TheAllPurposeNothing

As a somewhat rabid fan of Xmas music, I've got to say that the best new thing I've heard this year so far is the just released Hives/Cyndi Lauper number, A Christmas Duel.

Imagine War of the Roses meets Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf as a Phil Spector inspired Christmas tune. Esp. great vocals by Cyndi.

Definitely not family Xmas mix friendly or worksafe but a great tune nonetheless.

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DJLinus

This week's free iTunes downloads:

Melissa Etheridge - "Christmas in America"
The Boxmasters (Billy Bob Thornton's band) - "Slower Than Christmas"

I also see these releases there:

The Raveonettes - "Wishing You a Rave Christmas"
The Pretenders - "Holiday EP"

Travis McClain

There are several free tunes available from Amazon as downloads right now, including:

Amazon Holiday Sampler
- I Wish You a Merry Christmas by Bing Crosby
- Deck the Halls by Peggy Lee
- The Nutcracker Suite by Les Brown & His Band of Renown
- Jingle Bells by Roger Wagner Chorale
- Auld Lang Syne (Remixed 1991) by The Beach Boys

They're also giving away a free holiday .mp3 daily through Christmas Day. Each is still available, and so far they are:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.htm...d_i=1233518011

1) Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year Long? - Rosie Thomas
2) Elf's Lament - Barenaked Ladies with Michael Buble
3) Angels We Have Heard on High - Sixpence None the Richer
4) Last Christmas - Leigh Nash
5) The Gift of Sacrifice - Maren Ord
6) Love Came Down at Christmas - Jars of Clay
7) Warm Me Up - Elliott Yamin
8) Messengers of Christmas - Mannheim Steamroller
9) Greensleeves - Vince Guaraldi Trio
10) Our December - Thriving Ivory
11) Medley - Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
12) Christ Is Come - Big Daddy Weave
13) O Tannenbaum - Trio West
14) Joy to the World - Symphony Brass of Chicago
15) A Child Is Born - Benny Carter & Hank Jones
16) Angels We Have Heard on High - The Brian Setzer Orchestra
17) Lady December - The Sweptaways
18) Born in a Cave - Holler, Wild Rose!
19) Coming Home for Christmas - Jim Brickman with Richie McDonald
20) Silent Night - David Phelps
21) Maoz Zur - Matan Ariel
22) What Child Is This? - Barlowgirl
23) Calling on Mary - Aimee Mann
24) Midnight Clear (LP Version) - Andreas Vollenweider & Carly Simon
25) Ave Maria - Heart

Other freebies include:
O Come All Ye Faithful by Lisbeth Scott
We Wish You a Merry Xmas by The Korgis
Take a Break Guys by Brian Setzer
O'Carolan's/Welcome Christmas by Alison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven
Night Enchanted (Album Version) by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
O' Tannenbaum & Fur Elise by Vince Guaraldi Trio
Christmas Is Coming Soon by Blitzen Trapper
Little Drummer Boy by Mary Chapin Carpenter

GuessWho

Note: The free TSO song is from an upcoming non-holiday album

CharlieK

I'm looking for a slow-ish, sparse, melancholy version of 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'; and a haunting and/or choir-filled version of 'Carol of the Bells'.

I'd appreciate any suggestions you guys may have. Thanks.

DJLinus

For the "Have Yourself...", maybe try versions by Diana Krall, Freedy Johnston, Chris Isaak or Frank Sinatra.

CharlieK

Excellent suggestions. Thank you. I ended up buying the Sinatra and Krall Xmas CDs. Hadn't heard of Freedy before, but I like his sound.

DJLinus

Glad I could help. Krall's Christmas album is great and you can never go wrong with Sinatra. Freedy Johnston's a great singer-songwriter, though his voice isn't for everybody. I haven't listened to it in a while, but I think his version of the song has a slide guitar in it, an instrument which always sounds "melancholy" to me.

Sorry I couldn't help you with "Carol of the Bells." I only have a handful of versions of that song, none of which feature a choir or are what I'd consider "haunting." Maybe the one the Bird and the Bee offered as a free iTunes download a year or two ago.

