A holiday party primer: George A. Paul's overview of 2013 Christmas music titles available now

By George A. Paul

If you're looking for fresh Christmas music to liven up your holiday party or tree trimming festivities over the next 10 days, here are some suggestions...

Artist: Nick Lowe
Title: Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection for All the Family (Yep Roc)
You might enjoy if you like: Buddy Holly, Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Graham Parker
Tell me more: The veteran English pub rocker-turned-classy balladeer takes on sharp holiday tunes by Ron Sexsmith, Roger Miller, Roy Wood, plus a few of his own shrewd originals (one was penned with Ry Cooder) and dresses them up in vintage rockabilly and skiffle clothes that sound as if they were recorded at Memphis' Sun Studio. 
Highlights: "Christmas at the Airport," "The North Pole Express," "A Dollar Short of Happy"
Information: yeproc.com, nicklowe.net
Get Quality Street: a Seasonal Selection now


Artist: Erasure
Title: Snow Globe (Mute Records)
You might enjoy if you like: OMD, Pet Shop Boys, Sparks
Tell me more: Co-produced by longtime associate Gareth Jones, the UK synth-pop duo mixes melancholy ("In the Bleak Midwinter"), regal ("Silver Bells"), mid-tempo dance ("Gaudete," where Andy Bells sings in Latin; the frisky "There'll Be No Tomorrow") and bleak ("Blood on the Snow") tunes with equal aplomb. Musical mastermind Vince Clarke's plunging noises during the gradual dance rhythm of "The Christmas Son" is especially fun. 
Highlights: "Bells of Love," "Sleep Quietly," "Loving Man"
Information: mute.com, erasureinfo.com
Get Snow Globe here


Artist: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Title: It Feels Like Christmas Time (Savoy Jazz Records)
You might enjoy if you like: Brian Setzer Orchestra, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Cherry Poppin' Daddies
Tell me more: Scotty Morris and company get into the swing of things with a Hot Club of Cowtown-styled "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)," the snazzy Dixieland in "Frosty the Snowman" and "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (sung by bassist Dirk Shumaker). Guest vocal trio She, Her & I give the proceedings an Andrew Sisters vibe. Bonus points for including two post-Christmas numbers: "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" (a laid back duet with Anna Kasper) and the mostly instrumental "Auld Lang Syne," patterned after a party countdown to midnight. 
Highlights: "Run Rudolph Run"
Information: savoyjazz.com, bbvd.com
Get your copy of It Feels Like Christmas Time - Amazon Exclusive


Artist: Jewel
Title: Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection (Trust Fund Baby Records)
You might enjoy if you like: Sarah McLachlan, Shawn Colvin, Joni Mitchell
Tell me more: A decade after her first Christmas CD, the folk/pop artist puts her frothy pipes around the countrified "Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow," does an adept job on the elegant Latin song "Panis Angelicus," uses an electronic vocal effect on "Blue Crystal Glow" and corrals Vince Gill to play some electrifying guitar licks during the mild rocker "White Christmas." 
Highlights: "Silver Bells," the title track
Information: jeweljk.com
Buy Jewel - Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection LIMITED EDITION CD Includes BONUS Track "Deck The Halls"


Artist: Kelly Clarkson
Title: Wrapped in Red (RCA Records)
You might enjoy if you like: Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Pink
Tell me more: Featuring the Motown-styled pop hit single "Underneath the Tree," Clarkson has created a jubilant, diverse album with four fine originals. There's a jazzy "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (Ronnie Dunn is her duet partner), a reverent "Silent Night" (Reba and Trisha Yearwood share the verses), the rocking' "Run Rudolph Run" and some dynamic, brassy ballads. 
Highlights: "4 Carats," "Blue Christmas," "Every Christmas"
Information: kellyclarkson.com, rcarecords.com
Purchase Wrapped in Red here


Artists: Alabama, Martina McBride, Neil Diamond, Johnny Cash, others
Title: The Classic Christmas Album (Sony Music Entertainment)
You might enjoy if you like: Any of the artists involved
Tell me more: This compilation series gathers selected tracks from artists who have put out more than one holiday collection in the past and typically averages 12-16 songs each. 

