Over 100 years ago, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote a two-act ballet about a young girl, a living nutcracker and mice that captured people’s imaginations and became an instant holiday staple. Some of you might not be that into what you may call “classical” music, but Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” is a real masterpiece. Just think of all the places… Continue reading 12 Days of Christmas Music: “The Nutcracker”
Category: Special
12 Days of Christmas Music: Belle & Sebastian’s Live “Peel Christmas Party”
Back in 2002, our favorite Scottish band Belle & Sebastian recorded a Christmas set for some kind of party thrown by John Peel. What exists of it is a bootleg recording that puts other bootlegs to shame. The quality is awesome and the band is too. They play a bunch of holiday classics as well… Continue reading 12 Days of Christmas Music: Belle & Sebastian’s Live “Peel Christmas Party”
Conor Oberst Live Concert Video
We were courteously informed by our friends over at Amoeba Music that Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes fame) and the Mystic Valley Band played live at Amoeba Records in Hollywood this past August. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the video online, and now it is finally up! For those of you who… Continue reading Conor Oberst Live Concert Video
12 Days of Christmas Music: “A Very Special Christmas” (1987)
I know that this album is nothing new, and that by now a lot of the songs on it are considered cheesy or stale. But I think it’s an important landmark in the history of Christmas music, and besides, it has a legitimate Christmas rap song! The 1987 album was the first in a regular… Continue reading 12 Days of Christmas Music: “A Very Special Christmas” (1987)
12 Days of Christmas Music: Weird Collaborations
Day 5 of our Christmas music series goes to those bizarre collaborations that have happened this year. Seriously, I want to see the meeting where these people get together and say “You know what would be swell? Us making a Christmas song together!” “A Christmas Duel” The first track I came across was the duet… Continue reading 12 Days of Christmas Music: Weird Collaborations
12 Days of Christmas Music: Bright Eyes’ “A Christmas Album”
I’m not going to pretend that I like Bright Eyes usually. And that’s because I don’t. But when my good friend and Bright Eyes fan “Donnie” suggested their A Christmas Album, I decided I had to give it a try. As it turns out, it’s a fantastic album. Instead of overdone, sad covers, front man… Continue reading 12 Days of Christmas Music: Bright Eyes’ “A Christmas Album”
12 Days of Christmas Music: “Christmas on Mars”
The Flaming Lips have been known to be a lot of things. Weird, confusing and insane are just a few. However, they’re also genius and I love them. Lead singer Wayne Coyne first started the ambitious movie/album project “Christmas on Mars” a few years ago, and everybody went crazy with anticipation. After finally being released… Continue reading 12 Days of Christmas Music: “Christmas on Mars”
Wintertime
Sorry for my lack of posting these past couple days. Here are some songs to hold you over as the the nights get colder. Don’t let Seasonal Affective Disorder take over – Winter can be very comforting. Turin Brakes – “Dark On Fire” Wintersleep – “Weighty Ghost” Ra Ra Riot – “Winter ’05” Meredith Bragg… Continue reading Wintertime
12 Days of Christmas Music: “Merry Christmas From The Sonics, The Wailers and The Galaxies”
Way back in the 1960s, there was a growing music scene in the Pacific Northwest. They liked to call it “garage rock” and the bands played loud, hard and distorted way before the Ramones, the Sex Pistols or anybody else. So of course in 1966, three of the most influential bands, The Sonics, The Wailers… Continue reading 12 Days of Christmas Music: “Merry Christmas From The Sonics, The Wailers and The Galaxies”
12 Days of Christmas Music: “I’ll Stay ‘Til After Christmas”
For the next 12 days, I’ll be posting some of the best Christmas music of today and the yesteryear. Christmas is a time for cutesy joyous celebration, so why not express it through song! I know not everybody is Christian, but you find me enough material to do a Hanukkah or Kwanzaa Music series, and… Continue reading 12 Days of Christmas Music: “I’ll Stay ‘Til After Christmas”