Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Nikolai Gogol–The Night Before Christmas (1926) [translated 2011]

December 24, 2014 by Paul Debraski

gogolSOUNDTRACK: ANDY WILLIAMS-Merry Christmas (1965).

awxmasMan, I love some Andy Williams at Christmastime.  I don’t really know much about him at other times of the year and I imagine that I would never listen to him, but he is one of the voices of Christmas. I like his voice so much even if I don’t love all the songs on this record.

His “Sleigh Ride” is the essential version–boppy and fun–you can imagine zipping along on a sleigh with jingle bells bouncing along.

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is a bit slow, but “Winter Wonderland” sounds great.  His “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” is fun–he can really belt out those notes and “Silver Bells” is also a highlight.

The choice of “My Favorite Things” (from The Sound of Music) is unexpected, as it has nothing to do with Christmas, but his rendition is wonderful.  “Christmas Holiday” is a song I don’t know but Williams belts it out as well.  “Do You Hear What I Hear” is also great.

“Some Children See Him” is a fascinating song that I haven’t heard too much (although Rivers Cuomo does a cover of it(!)).  It’s all about how children from different countries see Jesus a different way (a rather progressive idea).

“Little Altar Boy” is a slow and somewhat ponderous song that I’m unfamiliar with.  The final two songs “Mary’s Little Boy Child” and “The Bells of St. Mary” are pretty but not fun (as you would assume from the titles).

So I love about half the disc and like most of the rest.  Williams has an earlier Christmas album as well.  I think I’d like to pick and choose between the two discs for a great Williams collection.

[READ: December 23, 2014] The Night Before Christmas

I had intended to read all Dickens stories this week.  And then my latest New Directions Pearl arrived and it was this one: The Night Before Christmas (also translated as Christmas Eve) by Nikolai Gogol.  Well, that put a change in my plans.

I don’t know much about Gogol, although apparently he wrote only short stories (no novels).  My book has a quote from Dostoevsky that says, “We all came out of Gogol’s overcoat.”  So imagine my surprise when this night before Christmas is actually about witches and the devil and affairs with beautiful women!

The story is set in Dikanka, Ukraine.  It is Christmas Eve and, according to legend, that is the night in which the devil is free to perform tricks and torment people.  Before the devil comes, we see a witch flying around the sky collecting stars.  The devil decides that he is going to steal the moon–this will make it very dark so he can create even more mischief.  The moon proves to be very hot, and he winds up juggling it a few times until he gets it into his pocket.

The devil decides to get back at Vakula, the village blacksmith.  In addition to being the blacksmith, he is also an artist and he has painted some really cruel pictures of the devil on the side of the church.  And the devil is pretty miffed about this.  So he sets an elaborate plan in motion. Continue Reading »

Posted in Christmas, Christmas Album, Constance Garnett, Demons, Foreign Books, Funny (ha ha), Marriage Trouble, New Directions Pearls, Nikolai Gogol, Poo, Rivers Cuomo, Russia, Short Story, Translation, Witches | Leave a Comment »

Charles Dickens–The Cricket on the Hearth: A Fairy Tale of Home (1845)

December 23, 2014 by Paul Debraski

books SOUNDTRACK: STARS OF CHRISTMAS (2008).

starsxmasI believe that I bought this collection because it was cheap–a new disc of interesting mixes for Christmas  Well, given the artists on the cover (my cover is actually different, but similar), I had no idea that I was in for a largely classic/formal collection of songs.  True I probably should have looked at the list, but for a cheapie Christmas CD it seemed safe.

The first several tracks are done is very operatic style.  Many other tracks are done in an almost church-like atmosphere.  Nothing inherently wrong with these versions, indeed, many of them are quite lovely but they’re not what I like in Christmas songs and, frankly there’s too much of it on this disc (it’s nearly an hour long).

MARIO LANZA-“I Saw Three Ships” and SERGIO FRANCHI-“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” Operatic and JOHN DAVIDSON-“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” are all very formal and operatic.  ED AMES-“Joy to the World” is also operatic and it adds a backing vocal chorus.

Somewhat less operatic but still formal are PERRY COMO-“God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” and ANDY WILLIAMS-“Angels We Have Heard on High.”  This all makes sense as these are religious Christmas songs.  Even the CAROL LAWRENCE and ROBERT GOULET version of “Carol of the Bells” features Goulet’s ponderous voice.  (It’s a nice version, but Lawrence can’t quite match him).

After these, the mood lightens somewhat.  DANNY KAYE-“Deck the Halls” is a bit more fun (as Danny Kaye would be).  And then comes the big WTF moment–AIR SUPPLY? doing “The First Noel.”  Their version is fine and doesn’t sound too out of place here.

