Rough Shop - "Lit Up Like a Christmas Tree". I reviewed this one in depth earlier, and it held it's position as one of the best new albums of the year. A great addition to your Christmas music collection from the band from St. Louis.
Tom Dyer - "Xmas - 30 Years in the Making". I didn't get a chance to write about this collection in depth this year, but I will make amends early next season. But, Tom Dyer's collection of Christmas songs recorded here and there over 30 years is brilliant on the order of Substance W. "No Lou This Christmas" was recorded in 2013 as a tribute to Lou Reed, "Propane Santa" is one of the best true stories turned into song ever. Totally enjoyable.
Thisbe Vos - "A Jazzy Christmas". Thisbe Vos' Christmas record came to us through crowdfunding channels, a little late in the season, but what a record. Thisbe's album is one of the most beautiful and perfectly realized jazz Christmas records I've ever heard. From the amazing arrangements through Thisbe's great musicians to Thisbe's perfect vocals, this is one of the best. Thisbe's record, along with the next entry, were my choices for Christmas morning music while we unwrapped presents.
Elizabeth Chan - "Christmas in the City". Elizabeth Chan keeps getting better and better. Her vocal performance on "Christmas in the City" the album shows maturation and growth, and her songwriting just keeps getting closer and closer to the heart of the Christmas season. "Christmas in the City", the song, is the best holiday city-song I've ever heard. It's hard to write a good song about Christmas in any city without being trite and cliche, but Elizabeth has not only written a good song about Christmas in New York, she's written a great one. Good news - Elizabeth is already working on a 2015 project - I can't wait! "Christmas in the City" was also a part of our Christmas morning this year.
Kat Tingey - "Ring Out Wild Bells". Kat Tingey's Christmas album took precious time away from the rest of my Christmas music collection this year - I just kept listening and listening, and couldn't take it out of the player! This is an extraordinary album of originals and standards. Kat's vocal phrasing is absolutely to die for. (I've gotta get out and get Kat's other records). This is my pick for best new Christmas album of the year. And, to add another anecdote, I'm still a physical CD type of guy, and just can't embrace the download-only culture yet. So, I was trying to order a CD via Kat's website, and there were some technical issues. Kat and I chatted to resolve the issue, and I dropped a hint to her about loving signed CDs. You can see the result in the picture :-) Love this record.
Just a few other notes about records released or re-releases this year. I liked Idina Menzel's record a lot, but didn't love it. Idina is fantastic, but the arrangements seemed bland. I grew to like Pentatonix's album after my wife brought it home from Target. Pretty slick-sounding, but very nice for the season. The jazz comp "It's Christmas on Mack Avenue" was a fave, although I found it a bit uneven. The re-released classics from The Williams Brothers and Frank Devol were great additions to the collection.
Darius Rucker - had no interest, and maybe heard one song on Sirius. Seth MacFarlane - had absolutely no interest in this one, and heard "Baby It's Cold Outside" too many times (Sara Bareilles - please put out a Christmas album!). Actually, I heard "Baby It's Cold Outside" way too many times overall, not just Seth and Sara. It's in desperate need of some re-touching to make it a little more pleasant.
A final note - our friend Stubby was at the top of his game this year, and I would have probably not found Kat Tingey or Thisbe Vos without him. Many, many thanks to Stubby for all his work prior to and throughout the holiday season. As a blogger who has trouble getting a couple of posts out per week, I really appreciate all the effort Stubby puts in for our behalf. You rock (around the Christmas tree!) my friend.
Elizabeth Chan - "Christmas in the City". Elizabeth Chan keeps getting better and better. Her vocal performance on "Christmas in the City" the album shows maturation and growth, and her songwriting just keeps getting closer and closer to the heart of the Christmas season. "Christmas in the City", the song, is the best holiday city-song I've ever heard. It's hard to write a good song about Christmas in any city without being trite and cliche, but Elizabeth has not only written a good song about Christmas in New York, she's written a great one. Good news - Elizabeth is already working on a 2015 project - I can't wait! "Christmas in the City" was also a part of our Christmas morning this year.
Kat Tingey - "Ring Out Wild Bells". Kat Tingey's Christmas album took precious time away from the rest of my Christmas music collection this year - I just kept listening and listening, and couldn't take it out of the player! This is an extraordinary album of originals and standards. Kat's vocal phrasing is absolutely to die for. (I've gotta get out and get Kat's other records). This is my pick for best new Christmas album of the year. And, to add another anecdote, I'm still a physical CD type of guy, and just can't embrace the download-only culture yet. So, I was trying to order a CD via Kat's website, and there were some technical issues. Kat and I chatted to resolve the issue, and I dropped a hint to her about loving signed CDs. You can see the result in the picture :-) Love this record.
Just a few other notes about records released or re-releases this year. I liked Idina Menzel's record a lot, but didn't love it. Idina is fantastic, but the arrangements seemed bland. I grew to like Pentatonix's album after my wife brought it home from Target. Pretty slick-sounding, but very nice for the season. The jazz comp "It's Christmas on Mack Avenue" was a fave, although I found it a bit uneven. The re-released classics from The Williams Brothers and Frank Devol were great additions to the collection.
Darius Rucker - had no interest, and maybe heard one song on Sirius. Seth MacFarlane - had absolutely no interest in this one, and heard "Baby It's Cold Outside" too many times (Sara Bareilles - please put out a Christmas album!). Actually, I heard "Baby It's Cold Outside" way too many times overall, not just Seth and Sara. It's in desperate need of some re-touching to make it a little more pleasant.
A final note - our friend Stubby was at the top of his game this year, and I would have probably not found Kat Tingey or Thisbe Vos without him. Many, many thanks to Stubby for all his work prior to and throughout the holiday season. As a blogger who has trouble getting a couple of posts out per week, I really appreciate all the effort Stubby puts in for our behalf. You rock (around the Christmas tree!) my friend.
The Pentatonix CD grew on my too. Might have to check Kat Tingey
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