Found Wandering: Christmas Music Perfection

My biggest “oops” of the 2015 season was my failure to cover the excellent album “On a Christmas Night” by Found Wandering. This was a major oversight on my part, as Found Wandering had submitted a digital version of their album to me, and it got lost in the shuffle along the way, only to be discovered way too late in the season to do a meaningful review. So, to make things right, I want to devote this blog post to Found Wandering, their beyond-excellent 2015 release “On a Christmas Night”, and also their previous Christmas album “Christmas in Country Village”. I hope that this post, even though it is a season overdue,  renews attention to these records and exposes a new audience to the music of Found Wandering.

Found Wandering is a trio – Sarah Comstock (vocals, mandolin), Colin Comstock (guitar, banjo, ukulele), and Jake L’Armand (violin, guitar, mandolin) hailing from Pennsylvania. There are many words than can be used to describe their sound – roots, Americana, folk, blues, a little soul in there. Lively, harmonious, moving, serene, spiritual, uplifting – all of these also apply to their music.

 
What an experience it is for a Christmas music lover to queue up “On a Christmas Night” and hear the first few bars of “Angels We Have Heard On High”. If you didn’t know better you’d swear that Sarah Comstock is one of those angels you are hearing. Sarah’s voice is heavenly. It’s a perfect fit for the arrangements, instrumentation, and style. It’s strong yet subtle, confident yet without a hint of diva.

The album progresses through “I Saw Three Ships”, “Sweet Little Baby Boy”, and a rousing version of “Christ was Born on Christmas Morn”. Then we get to “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”, one of the finest recordings I’ve heard of this centuries-old song, with Sarah’s vocals complementing wonderfully controlled instrumental tension and release. “Sing We Noel” follows, one of my personal favorites on the album, with its moderated and varied tempos, and a subdued lyrical melody.

“On a Christmas Night” contains 11 songs, each and every one a joy to hear. What could be better than a front to back excellent album? Well, how about one of the best album covers I’ve ever seen? I absolutely love the cover art. The simple, serene, Christmas countryside at night. It’s beautiful, and it perfectly fits the music of Found Wandering.

So, I loved this album. Loved it so much that I had to go and buy Found Wandering’s previous Christmas release, 2011’s “Christmas in Country Village”. Fourteen songs grace this album, leaning towards the traditional and the spiritual after kicking off with an up-tempo, energetic “Go Tell It On the Mountain”, complete with barnyard backing “musicians” to kick off the song.

A wonderfully understated and serene “O Holy Night” follows. It’s traditional, yet their own. Jake’s violin adds a layer of beauty that one rarely hears in other recordings. This is the ultimate Midnight Mass version, quietly concluding the service and sending you home silently in the gentle snow of the early morn.

The album continues with “What Child Is This”, “The Wexford Carol”, “Carol of the Bells”, a believe-it-or-not uptempo, sprightly version of “In the Bleak Midwinter”, and others, ending with “Amen”, a 39 second conclusion to an amazing record.

Sarah, Colin, and Jake are outstanding musicians. All three show their instrumental talent throughout their albums, complementing and highlighting each other, and blending together as a seasoned band. These two albums are among the best Christmas records that I have, conveying the true feeling and spirit of Christmas through the listening experience. And, they seem to get better every time I play them, as I hear new nuances in their performances. They are among the best Christmas music albums, not only of their release years of 2011 and 2015, but of any year. There are many wonderful Christmas albums by thousands of artists out there in the world of Christmas music. Found Wandering's contributions to the genre are as close to perfect Christmas music as you'll ever find.

"On a Christmas Night" Amazon link

"Christmas in Country Village" Amazon link

Found Wandering website

Found Wandering on Facebook

Found Wandering on Soundcloud

Found Wandering on Bandcamp

Catching Up with 2015 Part 2

Today I have two more mini-reviews of 2015 releases, as I'm still working to catch up on on some quite fine music submissions from last year.  Only one more to go, then I'll be caught up...