Changing the tone somewhat, JULIE ANDREWS-“Patapan” I don’t really know this song very well.  Andrews does a lovely version of it.  It’s strange that there are two Christmas songs about drums.  And THE LENNON SISTERS, who I quite like, do “Silent Night.”  Their version is sweet and relaxing and reminds me of the singers from O Brother Where Art Thou?  JOSE FELICIANO-“The Cherry Tree Carol” is another song I don’t know.  This version is weird here since it’s on acoustic guitar with Feliciano’s delicate voice.

The best song on the disc is ARTHUR FIEDLER-“Sleigh Ride”.  This is the classic instrumental with strings and sleigh bells.  I’m surprised by the instrumental version of “Jingle Bells” by CHET ATKINS.  It’s guitar based and slightly countryish, but there’s no way to guess it’s from him.  EDDY ARNOLD-“Jolly Old St. Nicholas” is a song I vaguely know.  It also has country tinges.  It’s an unusual song what with asking Santa what he;s going to give you.

JIM REEVES-“O Come All Ye Faithful” changes the tone again.  This song is done on pipe organ.  It sounds like it was recorded in a church (which makes sense).  LORRIE MORGAN-“O Holy Night” I dislike this version quite a lot.  It feels rather pretentious and she does some weird melodies at times.  BURL IVES-“O Little Town of Bethlehem”  I like Ives, but not on this song.  It’s too slow or something.

The final two songs are just awful to me (which I know people will yet at me for saying)  GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS-“Away in a Manger” and ARETHA FRANKLIN-“Ave Maria.”  I’m not a big fan of Knight as it is, although I do usually like Aretha.  But man this version of “Ave Maria” is dreadful.   She starts wailing, horrible trills that are way out of place on this song.  And it’s nearly 7 minutes long.  Gah, what a dreadful way to end the album

So, there’s a few good songs here.  There’s a couple of nice version that might fit on a mix and then there’s some horrors.  Probably worth the $1.99 I paid for it.

[READ: December 10, 2014] The Cricket on the Hearth

I was unfamiliar with thsi story before reading it.  The author of the introduction to the book (Eleanor Farjeon) says she likes it better than “A Christmas Carol.”  I can see some reason for liking it more, but it’s not quite as impactful.

It’s a strange story with hidden identities, true love, fake love and crickets.

The story begins at John Peerybingle’s house.  He is a carrier, basically a mailman.  He is married to Dot and they have a new baby boy.  Their nanny, Tilly Slowboy (Dickens is none to subtle about names, eh?), is a simple girl who seems to have a knack for either smashing the baby’s head on things or just barely missing his head when she turns around.  When the story starts, John has just returned from his latest travel, and he is happy to be home.

Dot talks about the cricket that is chirping so loudly at the hearth (there’s a question from the narrator as to whether the cricket or the kettle made the noise first, and he maintains that it was the cricket).  Dot thinks fondly of the cricket, especially when John is away. She imagines that the cricket is looking over them every time it chirps. Continue Reading »

Posted in 19th Century, Charity, Charles Dickens, Christmas, Christmas Album, History, Marriage (Happy), Marriage Trouble, Short Story, Supernatural | Leave a Comment »

Charles Dickens–Christmas Stories [1-6] (1850-1853)

December 22, 2014 by Paul Debraski

storiesSOUNDTRACK: CHRISTMAS: 16 Most Requested Songs (1992).

16This album features 16 “most requested” songs, but I don’t believe that they are the most requested versions of these songs.  These versions come from Colmbia’s back catalog and as such, none of them features any of the real Christmas heavy hitters.  Not that the version are bad, they’re pretty much all really good, they’re just not the “classic” versions.  Well, except for one or two.

GENE AUTRY-“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” Starting with the “You know Dasher and Dancer” verse, this is a nice, traditional version of the song and one I don’t hear as much as I’d think I would.  DORIS DAY-“Here Comes Santa Claus” Opens with a nice booming Ho Ho Ho from Santa. I like that there are ample sleigh bells in the song, even if the words are vaguely menacing (somehow even more so in this version). I’ve also always found the aggressively religious aspect of the song about Santa to be a bit peculiar.  JIMMY BOYD-“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” This is an inherently goofy song and I don’t care for the “serious” rendition this is given.  I also don’t care for songs sung by “kids.” Although I do admit to thinking this song was cute when I was a kid.  ROSEMARY CLOONEY-“Winter Wonderland” This version is a little too precious for my liking.

