This New Zealand band is led by Elizabeth Stokes, a singer-songwriter with an indie-rock sound, and for 2018 the band is offering this cover of the popular Christmas classic on a 7-inch and also via download. I started out thinking, eh, indie-rock cover, OK, but this version slowly grows on you, building its intensity as a string arrangement slowly makes itself apparent, and just as you think it's over there's a nicely jagged guitar solo and a repeat of the third verse. And for maximum Insufferable Music Snob points, the first time through the third verse it's "raise a shining star above the highest bough," and the second time it's "until then we'll have to muddle through somehow." The single is backed with "Happy Unhappy," a non-holiday number off their most recent album. Proceeds from the single support Girls Rock Camp Foundation, which brings rock music instruction to young girls. You want this.
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