Rocketdog2000

I picked this one up recently, and wanted to mention that the two previously unreleased songs on the album are both instrumentals, and are...

"Bach's Bounce" - a Setzer spin on "Jesu...Joy of Man's Desire", and...

"Take A Break Guys" - a James Bond-esque take on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", which is absolutely smoking!

As much as I love these albums on the whole, and like Setzer's singing voice, I find his instrumental tracks are even better. Makes me wish he'd do a whole album of just those. But this is a nice mix of his previous two, and the deluxe edition with the DVD was a great bargain. I got it on sale for cheaper than buying just the DVD, itself, which makes me now glad I held off on buying it previously.

Travis McClain

Deana Carter did a version of "Carol of the Bells" that stays with me long after I've heard it. It wasn't on her Christmas album, though, so I don't know how easy it would be to find.

printerati

The Amazon MP3 version has an exclusive track #5. The eMusic version (which I have) only has 4.

C-Mart

Kevin & Bean's "Black X-mas" EP is available as a free download at kroq.com. You can choose a clean or explicit version. It is partway down the page on the right side.

For those that don't know, Kevin and Bean is a morning radio show on KROQ 106.7 in Los Angeles/Orange Counties. For a long time they put out an Xmas CD each year with Christmas songs by various KROQ bands and skits by guests/ the K&B show people. The last couple of years they have not had a Christmas CD, but this year they have one. Unfortunately it is only their own people - nothing by any professional bands. It is also only about 16 minutes. Still, it is very funny, so check it out!

The Infidel

This has been a listening tradition since I was a young kid:

Southside

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DJLinus

Free Christmas songs from iTunes this week:

Sarah Brightman - "Silent Night"
Enya - "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"

Some new releases:

Weezer - Christmas with Weezer
The Killers - "Joseph, Better You Than Me" single

NPR's All Songs Considered just did their Christmas show: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=98225556

dj BC's annual Christmas mash-up album: http://www.santastic4.com/

CharlieK

Found it on iTunes. Outstanding! Such a great version. Thanks.

Travis McClain

Wow! Someone actually took me up on a music recommendation? That just about never happens. Glad you like it!

DJLinus

My yearly favorite episode of my favorite podcast: The Sound Opinions Christmas Spectacular (w/ a downloadable Christmas mix):

http://www.soundopinions.com/shownot...shownotes.html

C-Mart

U2.com has U2's cover of Greg Lake's 'I Believe in Father Christmas' video. I don't think I can embed it.

Travis McClain

Johnny Cash Radio has posted its second annual Christmas themed podcast. I haven't played it yet, but the run time is just under three freaking hours!

http://www.johnnycashradio.com/

Edit: I don't know where I saw the run time I indicated, but the actual run time of episode 77 is 59:43.

nodeerforamonth

The Fleshtones: "Stocking Stuffer"

nodeerforamonth

Wow. Had no idea this existed! Great stuff! Thanks.

edit:
Another wow! You rule! THANKS!!!

DJLinus

Yeah, that Weezer EP pretty much came out of nowhere (I'm on their mailing list & I don't think they ever sent out a notice). I stumbled upon it checking on new releases on iTunes.

As for that series of mash-up albums, there's one track - "The Christmas Massacre of Charlie Brown" - that I absolutely love. It's on either the first or second volume, I think.

------------------------------------

Free iTunes downloads this week:

Stephen Colbert (!) - "Another Christmas Song"
Straight No Chaser - "Auld Lang Syne"

A couple of podcast episodes chock full of Christmas music:

Coverville: http://www.coverville.com/archives/2...ville_536.html

The Bored Again Christian ("Christian music for people tired of Christian music"): http://boredagainchristian.com/?p=174

(I actually sent in a few of the songs Just Pete played in the above podcast; and if you want to hear my voice, I chime in right after the Frightened Rabbit song.)

Free downloadable Christmas EP from The Priestess and the Fool: http://www.thepriestessandthefool.com/

Trevor

Great stuff, thanks DJLinus.