Christmas Songs That Don’t (Completely) Suck

It’s less than one week until christmas and if I hear Jingle Bells one more time I’ll end up punching the entire Salvation Army band.

So to get into the spirit of the world’s most stressful holiday, I thought I would share a list of Christmas songs that don’t (completely) suck.

Okkervil River- Listening To Otis Redding at Home During Christmas

Why it doesn’t suck: This is by far my favourite Christmas song of all time and not just because I am huge Okkervil River fan. While most Christmas songs are just about Santa and snow, this one incorporates the warmth and familiarity of coming back home. There no mention of reindeer or santa and it doesn’t even feature sleigh bells, which seem to be reoccurring theme with Christmas songs. And let’s face it, Will Sheff could write a song about what he ate for breakfast and still make it sound poetic.

The Lucksmiths- The Thought That Counts

Why it doesn’t suck: This is one of my other Christmas favourites focuses buying gifts, which  is a side of christmas that many Christmas tunes seem to neglect and for many of us can be a bit of a chore. The Lucksmiths were one of the most reliable bands around and like most of their song songs it’s  a little bit twee and contains some great lyrics, my personal favourite being even an unwanted gift is a gift. So true.

Julian Casablancas- A Christmas Treat

Why it doesn’t suck: Well, for a start, it’s Julian Casablancas who fronts one of the most influential bands of the decade. Aside from that, the music is suitably catchy and the chorus has the kind of intensity you would expect from a regular rock song. The lyrics however, leave a lot to be desired. No deep poetry or imagery here, just a bit of fun. And sleigh bells.

AC/DC- Mistress For Christmas

Why It Doesn’t Suck: It’s AC/DC. Let’s face it, even if you haven’t heard this track you know what to expect. It’s a little bit wrong, but it’s also more than a bit good. This is one to break out after a few drinks.

Bright Eyes-Blue Christmas.

Why it doesn’t suck:Seriously Conor, are you ever happy? In this cover of Elvis’s Christmas song Bright Eyes does his usual “woe is me thing” which usually works well when he’s the one writing the lyrics, which is probably why I’ve never liked any of his covers. He doesn’t really sound blue, he just sounds like he’s wallowing in self-pity. Still it has more indie-cred than Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, mind you, my Grandma has more indie-cred than that song.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby- Little Drummer Boy

Why it doesn’t suck: I wasn’t going to post this song, but when I asked my mum about her favourite Christmas songs she said it was her favourite Christmas song of all time because the combination of David Bowie and Bing Crosby shouldn’t work but it does. I’m not really sold on it but David Bowie makes it bearable.

Are there any songs I’ve forgotten? Do you think the ones I’ve posted do, in fact, completely suck? Let me know by posting a comment. There might even be a part 2.

Tuesday Covers 15/12/09

Woah. Ten days til Christmas. Looks like I’ve got some serious shopping to do.

I haven’t really got a theme for today’s post, just a couple of cover songs I’ve been enjoying lately.

First up is a cover of Sarah Siskind’s Lovin’s  for Fools by Bon Iver and Bowerbirds. I haven’t heard the original version of the song but like most of Bon Iver’s music, it’s slow, pretty and strangely mesmerising.

Bon Iver- Lovin’s For Fools.mp3

The second song I have for you today is a cover of Buddy Holly by New Zealand band Little Pictures. They manage to turn Weezer’s slightly cheesy geek anthem into something that’s even more fun to listen to.

Little Pictures-Buddy Holly.mp3

Yae!Tiger: Songs From…Casualty of the Avalanche

One of the most exciting things about music blogging is coming across great new music and sharing it with whoever happens to stumble across your blog. However it is even better when the band discovers you. This was the case with Sydney band Yae!Tiger who were nice enough to send me a copy of their limited edition(there are only 100 of them) self-produced double A-side Songs From…Casualty of the Avalanche.

Yae!Tiger formed in 2007 as a home recording project between Brooke Cotton(bass, vocals) and Vincent Scagnetti (guitar, vocals). They recorded two EPs before heading off to South America. When they returned they got some friends together and became a six piece.

