Indie label Standard sicced its roster on Christmas for 2006, plus a few folks who aren't on the label, and this compilation is the result. Liner notes say they were still mixing this in November 2006, which makes me think this might be the first full holiday season this has been available. BIGBIGcar gets things rolling with a falsetto reading of "All I Want For Christmas," the Mariah Carey one, followed by Everything, Now!'s medley of "Jesus Christ" with Sun Ra's "Nuclear War," for you space jazz freaks out there. Those of you who attended college during the recessions of the 1970s might get a nostalgic glow from Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band as it renders "Plasma For Christmas," as in "I'll be giving plasma for Christmas this year." Red Queen Hypothesis recalls a "Crockpot Barbecue" and Elephant Micah reprises "Jesus Christ," a more ethereal synth 'n strumming rendition here. Arrah and the Ferns go all pedantic with "Merry Christmas, Not Xmas," and Harley Poe brings the horror aspect to "It's Christmas Time Again," with this deathless couplet: "The big red man called Santa Claus/Will chop you up with knives and saws." And Dean Plays Hardball's "Little Retail Boy" starts out as "Drummer Boy" but pushes the point a little farther. This is a nice collection for those of you who like their alt-rock on the down-low, budget-wise.
A Very Standard Christmas, various artists (Standard Recording Company)
Indie label Standard sicced its roster on Christmas for 2006, plus a few folks who aren't on the label, and this compilation is the result. Liner notes say they were still mixing this in November 2006, which makes me think this might be the first full holiday season this has been available. BIGBIGcar gets things rolling with a falsetto reading of "All I Want For Christmas," the Mariah Carey one, followed by Everything, Now!'s medley of "Jesus Christ" with Sun Ra's "Nuclear War," for you space jazz freaks out there. Those of you who attended college during the recessions of the 1970s might get a nostalgic glow from Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band as it renders "Plasma For Christmas," as in "I'll be giving plasma for Christmas this year." Red Queen Hypothesis recalls a "Crockpot Barbecue" and Elephant Micah reprises "Jesus Christ," a more ethereal synth 'n strumming rendition here. Arrah and the Ferns go all pedantic with "Merry Christmas, Not Xmas," and Harley Poe brings the horror aspect to "It's Christmas Time Again," with this deathless couplet: "The big red man called Santa Claus/Will chop you up with knives and saws." And Dean Plays Hardball's "Little Retail Boy" starts out as "Drummer Boy" but pushes the point a little farther. This is a nice collection for those of you who like their alt-rock on the down-low, budget-wise.
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