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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Sort of News / Album / Guilty Pleasure It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

Posted by Megan Seling on Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 11:40 AM

Christmas music press release season.

If you hate holiday music (and/or the holidays) then it is perhaps the worst time of year. But I love holiday music. Almost all of it (save for that fucking "Christmas Shoes" song... THE WORST). I even spend some December nights listening to Delilah, just to hear more holiday music. True story. No shame.

The most promising new holiday music addition I've seen so far is the new compilation Holidays Rule, featuring the Shins, Andrew Bird, Fruit Bats, Calexico, and Rufus Wainwright singing "Baby It's Cold Outside" with Sharon Van Etten. YES.

It's released via Starbucks' Hear Music, so you should be able to find a copy at the best record store in Seattle. Or you can buy online here (you can also hear samples of each song there, too).

Here's the Shins covering "Wonderful Christmastime" (originally done by Paul McCartney, and usually hated by everyone who hears it except for me... I love that song):

Full tracklist after the jump:

01 fun. – “Sleigh Ride”
02 The Shins – “Wonderful Christmas Time”
03 Rufus Wainwright With Sharon Van Etten – “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
04 Paul McCartney – “The Christmas Song Ages”
05 Black Prairie Feat. Sallie Ford – “Man With The Bag”
06 Civil Wars – “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day”
07 Calexico – “Green Grows The Holly”
08 AgesandAges – “We Need A Little Christmas”
09 Holly Golightly – “That’s What I Want For Christmas”
10 Irma Thomas With Preservation Hall Jazz Band – “May Everyday Be Christmas”
11 Heartless Bastards – “Blue Christmas”
12 Eleanor Friedberger – “Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me”
13 Fruit Bats – “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas”
14 Y La Bamba – “Senor Santa”
15 The Punch Bros. – “O Come O Come, Emmanuel”
16 The Head & The Heart – “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve”
17 Andrew Bird – “Auld Lang Syne”

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Comments (16) RSS

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I'm already sick and tired of Christmas songs. I don't miss them at all. To me, Christmas songs are a grueling reminder that another damn year has passed me by, that's all.

I had never heard of "Christmas Shoes" (I'm blessed?) and I agree that it's lame-o. I didn't even get through half the song. I did enjoy the comedy routine, though.

Finally, I know they're only a tiny minority, but December is a big month for the Jews as well. As far as holiday songs go, I'll still take Adam Sandler's ditty over any post-18th Century Christmas song.

Posted by floater on November 27, 2012 at 10:48 PM

@3 only because you have rape fantasies.

dean (martin) does not - she should stay, because her safety is at risk if she doesn't, nothing else added.

@3 fuck you for being a would be rapist!

Posted by pissedmeoff on November 27, 2012 at 5:17 PM

I hate "Wonderful Christmastime" SO MUCH. It's even more annoying than most annoying Christmas music including fucking "Jinglebell Rock."

Posted by kj on November 27, 2012 at 4:04 PM

they have a fun little time wasting game at: http://seasonalgreetings.net/holidays-ru…

Posted by jezbian on November 27, 2012 at 2:26 PM

Sufjan Stevens also just released five EPs worth of holiday music.

Posted by Josh Bis

on November 27, 2012 at 2:21 PM

@9 - Agreed. Although Eartha Kitt made her name on a sort of tongue-in-cheek submissive anti-feminism, "Santa Baby" just wasn't her best. For better Eartha Kitt gold-digging, see "C'est Si Bon" and "Just an Old-Fashioned Girl".

Posted by MacCrocodile

on November 27, 2012 at 2:08 PM

Here it is!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyuNR-Nne…

Posted by MacCrocodile

on November 27, 2012 at 2:04 PM

@3 Baby It's Cold Outside is gross, but Santa Baby is worse. Love you, late Ms. Kitt, but this song makes me want to break something. Every time I hear it I want to rinse my brain out with 500 repeats of "Independent Woman".

Posted by Prettybetsy on November 27, 2012 at 2:03 PM

@6 - There's a version on youtube somewhere with a comedy duo performing the song, but with the roles sort of... changed. The woman still sings the woman's part, but is clearly drunk, and the man is not participating in the song and trying to get her to actually leave. If I can find it, I'll post it here.

"Say, what's in this drink?"
"That's gravy."

Posted by MacCrocodile

on November 27, 2012 at 1:54 PM

"Coldest Night of the Year" by Vashti Bunyan (or Nino & April) is a good alternate, not quite as creepy.

Posted by Mrs. Fnarf on November 27, 2012 at 1:47 PM

@3

Most of the time, I agree with you. But there are versions of it where it's clear that they both know what is going on and it's pure flirtation. It's in the vocal delivery.

Posted by Lymis on November 27, 2012 at 1:46 PM

I just learned that what makes "Wonderful Christmastime" so hideous is the "wah wah wah" effect, the smoky-gray drinking glasses of music. Without it it's bearable, maybe even good. I'm tempted to download the Shins cover just to mop up after the inevitable earworms that arise from hearing the Sir Paul original at the store.

Posted by Prettybetsy on November 27, 2012 at 1:36 PM

I love the Shins.

I love the Beatles.

I love almost everything Paul McCartney has ever done.

That said, I fucking hate "Wonderful Christmastime". What a horrible, boring, lame song.

Posted by Horrible Christmastime on November 27, 2012 at 12:49 PM

It is time for the annual complaint that "Baby It's Cold Outside" is exceedingly creepy and rapey.

"Baby It's Cold Outside" is exceedingly creepy and rapey. Carry on.

Posted by MacCrocodile

on November 27, 2012 at 12:42 PM