Alabama's country title is culled from their 1985 classic Christmas (which I play every year) and 1996's Volume II. McBride's is mostly sourced off her traditional, classical-flavored 1998 effort White Christmas (and its 2007 reissue), plus a pair of virtual duets with Elvis Presley and Dean Martin. Diamond goes the chorale route with half of the numbers here. Cash's come from 1963's The Christmas Spirit, 1972's Family Christmas and 1980's Classic Christmas. The Man in Black is joined by his brother Tommy, wife June Carter and her family, plus the Statler Brothers on songs ranging from spiritual to chorale.

John Denver, Andy Williams, Kenny G, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Gladys Knight & the Pips, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Luther Vandross, Barry Manilow round out this series.

Highlights: "Christmas in Dixie," "Joseph and Mary's Boy" (Alabama); "Away in a Manger" (McBride); "You Make it Feel Like Christmas" (Diamond); "Blue Christmas," "Little Drummer Boy" (Cash)
Information: LegacyRecordings.com
Buy Johnny Cash's The Classic Christmas Album


Artist: Dave Barnes
Title: A December to Remember (50 Year Plan Records)
You might enjoy if you like: Mat Kearney, Gavin DeGraw
Tell me more: With a foot in both the Christian and country music worlds, the South Carolina native has written songs alongside Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Billy Currington and more. His second Christmas album adeptly dives into the jazz and R&B realms, with a touch of spiritual for good measure. 
Highlights: "Christmas Eve," "When Love Was Born"
Information: davebarnes.com
Buy A December to Remember here


Artist: Bad Religion
Title: Christmas Songs (Epitaph Records)
You might enjoy if you like: Ramones, Descendents
Tell me more: This holiday release finds the LA punk stalwarts blitzing through nine tracks in approximately 20 minutes, including "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing," "What Child is This" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." No messing with the usual Bad Religion formula here. Sometimes "loud fast rules" even during the holidays. For the final track, they add a new mix of 1990s alt-rock hit "American Jesus" (I couldn't tell much different from the original). The band is donating 20 percent of all album proceeds to SNAP - the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. 
Highlights: "Little Drummer Boy," "Angels We Have Heard On High
Information: christmas.badreligion.com

Get special Christmas Songs (LP+CD) version here

Inbox Update: Justin Hayward, Bad Religion

Here are the latest highlights pulled from my inbox. Very exciting news that Justin Hayward is set to issue a solo album next month. Enjoy everybody!

EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE JUSTIN HAYWARD'S

SPIRITS OF THE WESTERN SKY ON FEB. 26, 2013 

 

On February 26, 2013, Eagle Records is proud to release Spirits Of The Western Sky by Justin Hayward. 

 

As lead guitarist and vocalist of the legendary rock band, The Moody Blues, Hayward is one of the most prolific singer-songwriters in music.  Justin’s songs include “Nights In White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Question,” “The Voice,” “Your Wildest Dreams,” and “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere,” to name just a few of his worldwide hits.  Performing and recording for more than 40 years with The Moody Blues, during which the group has sold more than 60 million albums, Justin Hayward has been a driving force in the band’s success. 

 

Spirits Of The Western Sky, recorded in Genoa, Italy and Nashville, is Hayward’s first solo album since 1996’s The View From The Hill.  It features his trademark vocals and guitar work on tracks such as “One Day, Someday,” “On The Road To Love,” & album opener “In Your Blue Eyes,” and also highlights orchestrations by Academy Award-winning composer Anne Dudley. Additionally, Hayward moves into new areas with the three country and bluegrass-influenced tracks “What You Resist Persists,” “Broken Dream,” and “It’s Cold Outside Of Your Heart.”

 

“Anne [Dudley] is one of the true greats,” states Justin, “in the same rarefied class of orchestrators as Peter Knight, who was such an inspiration in my early Moody Blues days. I’ve worked with Anne on different projects over the years and it’s always a joy (when she is arranging, all the studio musicians know it’s going to be wonderful).  I also co-wrote a song with my friend Kenny Loggins for Spirits Of The Western Sky. He and I were both on the road and staying in the same hotel.  We had a great day playing guitar together and we came up with ‘On The Road To Love’. Kenny plays and sings on the track with me. This album is a labor of love. It’s been my whole life for the last few years. I know we all have many choices nowadays and I thank everyone who gives my album a listen and brings these songs into their collection. Every track is truly from my heart”.

 

Building on the best of his work throughout an incredible career, Spirits Of The Western Sky is an album guaranteed to delight Justin Hayward’s legions of fans around the world. For more information, visit Hayward's official site at: http://www.justinhayward.com.

 

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world.  Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide.  Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.