Fable Cry “Kidnap the Sandy Claws”

Fable Cry, a Nashville-based band, released their cut of “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” (originally from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”) in 2015.  It’s a fun romp of a song, well done, energetic, retaining the spirit of the original Danny Elfman tune.  For some, it will be a perfect addition to an annual Christmas comp where the playlist veers toward the unusual and unique.  

Fable Cry’s Soundcloud page has several more tracks for you to sample, including an album titled “We’ll Show You Where the Monsters Are”, running a little more (Ok, a lot more) toward a Halloween sound than Christmas.  It’s very engaging and quite creatively arranged and performed.  Check them out!

Fable Cry "Kidnap the Sandy Claws" on SoundCloud

Fable Cry on Facebook

“A Colorful Christmas”, a compilation album from Fetal Records

Friend of Merry and Bright Stubby gave us a thorough review of “A Colorful Christmas” last year, and there’s not much I can add to his excellent article.  So, I’ll just wholeheartedly agree with my blogging buddy, and hope that this post renews the energy and exposure for this excellent collection of songs.  Fetal Records has put together an album that encompasses many genres and styles of Christmas music, from many notable and excellent musicians.  If you’re in the mood for a varied playlist, you can’t go wrong with “A Colorful Christmas”.

The opening track, “Reindeer Romp & Roll” by Jet Watling is an oddly engaging song.  It’s unlike anything else I have in my collection, and it sticks with you long after its coda.  “Peppermint Milkshake” by Run Little Elephant has some 60’s vibe vocals, nasty bari sax, and some beach-noir space-age feel to it (you’ll just have to listen to figure that out).   “Christmas Memories” by Matilda Jane Kraemer, has a very traditional sound and lyrical quality, but I can’t help but detect a bit of mischief amongst the reverence.

“A Colorful Christmas” is a really great collection from the good folks at Fetal Records – lots of musical variety and artistry, excellent songwriting and performances.  Der Bingle urges you to go visit Fetal Records website and have a test-listen.

"A Colorful Christmas" at Fetal Records

Fetal Records Website

Fetal Records provided a digital copy of "A Colorful Christmas" for review consideration.

Welcome to The Season!

Welcome back to Merry and Bright! for another season of Christmas Music!  I've been posting a few pre-season thoughts and mini-reviews, getting back in shape for the next couple of months of holiday blogging.  And, now here we are - November 1, Halloween is over, Thanksgiving coming soon, and Christmas coming down the lane!

For my first official Christmas season post of 2016, I have to return to last year and cover some music submissions that came to me, but that I didn't get to review.  I try my best to give every submission its due, even if it may be a season tardy.  So, here goes, with a couple mini-reviews of 2015 Christmas releases.

Lily Lambert "Merry Christmas, With Love"

Lily Lambert is an Irish-Welsh singer, residing in England.  Last year Lily released "Merry Christmas, With Love", a 6-song EP with her interpretations of Christmas standards.  Lily's music is seasonally soothing, with accompaniment by piano, acoustic guitar, strings, and assorted percussion.  Lily's vocals blend well with the serene arrangements, resulting in a very pleasurable listening experience.  Unique arrangements of "Carol of the Bells" and "Feliz Navidad" highlight the EP, as well as my personal favorite, Lily's version of "When a Child is Born".  The slower tempo of "Feliz Navidad" is a striking contrast to Jose Feliciano's seminal version, and delivers a new message to the listener from the lyrics of the Christmas classic.

Lily Lambert website
"Merry Christmas, With Love" on Amazon


Carly Jamison "Christmas May Have To Be Postponed"

In striking contrast to Ms. Lambert is Carly Jamison, who released the rockin' and rollin' single in 2015 "Christmas May Have To Be Postponed".   Clicking "play" on this upbeat Christmas tale, you're immediately struck with Hammond organ (sounds like a Hammond to my amateur ears, anyway), driving drum beats, and guitar work that would make Joe Bonamassa proud.  After a few measures of old fashioned rock and roll to set the tone, in comes Carly Jamison's sultry, sexy vocals singing the story of ol' Santa Claus, ready for his annual journey, but his reindeer can't be found!

