SOUNDTRACK: SUFJAN STEVENS-Noel: Songs for Christmas Vol. I (2006).
I haven’t been reviewing the individual Christmas CDs that I listened to. However, since there were a whole bunch of stories in this one New Yorker magazine, (easily the most I’ve read in one issue) and since there are 5 Sufjan Stevens EPs in this collection, it seemed like a good fit.
Vol 1 is the shortest disc of the five in the box set. It was recorded in his basement in 2001. But lest you think that this is a lo-fi affair like the kids are so into these days, you’d be mistaken. Sufjan’s basement must be ENORMOUS! This disc is multitracked, with harmonies, and all manner of esoteric folk instruments.
It has four familiar traditional songs, “Silent Night” (a beautiful brief guitar instrumental) “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” (a lovely acoustic number done slightly differently than normal) “Amazing Grace,” (a mellow banjo version) and what he titled, “Holy Holy, etc.” (a pretty, short instrumental). Two originals, “We’re Goin’ to the Country!” (a fun folky song with sleighbells) and “It’s Christmas, Let’s Be Glad” (rollicking an fun) and one traditional song that I’ve never heard of (and this is a trend on each disc) “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” (a 15th century German carol).
The disc is mostly sung by Sufjan, with his delicate voice and earnest falsetto. And, as I said, the music is folkie, but with unexpected instruments. In fact, his version of “Amazing Grace” is really delightful. It’s cool to hear it in a more subdued version than some of the overblown carols out there. It’s a promising start to what would become an annual tradition.
[READ: January 4, 2009] “The Privilege of the Grave”
This was a banner issue of The New Yorker. Usually I read a few things, but this one was chock full of great stuff. It started with this unpublished piece from Mark Twain that was written in 1905. Continue Reading »
SOUNDTRACK: FISHBONE-The Reality of My Surroundings (1991).
This was my first real exposure to Fishbone (except for John Cusack wearing the fish skeleton shirt in Say Anything, of course–which, no images available on the web? How is that possible?). At 60 minutes it’s one of the first really long alternative discs to come out. It does run a little long, but there’s so much packed into it that it’s easy to forgive their self indulgences.
SOUNDTRACK: FISHBONE-Set the Booty Upright Bonin’ in the Boneyard single (1990).
SOUNDTRACK: FISHBONE-Truth and Soul (1988).
Fishbone opens up yet another album with a fantastic one-two punch. Truth and Soul is Fishbones’s perfect blend of ska, punk and hardcore. This album has a few heavy moments but it was recorded before they got the heavy metal into their system.
SOUNDTRACK: FISHBONE-In Your Face (1986).
Fishbone’s first full length starts out with two great songs. “When Problems Arise” has the great stop/start techniques that Fishbone uses so well, as well as a great riff and some fantastic funky bass playing. The second track “A Selection” has a great ska feel, and could easily be The Specials or Selecter; however, Fishbone throw in a bit of humor (“No toothpaste?”) to make the song their own.
SOUNDTRACK: FISHBONE-Fishbone EP (1985)
After listening to “It’s a Wonderful Life (Gonna Have a Good Time)” at Christmas, I had to bust out the old Fishbone discs, which I haven’t done in quite some time. So I’m beginning with the EP that started it all.
SOUNDTRACK: CITY AND COLOUR-Live (2007).
City and Colour is the solo project of Alexisonfire singer Dallas Green (get it?). I was really impressed by Dallas’ voice within the noisy metalcore of AOF. And I wondered what his solo stuff would sound like without the dissonance of the rest of the band. I saw this disc was available from 
I feel like I never really knew this song until I heard Cartman getting cattle-prodded for not knowing the words. I listened to that version all the time (but I can’t tell if I like that version or the one on Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics better [“Fall on your knees, and hear the angels… something” “VOICES!”]), and what it did was give me a real appreciation for what a cool song this is. The chord changes are very satisfying without being really obvious. And, it’s not an easy song to sing. But I have liked every 
version I’ve heard: from Cartman to Avril Lavigne (whose first two verses on Maybe This Christmas, Too are the most vibrato-free singing I have ever heard. I’m quite certain she’s flat all the way through, and yet her voice is so unaffected it’s totally disconcerting. Tell me what you think…it’s available 
Boy I can’t stand this song. I know it’s supposed to be cute and racy and risque or whatever, but I simply can’t stand how crassly materialistic it is. And I’m not one who thinks Christmas is all about, like, Jesus’ birth or being good or anything. I know it’s all about the presents; however, this song is just….so…wrong. And if the Eartha Kitt version (the one you hear most of the time) 
weren’t bad enough, the Madonna version (on A Very Special Christmas) is just abysmal. She sounds like a sexually deranged Betty Boop (which I suppose is not unusual for her circa this release, but still). Stop trying to seduce Santa! Make it go away!
