Puddles Pity Party - Christmas Time Is Here

Christmas time is here.

Let's kick off December with a little help from

the "sad clown with the golden voice."

Rawn, Dodger & Casey Lavere - We Three Kings

Posting We Three Kings on January 6th, for at least the third year now.

This one is probably a little weirder than you're used to.

Future Of Forestry - O Holy Night

Future Of Forestry is an ambient rock act from San Diego.

This is their epic performance of O Holy Night,

taken from the Live From The Solstice DVD.

Stellarscope - Silent Night

Philadelphia indie-rockers, Stellarscope, set the mood

with this dreamy version of Silent Night.

Tin Idols - Metal Kalikimaka

Based in Hawaii, Tin Idol Records has just released

a heavy metal Christmas album. You can listen to many of the tunes

at ReverbNation. I really like the cover of 2000 Miles.

Here's another. Don't let the slow start fool you.

Jose Feliciano & Daryl Hall - Christmas Must Be Tonight

If you aren't familiar with Live From Daryl's House,

it's worth checking out. Hall has been inviting musical friends over

and recording the ensuing jam sessions, since 2007.

When Jose Feliciano visited in 2010, they covered this classic by The Band.

Blondie - We Three Kings

Behold, there came wise men from the east.

The Everly Brothers - O Little Town Of Bethlehem

Phil Everly has died.

Here is Phil singing on the 1962 album,

Christmas With The Everly Brothers.

Steven Curtis Chapman - Going Home For Christmas

Posting this one for a special Mom/Grandma.

Pentatonix - Little Drummer Boy

You may have seen Pentatonix win season 3 of NBC's The Sing-Off.

They are currently enjoying unprecedented success

with their new version of Little Drummer Boy.

The tune is #1 on the Holiday 100 Song chart, and

enters the Billboard Hot 100 at #13.

 

Future Of Forestry - Joy To The World

Future Of Forestry just released their third Christmas EP this year.

Mainly the brainchild of Eric Owyoung, their music is mesmerizing.

This one is from their 2010 release. 

The Jigsaw Seen - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The Jigsaw Seen have been around for 25 years now,

and first released this tune in 1989.

They have many winter themed songs to their credit,

but my favorite by far is this one:

What does it mean ? ! ?

Tom Tom Club and Siouxsie - Il Est Ne Le Divin Enfant

"He Is Born, The Divine Child"

A traditional French carol, performed by two untraditional artists.

The carol tells of the birth of Jesus,

and calls on the Kings of the Orient to attend the child.

John Tavener - The Lamb

British composer John Tavener has died. 

His wistful, elegant setting of William Blake's poem "The Lamb" (1982) became a staple of Christmas carol services.

Erasure - Gaudete

Just your typical medieval song of praise here.

Sung in latin, this carol is at least 500 years old.

This is the first single from Erasure's new Christmas album.

If your tastes are more traditional, perhaps you will prefer this version,

from the English folk-rock group Steeleye Span.

It was a hit for them in 1973.

Lou Reed - Cry Of A Tiny Babe

Rolling Stone is reporting that Lou Reed has died.  This is a Bruce Cockburn song that features Lou and Roseanne Cash. Legend has it that Lou forgot the words, but the producers thought it added charm, so didn't change anything.

Another Lou Reed Christmas tune, Xmas In February.

ThePianoGuys - We Three Kings

They are a piano player and a cello player from Utah.

ThePianoGuys released a new Christmas album today.

A Family Christmas contains 12 tracks, including this one:

Mindy McCready - Silent Night

R.I.P. Mindy McCready.

The Beach Boys - We Three Kings

May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores

bring tribute to him.

May the kings of Sheba and Seba

present him gifts.

~ Psalm 72-10

Jill Tracy - Coventry Carol

"This carol refers to the Massacre of the Innocents, 

in which Herod ordered all male infants under the age of two 

in Bethlehem to be killed. 

The lyrics of this haunting carol represent a mother's lament 

for her doomed child."