December 2009 Archives

Christmas is over and I should post something new. The site's looking a bit too much like the SPCA commercials that I saw a lot of on TV last night - the one with Sarah McLachlan's version of Silent Night. Everyone else has moved on over to be New Year's themed except SPCA and me. Actually come to think of it, others are already doing Valentine's. Did you know that Marketplace IGA's already selling heart shaped donuts?

I've been too busy doing some backend changes that I almost forgot that I needed to post :P In any case, to bring you something new (new on the site at the very least), I give you the Video of the Week. I've been wanting to post this since I saw it came out, but found myself postponing. The Christmas season came and went..and well, here we are now :)

The cute little video above is US-2 Evil-0 with This Mighty Heart Attack. I think these guys have hit it right, in mastering the art of indiepop. See, you only need to follow these simple rules to create a successful indiepop song:

• Make it a duet (one girl, one boy)
• Include an instrument that has a tinkling sound reminiscent of a toy piano. A glockenspiel is the most popular choice, keyboards will do.
• Handclaps, there should be handclaps
• The vocals should be simple. You don't need to be Beyonce to sing it. In fact, singing it American Idol style is a no-no. The vocals should be simple enough that it can be imitated by a 5-year old.

Cap it off with a wonderfully made music video (it pays to have a film director in your band who has the connections to make you a really cool vid ) -  This Mighty Heart Attack is an irresistable song that you'll want to listen to over and over.

To those who know this song, I hope you enjoy it again. And to those who don't, hopefully I've brought you something new for the New Year's.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

All I Want for Christmas is a Hoverboard by Machu Picchu.

It's a song from this year's The Eggnog Experience compilation album featuring indie bands from the local Vancouver scene. If you've been following the internet series Mental Beast, you might already be familiar with this neat 29 song compilation.

What's great about this album is that it's the perfect solution for anyone out there this Christmas Eve morning who still hasn't done their Christmas shopping. Just download the album here, and place a donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. It's a perfect two-disc compilation gift which includes all new indie music recordings. Most of all, you're giving a donation on the behalf of the person you're sending the gift to, as well as helping out the less fortunate. How's that for bringing on the Christmas spirit? :)

Oh! What a Christmas by El Perro del Mar. Doing this Christmas countdown sure has made me realize that there are tons of fantastic Christmas themed indie albums out there. This single comes from El Perro del Mar's 2004 single release and was also included in another Christmas compilation album - Izumi Records' 2006 release It's Not Like Christmas which benefited the UK charity Shelter.

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Who says we can't have two videos of  the week? Since it's Christmas, and this video just begs to be posted - for those who love the odd mix of cute, creepy and Christmassy, here's a short film called Alma by Rodrigo Blaas.

The beautiful music playing in the background is from Spanish musician Mastretta who skillfully blends accordion fueled music to the mysterious and ominous mood.

The Holidays Behind Us by Figurine. I certainly won't let the Christmas season pass by without including one of my favorite groups here on my Christmas list. Though Figurine's been inactive since 2006, they regrouped in 2008 to put out a single for the digital download release of the Christmas album 'I'll Stay 'Til After Christmas ' which was for the benefit of Amnesty International. The album also included tracks from Au Revior Simone, Parenthetical Girls and Le Loup.

Since it's officially the beginning of the winter season I thought this video from my son's favorite band of all time would be apt. Architecture in Helsinki's Winter version of Kindling (from 2004's Kindling EP) is essentially the same, but with more handclaps, as well as the band playing musical chairs with their instruments in this music video. 

Twinkle by Nina Hynes. This cute little tune is something that you'll want to cozy up to the fireplace with. The single also included in last year's Indiecater Record's An Indiecater Christmas. So, if you're aching for new Christmas tunes to set the mood this holiday season, you can check out the 2008 and 2009 compilation of An Indiecater Christmas.