It is impossible to write about this single without mentioning the fantastic cover art. All 100 CDs were hand packaged by Brooke Cotton and her hard work has definitely paid off. The attached photo really doesn’t do it justice and I spent at least 10 minutes before even playing the single admiring the cover art. Everything about the handmade cover from the label-maker track list to the pasted on bio make this single seem like something that deserves to be treasured, rather than just another CD.

Although their bio suggests that they sound like Pavement and Sonic Youth, their use of male and female vocals and catchy choruses also give off  a Los Campesinos! or  an Architecture in Helsinki vibe. This can be heard on the first track Calling All Ghosts, which starts off slowly before launching into a catchy pop song complete with hand claps and keys.

Sleepworking is not as immediately catchy as the first track but after a few listens it is the better song . The song is buried under a layer of feedback and the female vocals really bring out the song’s catchy melody. The bass line is also rather impressive and rumbles along quite nicely. Despite the songs fast-paced beginning, it slows down towards the end and eventually fades out, without dragging out or overstaying its welcome.

The single also comes with an animated video by two of the other band members Jack Hanner and Dwayne Barry of their track Waging War At The Carnival. The video features a dog battling cabbage monsters and is a really cute addition to the CD.

While this single may not change the world it is a very enjoyable listen, especially for people who like their pop music to come with a bit of an edge. I have a feeling that we are yet to hear the best from Yae!Tiger and in a few years they could definitely be one of Australia’s most exciting bands.

8.5/10

Note: If you would like a free copy of this single, head over to the band’s myspace or see them live. Also, if you are a band and would like to send in a CD for reviewing purposes send me an email at: electricskeleton@live.com

http://www.myspace.com/yaetiger

Tuesday Covers 8/12/09

This week’s installment is a bit late, but I have some great stuff for you all today.

Triple J’s Like A Version segment is hugely popular in Australia and features a band playing acoustic covers in the studio every week. A few years ago they started releasing these covers on CD and the most recent installment Like A Version 5 was released a couple of weeks ago. The CD is consistently good, aside from Urthboy’s hip-hop cover of London Calling which will cause a whole bunch of cringing from Clash fans.

Today I thought I would share a couple of the tracks with you all. My internet is playing up so I can only post videos at the moment but you should still give them a listen.

The first cover I have for you is a cover of This Boy’s In Love by The Presets by Sparkadia. While the original is more of a dance track, Sparkadia turn into an acoustic ballad with more emphasis placed on the lyrics, which are overshadowed by the music in the Presets version of the song.

The other track I have for you is Philadelphia Grand Jury covering Jay-z’s 99 Problems. It’s a very strange choice for a cover song, however the Philly Jays have always been a bit weird(in a good way) and they manage to pull it off somehow. Admittedly rap fans would have a fit if they heard it, but it’s too funny and awkward not to like really. Either that or I’m a mad Philly Jays fan…

John Butler Trio- One Way Road

Earlier this year John Butler announced that he was parting ways with his band and would be playing with two different musicians, Byron Luiters and Nicky Bomba. As you would expect, many fans were angry with this decision and while it is sad to see the trio many of us had grown used to part ways, it also gives us a chance to see what else John Butler can come up with.

If you live in Australia, there is no doubt that you would have already  heard the new John Butler Trio single One Way Road. It has been all over the radio and is now used on Channel 10 promos. There is a good reason for this: it is  one of his catchiest songs and is much more upbeat than most of his Grand National stuff. Admittedly the song is poppier than what we are used to from JBT and it is easy to see where all the backlash from long-time fans is coming from. By now I’m sure you’ve made up your mind about how you feel about it.

What you probably haven’t heard from this  single are the B-sides.  And let’s face it, in this world of being able to (legally) download pretty much anything,  B-sides are one of the few reasons why someone would chose to buy a single. And they don’t disappoint. One Way Road has a B-side, a hotel room demo and a live version of the title track.

The B-side I’m Ready is more mellow than the single and has a real reggae feel to it. The lyrics are not his best work however if you can overlook them, it is a very catchy track and is worth a few listens. The hotel room demo Johnny’s Gone doesn’t quite have the same appeal as the other tracks on the single and seems to be a bit long.

The single ends with a live version of One Way Road. While it doesn’t quite have the same punch as the studio version has, it’s nice to hear the track in a simpler form.