BAD RELIGION STREAMS TRUE NORTH TODAY 

Band Announces North American Spring Tour

 

LA's legendary punk heroes Bad Religion are streaming their new album True North in its entirety starting today (Jan. 15, 2013), in front of their January 22nd album release date. In anticipation of their new release, Bad Religion have announced a North American tour starting in March of 2013 with support from  Against Me! and Polar Bear Club. Tickets for the tour go on-sale  starting this Thursday, January 17th.

To stream the new record, please go to: http://bit.ly/VGb3O1

True North celebrates the power of cogent punk in the face of personal pain and adversity. It is one of the band’s most emotionally accessible albums to date. Beneath the bristling guitars and surging drums exists one of the most cathartic works of the band’s career. WithTrue North, Bad Religion deliberately revisits and refines the fast melodic Southern California sound they helped to define on albums such as Suffer, No Control and Recipe For Hate.

With a new album around the corner, Bad Religion cements their place in punk rock history with 16 studio albums, worldwide critical acclaim and countless world tours  and will continue the celebration of their distinguished career with extensive touring  in 2013, a rare intimate show in Los Angeles on January 23^rd at The Echo in Los Angeles and  their  first ever appearance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon this January 30th.

Fans can pre-order True North by going here: http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/bad-religion/region/ and can check out the single "True North" via YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKflTc_RT6U

Bad Religion Tour Dates:

1/23/2013	The Echo	Los Angeles	CA
3/8/2013	OC Fair & Event Center	Costa Mesa	CA
3/9/2013	Soma	San Diego	CA
3/12/2013	Backstage Live	San Antonio	TX
3/13/2013	House of Blues	Houston	TX
3/14/2013	House of Blues	Dallas	TX
3/16/2013	The Ritz Ybor	Tampa	FL
3/17/2013	House of Blues- Orlando	Orlando	FL
3/19/2013	The Masquerade	Atlanta	GA
3/20/2013	War Memorial Auditorium	Nashville	TN
3/22/2013	9:30 Club	Washington	DC
3/23/2013	The Wellmont Theatre	Montclair	NJ
3/24/2013	Electric Factory	Philadelphia	PA
3/26/2013	Terminal 5	New York	NY
3/28/2013	House of Blues	Boston	MA
3/29/2013	State Theatre	Portland	ME
3/30/2013	Metropolis	Montreal	QC
3/31/2013	Kool Haus	Toronto	ON
4/2/2013	St. Andrews Hall	Detroit	MI
4/4/2013	Newport Music Hall	Columbus	OH
4/5/2013	Congress Theatre	Chicago	IL
4/6/2013	Pops Nightclub	Sauget	IL
4/8/2013	Granada Theater	Lawrence	KS
4/10/2013	The Fillmore	Denver	CO
4/11/2013	In The Venue	Salt Lake City	UT
4/13/2013	Vogue Theater	Vancouver	BC
4/14/2013	Roseland Theater	Portland	OR
4/15/2013	Showbox SoDo	Seattle	WA
4/18/2013	Hollywood Palladium	Hollywood	CA
4/20/2013	TBD	Pheonix	AZ
5/26/2013	Punk Rock Bowling	Las Vegas	NV

For more information:
www.epitaph.com
www.badreligion.com

Inbox Update: Robyn Hitchcock, Bad Religion, KISS

Here is a roundup of some of the most noteworthy items to land in my inbox this week.

Robyn Hitchcock to release new album Love From London

Yep Roc Records is excited to announce the March 5, 2013 release of the new Robyn Hitchcock album, Love From London. The record was produced and engineered by Paul Noble, and features Noble on bass, guitar, keyboards and vocals; Jenny Adejayan on cello and vocals; Lizzie Anstey on vocals and keyboards and Jenny Macro, Lucy Parnell and Anne Lise Frokedal on vocals. A lo-fi rehearsal video featuring Green Gartside, Stephen Irvine, Terry Edwards, Mark Bedford, Adejayan and Noble in a London pub on a Sunday performing "Be Still" from the new album is available for posting HERE.

Hitchcock also celebrates his 60th birthday next March with a retrospective show on February 28th at the Village Underground in London where he will be playing songs from each of his albums, accompanied by some of his favorite British musicians.

Hitchcock describes his songs as "paintings you can listen to." Love From London"celebrates life in a culture imperiled by economic and environmental collapse," he says. "We are surfing on the momentum of chaos. If a consensus on global warming comes from the people, then the media, the politicians, and the corporations will h

ave to adapt to it. Rock and Roll is an old man's game now, so I'm staying in it."