 Christmas on the Beach by Irene. I wish I could spend Christmas on the beach - only if it wouldn't mean hypothermia when wading through the icy cold waves. I dedicate this to my sister, who got snowed in yesterday at work. Though it may be freezing out there, may this song warm your Christmas up with beach dreams and endless summers.

This single was also part of Labrador Records' 2006 free download Christmas offering at their site. 

A song originally done by Darlene Love in 1963 and has been remade by dozens of artists over the past few years (the latest one is from Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester).

We don't have the Blair Waldorf version, but we do have something much more better. In honor of Irish band Oppenheimer's last live show today, we have their own version of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).

Here is this week's five - my favorite songs used in film...

Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) by Asobi Seksu. Christmas time is the season for excellent covers with Asobi Seksu giving their own shoegaze rendition of the Ramones punk-y Christmas song from 1989. This single is also a part of Earfarm's Charity Holiday Album, 'Do You EAR What I EAR?' which is available for download (via donation or for free). All proceeds go to the Association to Benefit Children. To get more info about the album as well as the download link, you can head on over to the Ear Farm website.

 artwork : A Threadless tee design by Chow Hon Lam

A cover of Mud's 1974 Christmas classic Lonely This Christmas by my favorite retro-band Lucky Soul. As with other Christmas treats here, the song is offered as a free download at their record label's site - a gift to all you fans of Ruffa Lane Records artists. This is part of their Christmas EP 'Ruffa Round the Christmas Tree' which features other artists such as Montt Mardié, Napoleon and Grantura.

It's Christmas Time by Yo La Tengo. Yo La Tengo brings some indie flavor in this cover which originally done by The Qualities / Sun-Ra.

This single was included in their 2002 Christmas EP Merry Christmas from Yo La Tengo.

Keep Me Warm and Safe This Winter by Creaky Boards. With it's Beach Boys inspired vocals and Christmassy melody, it's a lovely song that will indeed make you feel warm this winter . The single is part of the New York based Joma Music Group's first major release 'A Very Joma Christmas - An Indie Rock & Pop Holiday Sampler', which features tons of other indie artists with original songs as well as covers of Christmas classics (a Hawaiian version of Silent Night and a reggae Joy to the World to name a few). Definitely, another perfect stocking stuffer to add to the list, you can nab yourself copy at your favorite online music store.
(Get it from Amazon | eMusic )

Here's Hunks and Friends with The Magic of Christmas - a Christmas song collaboration featuring some of our UK indie favorites: Sound of Arrows, Copy Haho, Sky Larkin, James Yuill, Slow Club, Dananananaykroyd, Los Campesinos!, Sparky Deathcap, The Venus Stare, My First Tooth and The Airborne Toxic Event.

The Magic of Christmas was written and recorded by Bright Light Bright Light’s Rod Thomas and Radio 1 in Wales’ Jen Long over 9 hours one Saturday in October, sat in a Cardiff flat in Christmas jumpers, drinking gin. 

All proceeds of purchasing this single will benefit our furry friends at the RSPCA. The single is out now, and you can download it here or here

XMASSACRE by Sydney Australia's death+taxes. What can I say, I have a soft spot for dance tracks and Futurama.

Taking it's inspiration from Futurama's Xmas Episode, where in the future, Santa is a murderous robot - this single combines Christmas classics such as Jingle Bells, Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and We Wish You a Merry Christmas in a nice, neat, dance package. But if it was me though, I wouldn't name it Xmassacre, especially if I'm redoing Christmas classics. There's just something about the words 'massacre' (or massacring), and 'classics' (or 'a classic') that doesn't bode well when it comes to songs. 

For those planning a Christmas rave party - the song is available as a free download here. 

