The long-running Midwestern Americana label pulls together its roster artists for a 2017 collection of holiday tunes spanning the various threads of that musical label. Murder By Death kicks things off with a folky strum through "O Holy Night," Jon Langford puts an English accent on the genre with the gently witty "Christmas Carol, Christmas Ray," and Barrence Whitfield and the Savages do a grungy soul number called "Papa Barrence's Christmas," in which the singer gets to play Santa Claus. Ruby Boots dresses her country twang up with some Phil Spector readymades for "I Slept Through Christmas," the Dex Romweber Duo get ready for a holiday-based sequel to "Pulp Fiction" with their spaghetti western-surf instrumental "Dark Christmas," and Ha Ha Tonka do a unique, almost power-pop number called "The List," which is not for gifts. Kelly Hogan's "Blue Snowfall" is a jazz-pop ballad designed to put a little melancholy in the holiday, Ron Gallo does something similar with "White Christmas," All Our Exes Live In Texas cover Paul Kelly's "How To Make Gravy," and The Yawpers straddle country, folk and rock with "Christmas In Oblivion." Devil in a Woodpile goes all jug band as they skewer the Fox News "Merry Christmas" obsession with "The Pagans Had It Right," and Zach Schmidt provides the answer record to "Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas" with his country lament "I'm Drunk Again This Christmas," in which we hear Daddy's version and get a quick reference to climate change to boot. A fine showcase of mostly original holiday songs performed well.
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