Born in London in 1953, Robyn Hitchcock has written and recorded over 500 songs, including: "Where Are The Prawns," "I Wanna Destroy You," "The Cheese Alarm," "Sometimes A Blonde," "No, I Don't Remember Guildford," "To Be Human," "Where Do You Go When You Die," "Uncorrected Personality Traits," "Full Moon in My Soul," "Chinese Bones," "Madonna Of The Wasps," and recently a lament for the Arctic polar thaw "There Goes The Ice," recorded with KT Tunstall, with whom he was on a Cape Farewell environmental expedition to Greenland in 2008.

Since founding the art-rock band The Soft Boys in 1976, Hitchcock has played with many respected musicians including John Paul Jones, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, Peter Buck, Nick Lowe, Abigail Washburn, Grant Lee Phillips, Martin & Eliza Carthy, Howe Gelb, Krystle Warren, Graham Coxon and Johnny Marr among others.

In 1996 Jonathan Demme directed an in-concert film about him in New York called Storefront Hitchcock, and in 2003 cast him in his remake of The Manchurian Candidate and in 2007's Rachel Getting Married.

The tracklisting for Love From London is below:

1. Harry's Song

2. Be Still

3. Stupefied

4. I Love You

5. Devil On a String

6. Strawberries Dress

7. Death and Love

8. Fix You

9. My Rain

10. End of Time

http://www.robynhitchcock.com

http://twitter.com/robynhitchcock

http://facebook.com/robynhitchockofficial

http://youtube.com/robynhitchcockweb

http://tumblr.com/themuseumofrobynhitchcock

Bad Religion release new single

Los Angeles punk icons Bad Religion will release the title song off their upcoming new album True North today.  The new single utilizes a wall of bristling guitars and charging punk rock beats to explore issues of alienation and loss informed by vocalist and co-songwriter Greg Graffin’s recent life experiences. The new album arrives January 22, 2013 via  Epitaph Records
 
Listen to the new Bad Religion single “True North” by going to:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKflTc_RT6U
 
“The song is written from the perspective of a kid who is running away,” Graffin explains. “He says ‘I’m out of here, I’m off to find true north.’ It’s about recognizing that you don’t fit in and trying to find a truth and purpose. Those are all classic punk themes. We still remember exactly what it feels like to be a disaffected kid in this world. And I think we were able to convey that particularly well on this album.”

Fans can pre-order the album True North by going here:http://www.kingsroadmerch.com/bad-religion/region/

For more information:
www.epitaph.com
www.badreligion.com
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/true-north-single/id583717513
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/f**k-you-single/id572758248

KISS release first-ever iBook today

On December 18, KISS will release their first ever iBook for their critically acclaimed, recent studio album release, MONSTER.  The content of the iBook is comprised of a special edition digital book which includes an exclusive bonus video, “Shout It Out Loud (Live in Anaheim 1976),” interviews with all four members as well as a multitude of additional unpublished pictures and a preview for the blistering new music for DESTROYER: RESURRECTED and MONSTER.

Rock legends KISS returned with Monster, the 20th studio album in their historic career released October 9, 2012, through Universal Music Enterprises. The 12-track, straight-ahead rock ‘n’ roll album features collaborations among all four members—including co-founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and longtime members guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer—in an album that shows the band at the top of its game. And that’s saying something, considering their illustrious, 40-plus year history—28 U.S. gold albums, the most gold records for any American rock band, 40 million sales in the U.S., and a total exceeding 100 million worldwide.

iBook content includes:

• Interviews with all four band members as well as album co-producer Greg Collins
• Exclusive bonus video of “Shout It Out Loud (Live in Anaheim 1976)” from the KISS vault
• A plethora of photos exclusive to this iBook including backstage shots, live performances and snapshots from the recording studio
• Lyrics plus band commentary on all MONSTER tracks
• Article on the band’s support of our troops
• Features on the band’s merchandising, the Monster Mini Golf experience, the KISS Kruise and the 2012 newly remixed reissue of DESTROYER: RESURRECTED, plus KISS’s newest box-set collection, The Casablanca Singles: 1974-1982
• Loads of KISS facts throughout including an interactive map of the U.S. with historically important locations
• Audio samples of the 12 MONSTER tracks and the iTunes exclusive bonus track “Right Here Right Now” as well as DESTROYER: RESURRECTED