GENE AUTRY-“Frosty the Snowman” This is another straight reading of this silly song—very children friendly and a good version.  JOHNNY MATHIS-“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” I don’t care for Mathis’ voice so I don’t like this version.  THE RAY CONIFF SINGER-“Silver Bells” This is ajoyful, sweet rendition of the song, even if it is extremely uptight sounding. (it evidently comes from “The Lemon Drop Kid”).  ROBERT GOULET-“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (from “Meet Me in St. Louis”).  Goulet’s voice is pretty magnificent, it might even be a little too much for this little song.  PATTI PAGE-“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” This is a version with kids singing along. And with Patti telling them to behave, it also has a menacing feel to it. I guess Santa really could be kind of a nasty guy huh?  MITCH MILLER & THE SING-ALONG GANG-“The Twelve Days of Christmas” It’s hard to make this song not sound really tedious, but these guys do it pretty fast and in a very specific, marching style. It’s almost military in it’s seriousness, which does take some of the romance out of the song, but I like it nonetheless.

ANDY WILLIAMS-“Sleigh Ride” Andy Williams has a quintessential Christmas voice.  I’m glad Columbia has him for this collection. It’s fast fun and joyful. ANGELA LANSBURY, FRANKIE MICHAELS, JANE CONNELL and SAB SHIMONO-I love that Lansbury has such a great singing voice since in my mind she’s only ever been Murder She Wrote. And she wails this. (This version comes from “Mame.”  I didn’t know it came from a musical.  And I love th eline that I never noticed before: “But it’s one week past Thanksgiving Day now”).  MEL TORME-“The Christmas Song” The Velvet Fog’s version is quite nice, but doesn’t quite match Nat “King” Cole’s for pure classicness (although, huh, Torme wrote the music for this song).  TONY BENNETT-“White Christmas” I’m not a big fan of Tony Bennett and I don’t like this version of this song—it’s too spread out.  JULIE ANDREWS-“Silent Night” a very pretty and pure version of this song. Although I don’t find it as moving as other versions.  MAHALIA JACKSON-“Joy to the World” I know she’s a legend, but I really don’t like Mahalia’s versions of songs—she’s a just too over the top for me.

So, overall, this is a good, if safe collection of Christmas songs. Not my favorite bunch but a lot of good versions here, and one or two great ones.  And there are even a couple of under-played ones.

[READ: December 8, 2014] Christmas Stories

I intended to read A Christmas Carol last year during Christmas time but since we saw the play, I decided not to.  So this year I figured I would read as much of Dickens’ Christmas Books as I could during the month of December.  Then I misplaced Christmas Books, so I picked up Christmas Stories.

Christmas Stories does not include “A Christmas Carol.”  Rather, it includes 21 “stories”  ranging from a few pages to over a hundred pages long.  They appeared in Household Works, a publication which Dickens created to “bring himself even closer to his many followers.”

I chose to write about these first six together because they are the shortest pieces in the book and they can kind of be lumped together.  These are strange pieces because they are not really stories.  They are more like nostalgic or even moralistic moments in which Dickens conveys the Christmas spirit through some characters.

For frame of reference Dickens was born in 1812.  He wrote Oliver Twist around 1839 and “A Christmas Carol” in 1843. Continue Reading »

Posted in 19th Century, Charity, Charles Dickens, Christmas, Christmas Album, History, Marriage (Happy), Marriage Trouble, Set at School, Short Story | Leave a Comment »

Derek Kirk Kim–Tune Book 1: Vanishing Point (2012)

December 21, 2014 by Paul Debraski

tune1 SOUNDTRACK: STUCK IN THE CHIMNEY (2000).

StuckinthechimneyThis is the second Parasol records Christmas sampler.  I was more excited about this one, but it turns out to be similarly mid-tempo and kind of dull.  Even the band I was excited about The Soundtrack of Our Lives created an uninspired song that I’d never listen to more than once.

THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES-“Jingle Hell (Stuck in the Chimney)” Done to the basic music of “Blister in the Sun” (but slightly different and on keyboard)—a punk blast which then gets really silly full of nonsense.  If this had been an indicator of the rest of the album, I may have enjoyed it more.  THE GREEN PAJAMAS-“O Holy Night” Guitar based, pretty if a little slow.  WHITE TOWN-“December” Nice harmonies a pretty song (even if the lyrics are rather dark).  NEILSON HUBBARD-“Merry Christmas (Whereever You May Be)”  I love that it opens with a toy piano (always fun) but then it slows down way too much.  ABSINTHE BLIND-“Silent Night” Guitar version (which is a nice change).  This is a quiet song with lots of singers—pretty but not sappy.  FONDA-“Last Christmas” I don’t generally like this song (what a weird sentiment) but this version’s simple strummed guitar is cool.  SUKILOVE-“X-Mas for Aliens” Slide guitar and a blues riff propel this slow, funny song.  GEORGE USHER GROUP-“Christmas in the Lion’s Den” Rocking guitar with a heavyish riff.  JENNIFER JACKSON-“Blue Christmas” Slow sad version of the song on simple guitar and vocals.  ERIK VOEKS-“Cruel Tide” A slow minor key riff lets you know this song is not a happy one.  DOLEFUL LIONS-“Jesus Christ” A slow song (I mean jeez look at their name) about Jesus’ birth.  VITESSE-“Ice & Ribbons” a new wave sound, but rather mopey.  FRIENDS OF SOUND-“I Don’t Want Presents” Cool guitar notes and interesting sounds but slow drawly female vocals.  JOHN HOEFFLEUR AND REBECCA RURY AND STEVE UCHEREK-“Christmas @ Friedrich’s” With his deep voice folkie guitar (sounds a bit like Mike Doughty) this song (which is kind of funny) is probably the catchiest song on both discs.  TOOTHPASTE 2000-“7-ELEVEN CHRISTMAS” I enjoyed Toothpaste 2000 on the other disc too.  This one is weird sounding fun and of course it being about 7-11 is also amusing. Then a rocking guitar comes in, and it’s even better.  JOE ALGERI-“Computer Xmas” Light song about getting cool stuff for Christmas.

Overall this disc is better than the first one.  But it’s not something I want to put on a lot.

[READ: December 15, 2014] Tune: Vanishing Point

I love everything Derek Kirk Kim does.  But this series may be the best one yet.  It is funny, it has great art and it is ever surprising.

Andy Go, an art student wakes up to find himself in, a replica of his house being watched by a whole bunch of aliens.  What the heck?

We flash back to see Andy and his two art school friends congratulating themselves on finishing yet another year of school.  They bemoan their lack of coolness until Yumi, the girl who Andy has a massive crush on, comes over.  She celebrates with them and they all wonder what they will do next year.  Until Andy says that he is dropping out of school.  He says he doesn’t need a piece of paper to say that he is an artist.  He has applied for jobs all over the place and they should just come pouring in.  You know what that means. Continue Reading »

Posted in Alternate Reality, Art, Christmas Album, Derek Kirk Kim, Fears, First Second :01, Funny (ha ha), Funny (strange), Graphic Novel, Short Books, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, YA Books | 1 Comment »

Joe Hill & Gabriel Rodriguez–Locke & Key: Volume Three: Crown of Shadows (2011)

December 20, 2014 by Paul Debraski

 locke3SOUNDTRACK: CHRISTMAS SINGLES (2000).

singles I got this album from Parasol Records because I was looking for alternatives to the standard Christmas carols. I always think its fun to find variations of songs which you won’t hear on the radio or in movies. So this seemed like an interesting indie selection. Parasol put out a few bands that I liked The Soundtrack of Our Lives, White Town) so it seemed like a good place to start.  There are lots of bands I’ve never heard of (before or since) on the disc as well (as befits a label sample).

And I have to say that overall this collection is pretty disappointing.  The songs are all kind of flat and unremarkable.

ERIK VOEKS-“Christmas Singles” a good melody, vaguely 90s alt rock lite. There’s a nice chorus but the song isn’t all that catchy.  ELIZABETH ELMORE-“White Christmas” gentle guitar version of the song. Upbeat and pleasant.  MARK BACINO-“Merry Christmas, I Love You” this sounds a bit like an Elvis Costello song (nice guitar pop) with a nice chorus.  ANGIE HEATON-“Hard Candy Christmas” a slow downbeat folkie song pretty but sad.  GEORGE USHER GROUP-“I’ll Be There on Christmas Day” although the message is upbeat the music is slow and sad.  VITESSE-“The Last Days of December” a mildly electronic song with low vocals…nothing special.  WHITE TOWN-“Merry Fucking Christmas” a buzzy and noisy fast song with inaudible lyrics (something about this is all a waste of time).  But far less mean spirited than the title suggests.  FRIENDS OF SOUND-“Christmas Light, End a Fight” synths and soft languid female and male.  There’s some weird vocal effects in the middle. Not too inspiring either.  ELK CITY-Deer Crossing” upbeat folkie guitar song.  PHILO-“Everyday will be Like  a Holiday” fuzzy, poorly recorded, hard to understand.  KAYLA BROWN-“All I Want for Christmas” this is a pretty, original acoustic folkie song.  TOOTHPASTE 2000-“I Wish That Everyday was Christmas” opens with the lines from “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” but with a very different melody. Then he writes his own lyrics—upbeat 90s alt rock.  This is rocking and fun, one of the best songs on the disc.  SIGNALMEN-“Holiday Wine” a soloing and rocking guitar but not a very rocking song.  SHALINI-“Nutrocker” This is my favorite song on the disc, a swinging and fun instrumental version of the nutcracker.  MATT BRUNO-“Merry Christmas” slow crooning voice over simple keyboard notes. A pretty song but nothing special.  DOLEFUL LIONS-“Auld Lang Syne” guitars and synth a fuzzy version that’s okay.

