2. Fireplace 3. Deck The Halls 4. White Christmas 5. Letters To Jamie 6. Oh Come All Ye Faithful 7. Un Flambeau Jeanette Isabelle 8. Christmas With You NAME YOUR PRICE AT BANDCAMP DOWNLOAD AT NOISETRADE Last year, Apres Pompeii ended up in our Boxing Day dump because there's never enough time to do all of these Christmas freebies justice. Didn't want that to happen two years in a row, so here they (he) are (is). Apres Pompeii is the performance name of Zack Taylor Weiss, out of western PA. And Zack is a perfect example of why the Indie genre has legs. From time to time, the music churned out by the industry machine becomes so over-produced, so slick, that listeners and artists alike find themselves hungering for something genuine. The industry music, far too often, is the junk food of music. Yeah, it fills you up, but yet you still feel empty and unsatisfied. Your heart physically aches for honest musical expressions--music that is so stripped down, all that is left is raw emotion. This is especially true of Christmas music. After all, whether the music is secular or spiritual, if there's no genuine emotion behind it, what's the point? Though "Makeshift Christmas III" contains both covers and originals, it's the originals that sparkle with genuine emotion. Sure, "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" exhibits a kind of impressionistic irony. And, while I very much like the interpretations of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" and "Un Flambeau Jeanette Isabelle", I wouldn't be recommending this set without "Fireplace", "Letters To Jamie", and "Christmas With You" which offer a truer window into the soul of Zack Taylor Weiss. That's real and honest emotion you can feel. And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown. As you might have gathered from the title, this is the third holiday release from Apres Pompeii. The original "Makeshift Christmas" would seem to be unavailable at the moment (though I'm sure you could contact Zack and ask). But "Makeshift Christmas II" is still a Name-Your-Price download at Bandcamp. And, to be honest, that one might be even better than "Makeshift Christmas III". But you don't have to choose. Get them both, if you're not scared off by DIY Lo-Fi...if you're not scared off by genuine emotion in your holiday music. 1. Merriment - I'll Be Home For Christmas 2. Perma - Silver Bells 3. Reed & Christie - In The Bleak Midwinter 4. Eisley - Hark The Herald Angels Traditions are good. I like traditions. And it's become a tradition for Indie Pop/Rock legends, the Eisley/Dupree Family, to offer up a homemade gift each holiday season. This year's special treat is a 4 song Christmas bundle. The Eisley's contribution, here, is "Hark, The Herald Angels Sing", but we also get songs from their "Extended Family"--Perma, Merriment, and Reed & Christie. Very cool. The Eisleys express that they'd love to sit down and put together a real holiday record some day but, just at the moment, they are finishing up their fourth fill-length. Look for that in 2013. In the meantime, you can not only get the 2012 Extended Family EP, but their 2011 Christmas Bundle as well, featuring very nearly every Christmas song the Eisleys have put out through the years. As Indie Pop/Rock Christmas music goes, it don't get much better than the Eisleys/Duprees. So run on over and grab all the great holiday music the Eisleys & Duprees are offering. Just punch the download buttons and their yours, no email address required While we're still in a Hanukkah frame of mind, here's a free set from Los Angeles Techno DJ and producer Diwon. All three Hip Hop takes on Hanukkah favorites have their points of light, but I, personally, loved Diwon's remix of "Al Hanism". Available via Soundcloud or Bandcamp. In addition to the three tracks on "Chanukah Instrumentals", there are links to two other freebies...2011's "Gonna Light" (featuring Y-Love and Sarah Aroeste) and "Sivivon (The Dreidel Song)" (featuring Cobe and Yehuda Solomon). And, if you look to the right on Bandcamp, you'll also find a nice acoustic take on "Maoz Tzur" from Arik Gordon. It's all free or "name-your-price". 