I really love this single, and will be checking out more of Carly's musical catalog.  Sometimes after a few helpings of "Silent Night" and "Mary Did You Know?" one needs to crank it up a notch.  If you find yourself in that situation, Carly Jamison is here to help.  Give a listen to "Christmas May Have To Be Postponed" and I think you'll be making room on your annual Christmas comp for just one more song...   :-)

Carly Jamison "Christmas May Have To Be Postponed" song info
Amazon link
Carly Jamison website
Carly Jamison on Instagram

Stay tuned, jolly readers, for a couple more posts covering some fine music submissions from 2015.  Then we'll be off and running into 2016 proper!

Pre-Season Mini Reviews Round 2

The pre-season listening of off-season purchases continues...

Christmas at Rao's  A Celebration of Family, Friends & Holiday Spirit

Now, this here is an interesting collection of Christmas music.  Rao's is an Italian restaurant on E. 114th St in New York, putting it in, if my NYC geography is correct, Harlem,  On a website there was a reference to "Italian Harlem" as the identity of the neighborhood.  Rao's has a couple other locations, and a retail Italian food business.  And, they apparently like Christmas music.

"Christmas at Rao's" is a really great collection of Christmas songs including Frank Pellegrino, Louis Prima, Dion, Tony Bennett, and Jerry Vale.  It's easy to conjure up an image of a grand ol' Christmas Eve celebration at the restaurant, wine flowing, pasta and meatballs bursting from the kitchen, and the many guest musicians taking their turn on stage as the soiree creeps through evening, night, and into the early morning.  What a cast!  

I don't know the backstory of this album, but it's curious to me that it almost seems like a private pressing, but commercially available on a Columbia label.  Regardless, one of the best and most surprising off-season pickups.  $1 (maybe $2) investment, at least $6 ROI.

Rejoyce: Songs of the Season 2001 (Kohl's Cares for Kids annual CD)

Every year Kohl's department releases a holiday CD as an in-store charity fundraiser, and they have a great track record of quality music.  There has been a tendency toward the oft-released songs of the classic genre, but that makes sense.  A charity CD should have wide appeal, and Kohl's CDs always do.

This 2002 edition, though, is one of the finest.  It has a superb track list, with some of the usual standards, but also cuts from Ferrante & Teicher, Lena Horne and The Mills Brothers.  Awesome pickup for a buck at the Goodwill Store!  I'll give this one an $8 return on the $1 outlay,

Santa Claus Lane - Hilary Duff

Well, if you know who Hilary Duff is from personal televisual experience, then all I have to say is that "Santa Claus Lane" is exactly what you would expect.  For the lucky and uninformed, Hilary Duff is a former Disney Channel tween star, of the program "Lizzie McGuire".  Now, "Lizzie McGuire" wasn't a bad program (especially compared to what came along later on the Disney Channel), and Hilary Duff was a more-than-capable young actress, quite suitable for a program aimed at 8-12 year old girls.  She had a good run on a decent show. and was an engaging and positive young performer.  "Santa Claus Lane", released in 2003, is squarely targeted at the same audience.  I won't begrudge them that marketing tactic - power to them.  That's why I say that this album is exactly what you would expect.  Mostly upbeat, poppy, dancey Christmas songs, some standards, some originals.  I'm sure it was a hit with the tween crowd.  I'll keep my criticisms to a minimum - Hilary has a thin voice, her singing enunciation is weak, and the song arrangements are cranked out and uninspired.  On the plus side Hilary does not appear to be auto-tuned, so I'll give her credit for that, and the musicians backing her are quite capable.  For being a Disney Channel star that I'm sure had making a Christmas album strongly suggested to her, Hilary Duff does a decent job.  But is it good Christmas music?  For me, no.  But, it's exactly what I expected.  $1 investment, heck I'll give it 75 cents ROI.