So yes, aside from a few tracks, this is a pretty mid tempo and kind of dull collection.  Shame.

[READ: December 12, 2014] Locke & Key 3

Even though Rufus doesn’t appear in this book (and he seemed so crucial at the end of book two), this book just made the story get even better.

As the first chapter opens, Scout (Zack) finds the ghost key and meets up with Sam (the boy who killed the Locke’s dad).  They have a huge fight–Sam is mad that Scout keeps using him.  And we learn that Scout is vulnerable in human form.  (I also LOVE that Scout is wearing a Pac-Man ghost shirt).  As the book ends, Scout drops one of the four keys that he now has and Tyler’s mom finds it.

Chapter Two focuses on Kinsey.  She is still without fear and although Zack is hitting on her (and she seems to be reciprocating) she suddenly has a new admirer–a skinhead (mostly) with tattoos who says that he has seen her dad’s name graffiti’d in a cave.  She’s curious (and clearly not afraid) so she agrees to go along.

They head down to the locked off (no trespassing area) of the cave.  But when they get to the cave, it is flooded.  Kinsey, having no fear, jumps into the freezing water.  But after a few minutes of panicking and teasing, the stairs that they are sitting on collapses and all four of them, Scot (the skinhead) and his friend Jamal and Kinsey’s friend Jackie plunge into the water.  It’s a pretty tense moment until Kinsey figures out a way to rescue them. Continue Reading »

Posted in Christmas Album, Death, Demons, Fears, Gabriel Rodriguez, Ghosts, Graphic Novel, Joe Hill, Revenge, Supernatural, Violence, Yuck! | Leave a Comment »

Vera Brosgot–Anya’s Ghost (2011)

December 19, 2014 by Paul Debraski

anyaSOUNDTRACK: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS-Holidayland (2001).

tmbg This was one of the first Christmas albums I bought, and i would have bought it regardless because it is They Might Be Giants.  As far as Christmas records goes, it’s pretty short: 5 songs in 11 minutes.

“Santa Claus” has a funky bass line and a snotty attitude. There’s loud guitars, a honking horn and plenty of NOTHING!  “Santa’s Beard” is an old super fun song, classic TMBG.
“Feast of Lights” is a simple song on toy piano and real piano, a Hanukkah-based kinda sad song with a bit of hope in the end.  “Careless Santa” is an upbeat song about Santa spoiling Christmas for him (cops are involved!). It has some loopy synth sounds and wild drumming at the end.

“O Tannenbaum” The only traditional song, this is a slow version.  It opens with horns in the vocal melody for the first minute and then John F’ sings in German for the final minute.

I’ve always enjoyed this admittedly slight holiday record.

[READ: December 18, 2014] Anya’s Ghost

Sarah was surprised to see that I’d brought this home because she read it for her YA contest this year.  She also liked it quite a lot.

Brosgol wrote and drew the book and I love her illustration style.  It is simple but very effective.  She draws a normal looking girl quite effectively (and the embarrassing underwear shot is quite funny).  But she also knows how to draw the skinny, “hot” girl and make her look sweet as well.  And lets not forget how well she conveys the ghost in the story, too.

Anya is in a private high school (which her mother can barely afford).  Anya’s family moved to America (from Russia) when she was little.  She learned to speak English and does not have an accent.  But she is nervous about being seen as a FOB (fresh off the boat).  And as such she avoids Dima, a new to America Russian boy who studies hard and is a real dork (and suffers accordingly).

As the book opens, Anya’s mother is making Сырники (Syrniki–fried quark (a dairy product) pancakes, garnished with sour cream, jam, honey, or apple sauce–YUM!).  But Anya is upset that she’s making yet another fattening food.  Now that she’s in America she’s not interested in her mother’s claims that “in Russia being fat meant you were a rich man.”

She takes a bag but throws it out on her way to school (travesty).  Then she meets her (only) friend Siobhan.  Siobhan is kind of bitter and a little nasty (but funny).  She is drawn very angrily though–she’s the one character I don’t like the look of.  When Anya doesn’t let Siobhan bum a cigarette, Siobhan gets mad and stomps off.  Anya goes off in the other direction and…falls into a hole. Continue Reading »

Posted in Christmas Album, Death, Сырники, First Second :01, Ghosts, Graphic Novel, Russia, Set at School, Short Books, Supernatural, They Might Be Giants, Vera Brosgot, Violence, YA Books | Leave a Comment »

Jonathan Franzen–Freedom (2010)

December 18, 2014 by Paul Debraski

freedomSOUNDTRACK: CRASH TEST DUMMIES-Jingle all the way… (2002).

ctdEven though the Crash Test Dummies are often seen as a joke band or a one hit wonder (which I guess they are), I’ve liked them for a while (their earlier stuff a lot more than their later stuff, admittedly).  But it seemed like they’d have a fun take on Christmas music.