One Way Road is an interesting indicator of what is to come from John Butler and his new trio. Here’s hoping the album will live up to expectations.

7.5/10

The Hives and Cyndi Lauper…A Terrible Idea

So it’s almost Christmas. A time of the year that’s supposed to be full of  joy, love, family and way too much food. However anyone who leaves the house during December will tell you it’s also a time of stress, being broke, arguments and having to listen to songs about reindeer and sleighs every time you walk into a shop.

Christmas carols do have their place, however they can get very annoying very quickly. It isn’t helped when you live in the Southern Hemisphere  and are constantly bombarded with songs about snow and winter when it’s forty degrees(celsius) outside and you would quite happily live in a freezer.

Over the years many bands and musicians have written their own songs about Christmas with varying degrees of success. Although it’s been around for over a year, this one is now available from the Triple J website as a free download and if you’re anything like me, it’ll leave you scratching your head.

Everyone’s favourite crazy Swedish band The Hives have recorded A Christmas Duel with 80’s popstar Cyndi Lauper. While this baffling combination should work, it doesn’t.

The song is a bit like Fairytale of New York in the sense that it is a bit on an angry Christmas song. It consists of Cyndi Lauper and Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist hurling insults at each other before the typical lets-be-friends-because-it’s-Christmas chorus kicks in.

Also, Cyndi Lauper singing the line “I went down on you mother” is many kinds of wrong.

Download it here.

Baddies Australian Dates and Single

The problem with Britpop is that no matter how good it is, it can all sound the same after a while. This is the problem I had when listening to Baddies, a  new-ish band from Scotland. Their music is catchy and fun, but I kept being reminded of all the other British bands that they sound like, which only made me want to listen to those bands instead.

despite this, they play the kind of stuff that would be great live and I’m sure they put on a very entertaining and fun show. They are coming down to Australia for a couple of dates around New Year Eve. If you’re keen to check them out, the dates are:

December 30- Pyramid Rock Festival, Phillip Island

December 31- Purple Sneakers NYE House Party, Sydney

I also have their newest single for you all. Enjoy!

Baddies- Open One Eye.mp3

http://www.myspace.com/baddies

Tuesday Covers 1/12/10

It’s December already?

For today’s covers post I thought I would share some Muppet related covers. Because, let’s face it, who doesn’t like the Muppets?

To commemorate the death of Freddie Mercury this week, Bohemian Rhapsody has been covered by The Muppets.

Bohemian Rhapsody is one of those rare songs that everybody knows, loves and at some point in their lives have sung incredibly badly for karaoke. Usually covering such a classic song inevitably leads to disaster, however The Muppets can pull it off. They turn a classic rock song into a musical comedy routine that anybody who has grown up with The Muppets will appreciate.  If you don’t think it is pure genius by the time Beaker comes in, you are beyond saving.

I meant to post this next cover last week but my CD shopping got in the way.

It’s Andrew Bird performing Being Green from The Muppet show  in French.

Seriously, is there anything that man can’t do?

Andrew Bird: The musical equivalent of McGyver

Andrew Bird-Bein’ Green.mp3

Franz Ferdiand Sideshows

Franz Ferdinand are coming to Australia in March for the Future Music Festival and have announced sideshows in Melbourne and Sydney. And no Festival Hall!

Tickets go on sale on the 10th of December and the dates are:

Wednesday 3rd March –The Forum Theatre, Melbourne
Thursday 4th March –Big Top, Luna Park, Sydney

New John Butler Trio Music Video

When you have been making music for as long as John Butler has, it would be easy to fall into the same routine and release the same album again and again.

Luckily he still manages to keep things interesting and part of this is forming a new Trio every few years. While it is sad to see previous members and amazing musicians in their own right, Shannon Birchall and Michael Barker leave, if his new single One Way Road is anything to go by, a new trio might just be a step in the right direction.

The video for One Way Road has just been released and the song is a bit of a departure from his Grand National sound, which I must admit  for the most part I wasn’t really in love with it. It’s definitely more upbeat and almost rocky while still retaining his signature sound. The riff sounds oddly familiar though. Does anyone else think this? It’s driving me mental trying to figure out where it’s from.

Also, if you are like most people and have trouble understanding the lyrics, they’re included in the description when you watch it on youtube.