1. Aaron Brown and The York Street Hustle “Christmas Eve Dream” 2. Nick Frese and Amy Wooden “It’s A Lousy Day To Be Alone” 3. Alex Radus “Hustle and Bustle” 4. SPiN “Christmas Time Again (I’ll Be Good Next Year)” 5. Ryan Tennis “Coming Home” 6. Ben Smith “Son, You Should Come Home for Christmas” 7. Deb Callahan “Baby’s First Christmas” 8. John Francis “Don’t Tell Me That It’s Christmas” 9. Pete Donnelly “Merry Xmas This Year” 10. Shaun Ruymen “You, Me and the Christmas Tree” 11. Good Old War “Snow Falls Down” 12. Ginger Coyle “It Feels Like Christmas” BONUS: Christie Lenee "Carol Of The Bells" BONUS: Tin Bird Choir "We Three Kings" BONUS: City Rain "Goodnight Moon" DOWNLOAD FREE AT THE KEY BONUS: The Districts "Fires And Footstops" It's 12 for Twenty-Twelve from Philly's premier Adult Album Alternative radio station. WXPN has been doing their "12 Days Of Christmas" feature, spotlighting mostly original Christmas music from local Philadelphia artists, for quite some time. This year, you can download the whole set right up front and then follow along as they spotlight the artists and songs each day. It's an eclectic set, as usual, featuring some terrific pop tunes, some Indie Folk, some Alt Rock, some Americana and more. On first listen, my personal standouts include SPiN's hook laden Power Pop "Christmas Time Again (I'll Be Good Next Year)", Shaun Ruymen's folky lament "You, Me and The Christmas Tree", and Ginger Coyle's jazzy strut "It Feels Like Christmas". But the one that really got my attention, as I'm always looking for truly unique expressions of the season, was the Bonus Track "Goodnight Moon" from City Rain, an atmospheric new wave electronica track that immediately sent me running to their web site and Bandcamp in search of more. The track ends a bit abruptly, for my taste, but I loved every second of it.
Earlier this year, I came across a 2011 Christmas single from Scottish lass Laurie Cameron. Laurie brought out, as I've never heard before, the true heartbreak underlying "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)". Laurie is back, for 2012, breaking our hearts once again with"Merry Christmas From Scotland (Lulled With A Stiff Drink)". The more I hear from Laurie, the more I long to hear. While Laurie works on her full-length debut, enjoy this one as a "Name-Your-Price" download via Bandcamp. "This one's to you." Seattle based Wayfarer began their Indie Folk rise on the ashes of Sherwood's demise earlier this year. You may or may not recall Sherwood's "Snowing In Seattle" from 2008; an excellent contribution that still garners annual spins at Stubby's house (my real house, not the web site). Wayfarer speaks of repurposing old hymns and such, but they carry with them the influences of the Beach Boys and Beatles that also colored Sherwood's music. The result is highly accessible Indie Folk Rock that could well have come from the mid to late 60s, yet sounds as fresh as a morning snow. Wayfarer's interpretation of "The Holly And The Ivy" is a perfect example. They breathe more life into a musty old chestnut than I would have though possible. Grab "The Holly And The Ivy" at either Bandcamp or Noisetrade and pick up a couple of bonus tracks in the deal. 1. Santa's back in town 2. Sledding 3. Torgs Interlude 4. Mountain 5. Christmas Cards 6. Pet Rock Pete 7. 6/4 8. Random things to do 9. Do I really have to wear this ugly sweater? 10. Christmas on the moon NAME YOUR PRICE AT BANDCAMP It's time for our annual holiday treat from That Band From Holland. This time they have Left Handed Orchestra in tow. As with previous Christmas efforts, "How To Microwave Whole Turkey" is fun and tasty. The group experiments with a lot of different sounds here--everything from Alt Country ("Sledding") to Alt Jazz ("6/4") and they do it all very well. My favorites, here, are the 60s Psych Rock/Power Pop "Pet Rock Pete", the more straight forward Alt Rock of "Mountain" (cool lyrics on that one) and the previously mentioned "6/4" (I'm a sucker for the weird time signature stuff). And I'm sure plenty folks will find "Do I Really Have To Wear This Ugly Sweater?" and "Christmas On The Moon" thoroughly enjoyable (not to mention great mixtape fodder). "How To Microwave Whole Turkey" is a "Name-Your-Price" download at Bandcamp, as are all the band's previous holiday efforts. Why not collect the whole set? Just a postscript here. I went back and reviewed our entries on TBFH from 2010 and 2011 and, every time, I remark about the group's lyrics. Which, you know, I think is a good thing. Might want to start paying more attention to these guys between the holidays. If you've been around here long enough, you no doubt know who all my favorite artists are. And one of my very most favorite artists is Swedish singer/songwriter Sofia Talvik. Every year, Sofia gives away a Christmas single to all her fans and 2012 is no different. Some of Sofia's more recent Christmas singles have been a little more pop oriented than the earthy Alt Folk music that originally drew me to her. Don't get me wrong, they're all wonderful--if Sofia is singing, I'm listening--but the more sparse arrangements showcase her beautiful voice so well and, I think, allow for an instant emotional connection to the music. This year, Sofia has given us the best of both worlds. "One Last Wish For Christmas" has the feel of a simple and intimate Indie Folk song while simultaneously being rich, full, and immediately pop accessible. It's sort of Hank Williams meets the Pogues "Fairytale Of New York", but much prettier. The lyrics of lifelong regret contrasted with the bright celebration surrounding are universally relatable. And the words are woven so delicately that you can actually feel yourself in that bubble...so close to something beautiful that you know you will never be able to touch..... It's just wonderful! Sofia Talvik has grown so much as an artist in the past few years. I think she's just now hitting her full stride. And, clearly, the best is yet to come. No better proof of that than "One Last Wish For Christmas". Pick it up for free on Bandcamp. Head to Sofia's web site and sign up for her Christmas calendar (this song is Day 1) and have all kinds of goodies sent directly to your Internet mail box each day from now to Christmas. (I hear there's even a Sami Sirvio Remix of "One Last Wish For Chistmas" coming later this month.) And keep your eyes and ears on this woman; she's too good to miss. 1. Silent Night - Green River Ordinance 2. Sleigh Bells & Reindeer - Act As If 3. Raise The Tree - Trent Dabbs 4. Home For The Holidays - Sugar & The Hi-Lows 5. Oh Holiday - Jules Larson 6. Auld Lang Syne - Ben Rector 7. Christmas For You And Me - Drew Holcomb 8. This Year - The Young International 9. Lo How A Rose E'er Blooming - Perrin Lamb 10. Under That Christmas Spell - Tim Halperin 11. Silent Night - Katie Herzig 12. Christmastime Again - Matthew Mayfield 13. Star Of Wonder - JJ Heller 14. Winter Lights - Saints Of Valory 15. Christmas Moon - Brooke Waggoner 16. You Make The Cold Disappear - Amy Stroup 17. What Child Is This - Future of Forrestry 18. Angels We Have Heard On High - A New Normal DOWNLOAD FREE AT NOISETRADE Here's an excellent free compilation that features a little bit of most everything brought to you by The Music Bed, a music licensing company catering especially to independent filmmakers and photographers. Plenty of Stubbys favorites on this one--Green River Ordinance, Drew Holcomb, Katie Herzig, and Sugar & The Hi-Lows to name a few. Loys of new discoveries for us all. It even has the title track from former American Idol contestant Tim Halperin's new EP, "Under That Christmas Spell". Really digging Amy Stroup's peppy poppy "You Make The Cold Disappear" and Brooke Waggoner's contemplative "Christmas Moon". Music licensing has always been a pretty big deal--even more so now, in this era of Indie. But, for most of us, "Fireplace Songs" is just a real cool selection of free Christmas music. And there ain't nothin' wrong with that.
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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. ArchivesCategories
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