And it starts out in a comical sort of way with Brad Robert’s deeper-than-ever voice reciting about his life in Los Angeles, where it is warm and sunny at Christmas time.  I like that he rhymes 24th with up north.  The spoken section is quite loud in the mix (it sounds like he is right in your ear).  Unfortunately, that is the case when he starts singing too–he is uncomfortably loud in the mix and it sounds like he is holding back because of it–he doesn’t sound great and his voice sounds more comical than interesting.  Which is a shame because the music (with cheesey keyboards) is great.

Roberts sings lead on about half of the songs.  Ellen Reid sings lead on the other half except for a couple where they split lead duties.

The rest of Robert’s songs include: “Jingle Bells” (which is certainly comical–it sounds like a chain gang song with the “Hey!s” sounding almost like a prison chant).  It’s weird and cool though (even if his voice is once again too loud in the mix).  “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” has his voice mixed much better–he seems to be really singing.  And this version–a loungey/jazzy rendition is much great fun.  “God King Wenceslas” sounds proper (with Reid’s close backing vocals).  It has a pretty penny whistle keeping the song going.

Ellen Reid has a great voice and I love hearing her sing.  But in the first two songs she sings lead on in this disc she sounds like she is singing too slowly.  “O Little Town of Bethlehem” especially sounds like the music is going to pass her up at any minute.  I also don’t like the country vibe of the song.  “In the Bleak Midwinter” is also (intentionally) slow, which I don’t like.  Perhaps I just don’t like this song (although I do think the melody is lovely).  “The Little Drummer Boy” is beautiful and Robert’s bass backing vocals are perfect.  “Silent Night” is done in a countryish style, but I like this version.  Although normally this song can make me cry, this version absolutely does not–too honky tonkish.

The final song, “The Huron Carol” is quite formal and proper–just Reid and a piano opening the song.  It sounds very holy, very pretty.  When Robert’s bass backing vocals come in, it adds more depth to the song.  And it’s a lovely way to end.

[READ: October 30, 2014] Freedom

I read this a couple months ago and then got so caught up in reading other things that I never got around to posting about it.  And that’s a bummer because I really liked the book a lot and I fear that I won’t remember everything I wanted to say about it.

I had read a couple of excerpts from the book in the New Yorker (quite some time ago).  They were helpful in grounding the story for me, but they didn’t prepare me for the breadth of the story.  It follows one family, the Berglunds, through several decades, focusing on each of them in great detail as they navigate through the Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and a smidge of the Obama years.

The Berglunds are a liberal family.  They were among the first white families to move onto their urban street in St. Paul, Minnesota (after white flight to the burbs).  Patty is a charming (some say smug) homemaker and Walter is a lawyer (public defendant, naturally).  They have two kids, Jessica and Joey.  Patty dotes on Joey to an embarrassing degree (Joey is embarrassed by it, Jessica is infuriated by it and even Patty is kind of embarrassed when she really thinks about it).  At the same time she is rather neglectful of Jessica.  Naturally, Jessica becomes quite the success (loves reading, committed to the environment), while Joey rebels and finds all kinds of ways to disappoint them and make money.  (This isn’t a bad thing, but the family has plenty of money and Joey doesn’t need to (especially not the way he goes about it).  Not to mention Walter and Patty are not into the money for money’s sake thing.

The book opens that there was some “news” about Walter. He and Patty had moved to Washington DC two years earlier.  He clearly did something bad (we won’t find out until much later).  But that serves as an introduction to the Berglunds.  And then we go back to see them, years earlier, settling into St Paul. Continue Reading »

Posted in Basketball, Big Books, Birds, Books about music, Bright Eyes, Canadian Music, Christmas Album, Conor Oberst, Consumerism, Corporate skewering, Crash Test Dummies, Death, Decadence, Drinking, Drugs, Environmentalism, Greed, Humiliation, Jonathan Franzen, Marriage Trouble, Minnesota, Morality, Neurotics, Political Humor, Poo, Punks, Religion, Sex, Yuck! | Leave a Comment »

Joann Sfar & Emmanuel Guibert–The Professor’s Daughter (1997) [translated 2007]

December 17, 2014 by Paul Debraski

profSOUNDTRACK: THE BLUE HAWAIIANS-Christmas on Big Island (1995).

blue ha I was to get this disc used because I already knew one of their songs and I thought that a surfing Christmas album would be fun.

