For last week and this week, 3 atypical x-mas tracks

Slow Club - Christmas TV http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6M-E-P7di0

Not overly Christmas-y, Christmas is really only mentioned in the chorus. The track is more about wishing the person you love could stay with you a little longer. It's good stuff and tunefully catchy.

Shane McGowan of the Pogues (possible solo project?) - Christmas Lullaby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDJ0IGRByQk

For a very long time Shane McGowan was an unapologetic and very talented drunk. Thankfully, these days he's almost entirely sober. The man can write lyrics that bring tears to your eyes. While Christmas Lullaby isn't the most well-known Christmas track by the Pogues (that's The Fairytale of New York feat. the late Christy McColl), I had never heard it prior to a few weeks ago and like The Fairytale of New York, I like it a lot. Here are the lyrics

It seems like a freeze out
It seems like a freize
Stumbling I fell down
And prayed on my knees
The ice wagon's coming
To pick up the stiffs
Had a chat with an old one
He was gone in a jiff
And Santa and his reindeer
Jumped over the moon
So hush little child
Santa's coming here soon

(Chorus)
Tura lura luray
Tura lura lie
Tura lura luray
It's a Christmas lullaby
Tura lura luray
Tura lura lie
Tura lura luray
It's a Christmas lullaby

I hope you grow up angry
Just like your dear old dad
I hope you grow up brave and strong
Not like me - all weak and sad
You said "Daddy, daddy,
You're stinking of booze"
I kissed him and said, "Kid,
I was born to lose.
But you have a future
And a big one to say
And I hope you'll remember
All the love that I gave."

(Chorus)

Heres to all the little kids
Who haven't got no clothes
Heres to all the little kids
Who haven't got no homes
It's Christmas time in Palastine
It's Christmas in Beirut
They're scrapping 'round for rice
Not for tutti fruits
And the Christmas lights, they blew up
Now the 'lecky's all gone dead
I look like a coal miner
And I've a pain inside my head

(Chorus x2)


unknown Klezmer band from Budapest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpqVYvPIv1s&feature=related

Klezmer is the term for traditional Jewish folk music. I like it a lot better than 99% of the standard Christmas tunes that are ubiquitous during late November and December. I believe that everyone should learn about music with which they are unfamiliar. It beings us closer together as humans. You might also find that you like me, dig the new music.



Happy whatever you celebrate everyone. I wish you the happiest possible new year in 2010.

3 stellar product placements

Faraway Boys - Sailor Jerry Rum http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_S8_RCUz3o

It sounds like an advertisement for this rum should sound. "Give me half an hour, I won't be the same..."

Snoop Dog - Gin and Juice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6TUhx2wX0M

It actually tastes pretty good.


Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLeIdH2gTSc

Maybe but this track rocks.

3 tracks that were used by other tracks and the results are rad

I've heard it said that rap and hip-hop are poor forms of music because they "steal" music from previously recorded work. The concept of sampling was in existence long before Rapper's Delight hit the scene. These are three examples of sampling that I like. Both for the original track and the track that did the sampling. Listen carefully.

Frankie Ford-Sea Cruise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n10yDX8N3o&feature=related was used by The Clash - Wrong 'Em Boyo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK03STRXWGo&feature=related


I first discovered the Frankie Ford track on an itunes radio station that played "malt shop hits" from the 50's and 60's. It's wild that the heart of the song ended up on London Calling, a must own for anyone who says they like punk music.

Stevie Wonder - Pastime Paradise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=840uku8_T4Q was sampled to powerful effect by Coolio - Gangster's Paradise http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFK6H_CcuX8

This track was a defining part of the soundtrack for the movie Criminal Minds. It was the first album I ever owned. When it was released, the picture that Coolio and L.V. painted of life as a gang member left me in awe. While neither positive or negative in it's direction I was in awe because I had never heard such bare lyrics or such a powerful melody before. Before that album I had no schema for hip-hop or rap, these genres were alien worlds. Worlds I felt the need to explore. Years later I saw a recording with Coolio. He said that he and L.V. never intended it to be a "gangster" (focusing on the hard-scrabble and dangerous life of a gangster), largely because Coolio wasn't a gangster rapper. You can't really be hardcore and have the Einstein-like hair that he sported for so many years.

Gustav Holst -Mars, the Bringer of War http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0bcRCCg01I sampled by John Williams -Imperial March (from Star Wars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

I like Holst's work better though I respect John Williams's talent.

Conclusion - You can't belittle one genre because of it's use of sampling. Everyone does it. As long as it's done well, I approve.