Pre-Season Mini Reviews

Dang, it was hot in Kansas City yesterday.  89 degrees on October 17th!  Nuts!  What better way to beat the heat than some pre-season mini reviews?

In the off-season I picked up quite a few used CDs at various thrift and used record stores, way more than usual, and my discriminating tastes were set by the wayside in hopes of finding a $2 gem,  Some have turned out to be pretty good, some not so much.  I want to offer up some mini-reviews of releases from years past.

Now, I usually don't write too much that's negative.  If there's something I don't like, I either don't review it, or try to find an appreciation vector and focus on that.  Some of tonight's reviews are a little less cheery than usual, dear reader.  You've been warned.

Tony Orlando & Dawn "A Christmas Reunion" (2005)

Those of us who are of a certain age, and who recall the glory of Tony Orlando & Dawn from the 1970's, probably have a pre-set expectation of a TO&D Christmas album, and you'd be pretty much right.  The sound and groove are generally the expected.  What was unexpected for me, was how much I liked this record.  The musical arrangements are fairly standard, but I really dug the vocal arrangements on several of the songs.  Mr. Orlando, Telma Hopkins, and Joyce Vincent do a really nice job with standards and a few originals.  Ms's. Hopkins and Vincent (collectively Dawn) do a stand-out job, either backing Tony or as soloists.  There is a really nice interplay happening here and there - quite pleasant.  "Mary, Did You Know" is very well done and "Savior's Day" was a completely wonderful surprise.  "I Lose It When I Hear White Christmas" has nice sentiment, but relies too much on Christmas references and catch phrases.  The low point - a bad arrangement of Emmylou Harris' uber-classic"Light of the Stable".  Erg.  Overall, though, at least a $6 return on a $2 investment.  Thumbs up.

Andy Griffith "The Christmas Guest: Stories and Songs of Christmas" (2003)

I love Andy Griffith as an entertainer.  Wholesome, down-home, friendly.  I have the utmost respect for him and his career accomplishments.  This collection of songs and stories, though, didn't hit my wheelhouse.  The stories are the bright spot, including the title track "The Christmas Guest".  I love the idea of "The Christmas Guest" story and like the actual writing, but I wish it would be mildly upgraded to improve a few dated phrases and some clumsy rhyming.  Andy Griffith is a perfect orator of this story, and his other spoken tracks are enjoyable.  His songs, though, sound like the old man sitting behind you in church singing too loudly.  Andy was past his singing prime when this record was made, and it's a tough go.  $3.99 investment, probably a $2.99 return.  My mom will like it, though.

Mojo Nixon "Horny Holidays" (1992)

Mojo Nixon's "Elvis is Everywhere" is freakin' awesome.  The song, the video, everything in all its Elvisness glory.  Alas, "Elvis is Everywhere" is not on this CD.  If listening to your drunk a-hole brother-in-law sing Christmas carols is your idea of a good time, this is the CD for you.  (BTW, I have neither drunk nor a-hole brothers-in-law, just to set the record straight)  Otherwise, it's painful, and not funny.  There were a couple moments on the original songs where there seemed to be novelty/comic potential, but no.  They faded fast.  Novelty Christmas songs are very hit or miss for me - I like a few, dislike many, and want them all to retain the spirit of Christmas even in their novelty.  Not so here.  This is crude and abrasive, and I'll never listen to it again.  $0 return on however much I paid, even $1 was too much.

Destiny's Child "8 Days of Christmas" (2001)

I found this at a Hastings store in Manhattan, KS, and decided to spend the few bucks to check it out.  Beyonce, you know.  She's pretty darned good.  Destiny's Child was a hot group, though I never listened to them because they just weren't my thing.  I had low expectations because their style is not compatible with my taste, but high hopes because you never know where you'll find a nice little treat of a song.