So I was pleased to add this to our collection.  But upon listening to it, I learned that while I enjoy surf guitar instrumentals, I do not enjoy the Hawaiian style of music popularized by Elvis.  This album features both of these types of songs.

The songs that I like include these instrumental surf guitar renditions: “Christmas Time is Here” (the Peanuts song); “White Christmas,” “Jingle Bells” (the guitar is a little too untamed for my liking in this version).  “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” is a good instrumental, but there’s a very lengthy middle section that makes the song too long.  “We Four Kings (Little Drummer Boy)” is my favorite track on the album and the one that made me look into more from them.  It’s a great surf guitar rendition of “We Three Kings” with some excellent tribal drumming as a segue into a surf version of “Little Drummer Boy.”

The vocal songs are fine, they’re just not my style.  “Jingle Jangle” and “Blue Christmas” are just way too Elvis-y for my liking (we actually just watched some of Blue Hawaii so it’s in my head).  “Big Island” stars with Hawaiian style drums which I like, then it turns into a kind of blues song.  “Mele Kalikamak” is my favorite song with vocals, probably because of its nontraditional nature (to me).  It ends with about 20 seconds of waves breaking.

“Enchanted Xmas” ends the disc with some Western sounding guitars and some cool wordless backing vocals.  It gives the whole thing an eerier (or enchanted) feel.  Pretty cool.

So something of a mixed bag, but a great album to select tracks for a fun Christmas mix.

[READ: December 15, 2014] The Professor’s Daughter

From the team who brought us Sardine comes this very different kind of story.  Interestingly, in this book, it is Sfar who wrote it and Guibert who drew it.  And I have to say I like it a lot more than the Sardine books (both in content and drawing style).

The story is quite unexpected.  As it opens, a young lady (in Victorian times) is seen stepping out with, well, with a mummy.  It turns out that he is Imhotep IV and she has taken him from his holding spot and is going about town with him.  (And no, it isn’t all a dream.  At least I don’t think it is).

They go out for tea (which makes him tipsy).  He causes all manner of mayhem, including offending someone who slaps his face and challenges him to a duel.  Later when the police come, the professor’s daughter takes matters into her own hands (which only makes the situation worse!).  A man is killed and the mummy is the suspect (which leads to a few very funny scenes). Continue Reading »

Posted in Adventure, Alexis Siegel, Christmas Album, Egyptology, Elvis Presley, Emmanuel Guibert, Fantasy, First Second :01, Foreign Books, Funny (strange), Graphic Novel, Joann Sfar, Romance, The Blue Hawaiians, Translation, YA Books | Leave a Comment »

Simon Rich–What in God’s Name (2013)

December 16, 2014 by Paul Debraski

rich nameSOUNDTRACK: AN OLDE WORLD CHRISTMAS (European Holiday) (1990?).

olde worldWhile yesterday’s Norwegian Christmas album was awesome, this one falls very very short.  The premise of the album is so promising: Christmas songs from around the world.  There are Spanish, French, English, German, Scandinavian and Italian songs here!

Well, the problem is that this entire record was recorded (apparently) by one guy on a keyboard with five preset sounds.  It is so disappointing.  I mean sure it’s pretty (sort of).  But there is no sense at all that these are different countries’ songs.

For instance, “Angels We Have Heard on High.”  Who knew that that was originally a French song?  Not me.  And in no way does this keyboard instrumental version of “Les Anges Dans Nos Campagnes” convey that it is anything other than “Angels We Have Heard on High.”  How about the fact that we get “O Tannebaum” instead of “O Christmas Tree”?  Well, without words, what’s the difference?

So, there are pianoish sounds and harpsichordish sounds and a flute-ish sound.  And this would probably be a nice thing to put on as you were falling asleep on Christmas Eve and wanted visions of synthesized sukker plomme dancing in your tête.  Thank goodness I got it for 99 cents.

[READ: December 16, 2014] What in God’s Name

When I grabbed Simon’s Rich’s last story collection, I also grabbed this novel, assuming that, you know, it would be hilarious.  And it is.

This story is set in Heaven, Inc.  The CEO, God, is more interested in watching NASCAR than actuality attending to any miracles or crises on earth.  In fact, we learn that Earth was created primarily to produce Xenon, and that humans were just a pet project of some angels.

Angels, yes.  The entire story is written from the point of view of some angels working in heaven.

We meet Craig who has been in Miracles for a few years.  And there’s a new addition to the team Eliza who spent many years working in Prayer Intake but really wanted to move up to Miracles because it just sounded so much more interesting.

