Another new artist pops up with a double-sided Christmas single. These folks, as you might guess, are a modern ska band, though not of the amped-up methedrine tempo school of music. The A-side, "Behind Every Santa, There's a Mrs. Claus" is a fine leisurely ode to the jolly elf's better half, and "Slay Belles" is a reggae toasting number with a feminist overlay. Cool stuff to download, stream, and add to your playlists.
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Another act I haven't encountered before is this seven-piece Southern California band that has been around since 1992, jamming together Latin alternative, ska, rock and reggae. In 2020 they dropped the EP in the title, and in 2023 they dropped another titled East Bakersfield Christmas II, and between them we get a boisterous Christmas party experience. The first EP gives us knock-down versions of "Donde Esta Santa Claus" in English and Spanish, "Jingle Bell Rock," "What Child Is This," "Feliz Navidad," and a slow reggae take on "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)." Version two gives us a cool original, "Christmas Time In Bakersfield," a ska take on "Run Rudolph Run," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Mi Burrito Sabanero," and "Winter Wonderland" backstopped with "Llego La Navidad," the same song in Spanish. Grab both and playlist them as an album.
Reggaeton and hip-hop seems to have elbowed old-school reggae out of the spotlight, but for 2023 original era reggae artist Eek-A-Mouse has dropped this song, which is a lovely bit of toasting over a classic reggae track. A little something to break up the conformity in your playlists. Eek-A-Mouse previously toasted "The Night Before Christmas" and "Christmas A-Come" way back in the day.
This popular reggae toaster has some history in the holiday genre, having produced Christmas tunes for others and doing a single of "Silent Night" with Sting. For 2021 he drops a full album of mostly originals and a few covers, including the above-mentioned "Silent Night." As with most modern R'nB through reggae productions, there's plenty of co-billings throughout, with Sanchez on "No Icy Christmas," Omi & Shenseea on "We Got Us," Conkarah & Richie Stephens on "Take You to the Cool," Rayvon on the title tune, Ding-Dong & Ne-Yo on "Holiday in Jamaica," Joss Stone on "Sunny Celebration," and more. The originals are pretty much what you'd expect; solid upbeat Caribbean rhythms and as much talking as singing. As for the covers, along with the Sting duet we have "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "I'll Be Home For Christmas," and "We Three Kings," all nicely done reggae covers of these popular tunes. "12 Days of Christmas," however, is not the popular classic but another toasting extravaganza. This is a very listenable collection of tunes, more so if you're one of those who likes their holidays with lots of sunshine.
These guys are a veteran ska band from Bakersfield, CA (who'da thunk, right?) who have shared the stage with everyone from Ozomatli to the Specials, from the English Beat to Buck Owens. For 2020 they've dropped an EP with their takes on five classic carols, including both English and Spanish versions of "Donde Esta Santa Claus?" The ska treatment is also extended to "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Feliz Navidad," and they go more reggae-ballad style on an instrumental of "What Child Is This" and "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)." This is solid stuff and you should grab it or add it to your streaming playlists. Here's the link to get it for free. Offer only extends through December 31, so act now.