Most of the album was pretty much that - just not to my taste at all, but I tried to appreciate the arrangements, new lyrics to old standards, and general production of the album.  I wasn't really liking it, but I was tolerating it, and giving it the "gotta play it all the way through once" respectful treatment.

Then came "O Holy Night".  Sorry DC fans, but this was the most ear-splitting version of the song I've ever heard.  Michelle Williams, to my ear, can't hit the notes in this performance.  She is flat 80% of the time, sharp 10%, and nasally.  I couldn't make it all the way through the song.  And, apart from the intonation, the runs and vocal gymnastics just messed up the most classic of all Christmas songs.  Two songs later, "This Christmas" came on, and out came the CD from the player.  About $4 investment, I'll take a big ol' loss on this one.  Maybe I'll give it away to someone who actually likes DC to begin with.  Or, perhaps an Evil Secret Santa gift Bwa ha ha ha ha.

That's it for tonight.  Hope no one was offended by some not-so positive reviews.

Anyone want a barely played Mojo Nixon?

200 Days of Christmas

Here in the 'pre-season' we're doing some miscellaneous posts, stretching the blogging muscles, preparing for the last 61 days of the year.  So you'll be seeing some posts about various topics here in the next couple of weeks.

Today is notice of one of the best things ever to hit Facebook:  200 Days of Christmas.

If you're a regular reader of this blog, and you're not following 200 Days of Christmas on Facebook, you need to.   Matt, who writes the daily entries on 200 Days of Christmas, is a veritable treasure trove of Christmas music knowledge.  He picks a Christmas song daily, shares a link to Youtube or other source for the music, and gives the song a quick write-up.  We have the song info, artist history, facts about the genre, other music by the artist, and a whole bunch more.  It's like a Daily Devotional of Christmas music.  I've learned so much about so many great songs - thanks Matt!

I could be greedy and ask for it to be upgraded to 365 Days of Christmas next year, but man, even Santa needs a break.  I'll be happy for 200 Days every year!

Here's that link again: 200 Days of Christmas  Head over to Facebook, "Like" the page, and enjoy!

Christmas with the US Department of Agriculture Radio Service

A few months ago on one of my lunchtime browsings around the Internet Archive, I came across a collection of documents from the US Department of Agriculture Radio Service.  Each document was the transcript of a 'Housekeeper's Chat" or a "Homemaker's Chat" that was read on the USDA Radio Service.  I found many transcripts related to Christmas, the oldest from 1927, and the most recent from 1945.

There are many topics covered in the transcripts, such as selection and care of Christmas greenery and trees, budgeting, games and activities, the creation of a Christmas dinner, and many recipes.  There are also several transcripts about Christmastime overseas, meals for our military, and other topics related to our involvement in World War II.  December 15, 1941 is about shipping food packages to "the boys at camp".  December 16, 1942: "Christmas Trees and Greens in Wartime".  December 25, 1942: "Christmas Dinner Abroad".

I found these to be fascinating glimpses into Christmas in the first half of the 20th century.  And, if you think about it for a moment, 1927 is not far from being one hundred years ago.  We think of the Christmases of Charles Dickens as 'a hundred years ago', but time is flying my friends.  Some of us right now may have 100 year old recordings in our collection.

I worked through the individual PDF files of the USDA transcripts and removed the blank pages.  I then created a master file of all the individual files merged together into one.  Then I printed the merged file, 10 sheets/20 pages at a time over several days at an undisclosed location. then took them to Kinkos and have them spiral bound for my reading pleasure.  (Printing at Kinkos would have been in excess of $300; spiral binding was $4.95).  The final product is 254 pages of Christmas vintagery.

I wanted to share these with you in case you also love items from Christmases long past.  There are two links below, one for a zip file of the individual files, and one for a zip file of the merged documents.  I hope you enjoy them.

Oh yeah - they include a few different fruitcake recipes (like the one pictured above, from 1929)  :-)  I'll be trying out a new variety or two this season.

Individual files:  download link

Merged file: download link