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I don’t really mean to rub in anyone’s faces but today is my last day of work before embarking on my Christmas vacation. I don’t really mean to rub it in your faces that as you listen to this podcast on Thursday and I’ll be counting down to the end of the week and looking forward to 2.5 weeks off while you’re still one day from the end of your work week… Well, actually, I do mean to rub it in. Take that suckers. Anyways, to help you make it through yet another Thursday, here’s the playlist:
Relient K – Sleigh Ride from “Let It Snow Baby, Let It Reindeer”
A fun way to start the episode. It’s been kind of weird to watch these guys grow from album to album, starting with the precocious youth on their first disc, sprinkled with songs about Charles In Charge and Marilyn Manson eating their girlfriend to still writing songs with ridiculous titles but being much more mature about it.
Manic Street Preachers – Christmas Ghost
I haven’t listened to too much of their stuff. You may remember their song “If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next” from a few years ago, or from the Rihanna cover that I used a few months back. Or you may not. I guess they’re big in the UK.
Stryper – Winter Wonderland from “7 Weeks: Live In America, 2003
Seeing them live a couple months ago definitely gave me a new perspective on their music. Sure it’s still cheezy hair metal, but there’s something endearing and awesome about that, especially when you saw the energy they brought playing in front of a couple hundred people at some dive venue in Toronto.
Neon Horse – ‘Zat You, Santa Claus?
I had no idea, but apparently Louis Armstrong performed this song many years ago. While both versions are awesome, they’re both pretty unique. It took me a while to warm up to the whole Neon Horse gimmick but their album this year was fantastic and this cover is a lot of fun.
L.A. Symphony – Christmas Song from “An Illect Recordings Christmas Recording”
I just heard that Pigeon John has finished recording a new album for release in 2010. He’s not really a part of L.A. Symphony anymore but he guests on this track. I wonder if he’s still playing that “every-man” schtick on the new album.
Brandtson – Christmas In Ohio from “A Santa Cause 2″
You knew there had to be some depressing emo on here somewhere. There was supposed to be a Brandtson album released this summer, well after their breakup. Sadly, it never saw the light of day but reportedly, most of the members have formed a new band and are working on some new music.
Paper Route – In The Bleak Midwinter from “Thank God The Year Is Finally Over”
I’ve never really found a version of this song that hasn’t completely bored me until this one. I know that’s a double negative but that seemed like the clearest way to put it.
Pas/Cal – Little Red Radio
This reminds me a lot of The New Pornographers. I know they both make some great pop songs but I didn’t know what else to say about this track.
fun. – Believe In Me
fun. channel their inner Sloan. The song sounds like it stops abruptly and it does. As it winds down, they included a mock discussion between the Olsen twins about why to buy for Christmas. I know this sounds like pure comedy gold, but it wasn’t even remotely funny, so I cut it out. Hopefully you can forgive me for ending the song like that as I think I spared you from something awful.
Absinthe Blind – Silent Night from “Stuck In The Chimney: More Christmas Singles”
Since Karim was playing some Headlights, I thought I’d include a track from their previous band. Oddly enough, when I first heard about this band, I had no idea what absinthe was and I thought the band name was “abs in the blind” but now I know better. This song would be perfect if the vocals were a little more on key. That said, it’s still awesome and a perfect way to end this week’s episode.
Thanks for listening and I’ll see you again next week.
Jared