One of the best parts about the story is the way Rich envisions angels performing small miracles every day–adjusting the world without transgressing any of God’s major laws (gravity, physics, that sort of thing).  When an angel goes too far (like when Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 pints in a game because God liked him and the angel wanted to impress Him), that angel gets punished.  So I loved watching the convoluted ways angels did things to make people act or react.  Small things to help avoid getting a paper cut or assist in catching a fish. Continue Reading »

Posted in Christmas Album, Funny (ha ha), Gods, Humiliation, Kissing, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Morality, Religion, Short Books, Simon Rich | Leave a Comment »

Alessandro Baricco–Novocento (1994) [translated 2010]

December 15, 2014 by Paul Debraski

novocSOUNDTRACK: BUKKENE BRUSE-The Loveliest Rose (2002).

bruseI’m not entirely sure how I came to own this disc.  But I’m so glad I do.  This is a Christmas album from one of Norway’s traditional ensembles (pronounced: BUH-kayna BREW-sah).  They have been around since the 1990s and have toured extensively around the world.  This is their only Christmas album.  It was recorded in an Oslo church.

The album features four players on some great traditional instruments: Arve Moen Bergset – vocals, violin & Hardingfele; Annbjørg Lien – Hardingfele & nyckelharpa; Steinar Ofsdal – flute; Bjørn Ole Rasch – pipe organ.

The album is a wonderful collection of music.  I prefer the instrumentals, although Bergset does have a lovely singing voice.  What I found most interesting is that the sound of the music conveyed many non-Norwegian feelings.  I heard some Irish sounding traditional music and even some Native American (the flute in the final song).

The pipe organ sounds amazing and the fiddle, especially on “Father Fiddled on Christmas Eve” is fantastic.

Nine of the songs are traditional, the rest are written by the band, aside from St. Sunniva, the opening of which comes from ELP’s “Karn Evil 9, 3rd impression (I kid you not–it is quite stripped down here).

I really love this non-traditional traditional Christmas album.  I’m including the track listing mostly because I wanted to have all of this Norwegian in a post.

  1.   A Child Is Born in Bethlehem «Eit barn er født i Betlehem» (3:18) [great flute and a surprisingly catchy hallelujah]
  2.   Lullaby for Julie «Lullámus» (3:15) [great sound of the Hardanger fiddle which has two drone strings]
  3.   Spirit of the Grove «Haugebonden» (5:14) [a gorgeous melody]
  4.   Christmas Eve «Juleftan» (3:38) [unusual fiddle sounds and an unusual and captivating melody]
  5.   My Heart is with Jesus «Mit Hjerte Altid Vanker» (6:32) [the pipe organ really elevates this song]
  6.   St. Sunniva «St. Sunniva» (3:44) [organ and fiddle together in this Irish sounding song]
  7.   A Little Child So Pleasant/In the Sweet Christmas Time «Et lidet barn saa lystelig / I denne søde juletid» (7:20) [beautiful flute and solo violin]
  8.  Father Fiddled on Christmas Eve «Så spela far juleftan» (3:02) [that cool, unusual fiddle is back]
  9.  The Loveliest Rose has Been Found «Den fagraste rosa er funni» (2:35) [the voice is really great on this one]
  10.  Christmas Gangar «Romjulsgangar» (3:22) [beautiful fiddle and flute dance with some unusual sounds from both instruments]
  11. For Such Generous Gifts «For saadan’ mildheds gaver» (2:53) [a New Year’s tune that is rather haunting, I must say]

[READ: December 14, 2014] Novocento

In continuing with my obsessive reading of all things Baricco, I had to interlibrary loan this book from Johns Hopkins.

Novocento is confusingly titled because that is the Italian title as well and although it is a number (which could be translated) in this book it actually refers to a person, which would not get translated–so look carefully for the English edition (done by Oberon) and wonderfully translated by Ann Goldtsein).  It was designed as a play (and this edition is the play).  However, it is a one man monologue (with music ion the performance), so it doesn’t “read” like a play.

The book is 56 pages long.  They have also made a movie out of it (called The Legend of 1900, not just 1900 which is a different movie).  Amazingly the movie is 170 minutes (Italian version) and 120 minutes (international).  That must be a lot of music.

The story is simple, Novocento, as he is called, was born on a ship–an ocean liner that transported people primarily from Europe to America in the early 20th century.  His parents were undoubtedly lower class and left him on the piano aboard the boat (we don’t hear their story at all).  One of the crew finds him and names him Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon Novocento.  Danny Boodman is the man who found him, T.D. Lemon was on the side of the box he was left in and Novocento was the year. Continue Reading »

Posted in Alessandro Baricco, Ann Goldstein, Books about music, Bukkene Bruse, Christmas Album, ELP, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Jelly Roll Morton, Play (Drama), Short Books, The Legend of 1900, Translation, Travel | Leave a Comment »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »