I need to preface this post with four simple words.
I HATE CHRISTMAS MUSIC
Why do I hate it? Well, in recent years it has just become a platform for crappy pop stars to keep re-covering the same christmas songs over and over. I don’t need to hear Carrie Underwood sing White Christmas, or Wynonna singing Silent Night, or any big shot artist covering a christmas classic to get me into the spirit.
I think I should stop being such a grinch, and just let the infographic do that talking. So here are some of my favorite original Christmas songs:
Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland by Grandaddy
Another Christmas Song by Stephen Colbert
Christmas Time Is Here by Vince Guaraldi Trio
Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day (Well, You Deserved It!) by Sufjan Stevens
Don’t Shoot Me Santa by The Killers
I Hate Christmas Parties – by Relient K
Love Came Down At Christmas by Jars of Clay
When I Get Home for Christmas by Snow Patrol
Xmas Party by Middle Distance Runner
I love Grandaddy‘s rendition of “Walking In a Winter Wonderland,” but that may also be because I’m a fan of The Alan Parson Project. The song features some subtle humor about Parsons, but knowing a thing about him is not required to enjoy the track. Stephen Colbert is getting exactly what he wants with the next song, he has become part of my holiday listening tradition, and it is hilarious. Fans of Arrested Development, Peanuts Cartoons, and The Royal Tennenbaums will recognize the next little gem by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Sufjan Stevensput out his giant box set of Christmas music a few years ago, and song #4 is probably my favorite from that whole collection. The Killers’s song about a guy potentially getting murdered by Santa is interesting to say the least, watching the music video is a must. If Christmas time just gets you down, then be sure to listen to the track by Relient K. I love the next song by Jars of Clay, who took an awesome beat and made an enjoyable new Christmas classic. Snow Patrol fans should not be without song #8. I’m a huge fan, and that song is just awesome. And finally, song #9 is by Middle Distance Runner. If you’ve never checked them out, I hope this song drives you to do so.
Okay. I was a bit of a Grinch earlier, but if you examine the chart you will see that there does exist a small sliver of well done covers. So here’s three Christmas covers I do enjoy, and are part of my holiday canon:
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Death Cab for Cutie
Holly Jolly Christmas covered by The Format
O Come, O Come Emmanuel covered by Belle & Sebastian
These songs may not be original compositions, but I much prefer these to the originals. Death Cab’s version of “Baby Please Come Home” is just great. And a classic from Belle & Sebastian.
I hope you’ve found some new additions to your holiday listening list, and we here at IHYEB wish you a very Merry Christmas!
According to Paste Magazine, the Killers have plans to record a covers album by the end of the year. I think this album could either be really great for the killers and for the genre of cover albums, or I think it could really bomb. The Killers have tried their hand at cover songs a few times already. They’ve recorded a couple really great covers, and some not so great. I think it will all come down to the song selection. As far as what could get covered for this album, I think the list is wide open. Some names that are already being thrown around are Genesis, Cyndi Lauper, Tom Waits, and Fleet Foxes. Oddly enough, I feel like they have a better chance of pulling it off with the more outlandish pop songs than with the indie rock stuff. But who knows. Here’s some of what they have done so far. Which one do you think is the best?
I like Fischerspooner. I happen to like them a lot. Imagine my happiness when I found a remix they did of The Killer’s Smile Like You Mean It. Well… my happiness was put on hold after hearing it.
I’m not saying this is a bad remix… but it’s… not the best remix.
There’s a lot of distortion layed onto the vocals, and the whole thing feels super repetitive. The only way I would have known it was Fischerspooner was the title. It doesn’t feel like Fischerspooner at all.
Conor Oberst posted a new song from his forthcoming album, Outer South, on his web-site to be streamed. Click here to listen to “Slowly (Oh So Slowly).” Sounds like he is going to continue one with The Mystical Valley Band for at least one more record, which is great news for us.
New Leonard Cohen Album
If you head on over to NPR you can stream in its entirety the double disc collection Live in London by Leonard Cohen. This is a great introduction for anyone who’s only interraction with Cohen’s music is the Rufus Wainwright cover of his epic “Hallelujah” found on the Shrek soundtrack.
The Killers Cover Bright Eyes
The Killers will relaese their song Spaceman off of their new record Day & Age as a single on April 14th. Which wouldn’t be noteworthy at all, but for the cover of the very country Bright Eyes song, ” Four Winds” that was recorded for the B-side.
Where The Wild Things Are
The trailer for the new Spike Jonze interpretation of possibly the greatest children’s book ever, Where the Wild Things Are was released last week, and it looks awesome. That partly due to how awesome Wild Thing looks, and then also because of the sweet version of The Arcade Fire’s “Wake Up” that is playing in the background.
Stereogum premiered a new Death Cab For Cutie record, The Open Door EP. Each day last week they would post one of the five tracks that were recorded during the Narrow Stairs process, but are definitely not outcasts. My favorite might be the last track, which is the only unoriginal track of the bunch, a stripped down demo of “Talking Bird.”
I need to preface this post with four simple words.