That Was The Worst Christmas Ever! by Sufjan Stevens.  It wouldn't be an indie Christmas without a Surfjan Stevens song. This song comes from Sufjan's 2006 Christmas boxed set - Songs for Christmas . If you're looking for a great stocking stuffer, this might just be it - aside from great songs, it comes with booklets with chords, stickers and a poster. And as a sampling, there's a couple of free tracks from Sufjan's site which includes our Christmas song of the day -

I'm running out of ideas here for the Friday's list - so this week will be an easy one: songs that have girls names in them. There are tons and pretty much plenty to choose from - so here I share five songs, off the top of my head, that are about a girl...

Flowers for Albion by Parenthetical Girls.  This cheery tune is all about a non-cheerful event which was the Manchester Christmas Blitz of 1940. Flowers for Albion is one half of the their two song Christmas offering called Christmas Creep available for a free download at the Parenthetical Girls' official site.

+ December 11th at Neumo's in Seattle (21+)

+ December 12th at The Wonder Ballroom in Portland (w/ The Upsidown) (21+)

+ December 13th at The Wonder Ballroom in Portland (w/ 1776) (All ages + Booze)

A little helping of Americana with Winter Song by Jaime Michaels. This single (along with December 7th's Christmas single, George Bailey) is part of the The Alternate Root's First Annual Holiday Music Reader Appreciation Sampler.

So, if you're in the mood for listening to a bit of American indie folk this Christmas season, you can head on over to the Alternate Root's website for a free download of the sampler.

From my favorite folk-pop duo - Slow Club with Christmas TV. This single was a free Christmas download in 2008 at Last.fm, and now it's back in a new Slow Club EP called Christmas, Thanks for Nothing. If you're a sucker for duets, cute and lovely ones at that, you might want to take the opportunity to grab this album...or any of the albums by Slow Club for that matter.

Our video of the week is also our Christmas Single of the day - it's George Bailey by Carolyn Sills. George Bailey is a single inspired by Jimmy Stewart's character in the Christmas-movie staple 'It's A Wonderful Life'. The music video above, wonderfully complements our classic movie inspired offering, with Steamboat Willie style animation created by Rob Ludacer.

From New Jersey singer / songwriter Ian McGlynn, with Listen to the Choir Sing. 

This song would be a lovely complement to a nice, frosty Sunday afternoon in the Christmas season. If you're craving to listen to something a bit more classic sounding in terms of Christmas songs, this song might just be the one for you. According to Ian's website -

"There's something so solemnly sacred and magically nostalgic about Ian's Christmas offering, 'Listen To The Choir Sing,' that one can't help but imagine it featuring in both a midnight mass and A Charlie Brown Christmas. So if your Christmas wish is for Vince Guaraldi to rise from the dead and collaborate with Sigur Ros, well, you can finally put that dream to rest by listening, yes, to "Listen To The Choir Sing." 

Christmas Eve Nite by Danielson. Christmas wouldn't be the same without a song by our favorite eccentric Christian family band, the Danielson Famile. This song is part of Sounds Familyre's 2007 release 'A Familyre Christmas Vol 1.'

Standard Fare with Tinsel Politics - a single dedicated to those who've experienced that dillemma of where to spend the holidays (i.e. my family or yours?). The single is also included in the Indiecater Records, An Indiecater Christmas 2009 compilation, which contains lots more Christmas goodies in song form. You can check out the compilation and track info at the Indiecater Records site.

December by San Francisco band Sugarspun. It's a single that's equally sweet as their name. This song is also included in the Filipino Indiepop Scene's online compilation - Holly, Ivy and Mistletunes.

Here's a retro-video for Florence and the Machine doing a special guest spot in the faux show Recyclage de Luxe  -  a green campaign by Stella Artois. If you watch the whole show (and you grew up where I did), you might want to check out the Origami Man (video after the jump) . Doesn't he look like Kuya Mario from Batibot?

Brought to you by Oh, Atoms - with their version of Wham!'s classic Christmas love song 'Last Christmas'.

You'll either love it or hate it. Personally, I prefer Oh, Atoms when they don't do covers.

This cover is included in Where You Are Is Where It's At 's 2009 Christmas EP which is available as a free download at their site.