Now Hear This
I believe I have mentioned before that I am a year round Christmas music enthusiast. These last few weeks have been my favorite time of the year for one reason: almost every week there is a new holiday CD being released. Some of the best of this year's crop include those by Raul Malo, Jars Of Clay, Reliant K, and especially Over The Rhine.
The real tragedy for the audience is that most radio stations don't play very much Christmas music and those that do largely stick to the same safe titles and artists every year. You can get 24 hours a day in some cities of all the Christmas songs you know (and many of them deserve the plays - they are classics for a reason) but it is very difficult to hear anything beyond the regular playlist.
My small effort to give something back to the genre that has meant so much to me is to start a second blog, devoted only to one thing: sharing Christmas music to like-minded fans.
I plan to put as little work as possible into it by just posting an mp3 every morning with the title, artist, year and a brief note on the song. Sure, you'll hear Gene Autry (pictured) some days but I hope you'll also hear some songs and artists you don't know. And there is no reason a great song in December won't still be a great song in July.
I started posting mp3s on Thanksgiving but wanted to give it a few days to get the bugs out before announcing it here. My new site is ChristmasMusicEveryday.com.
Please enjoy.
Yeah! Three of my favorite things...Bean, Bean's blog, and Christmas music! What a great combo!
Posted by: Emily Alexis | November 27, 2007 at 05:16 AM
I was just thinking to myself, "You know what Bean needs? Another blog." And low and behold, here it is. It's like you read my mind. Don't forget to include Esquivel.
Posted by: Smivey | November 27, 2007 at 07:15 AM
Yay!!
Posted by: Jeff Smick | November 27, 2007 at 07:48 AM
I'm sorry did you just drop Jars of Clay on us? Really?
Posted by: Vic Rattler | November 27, 2007 at 08:01 AM
Ho Ho Ho, Bean!
Posted by: crissk | November 27, 2007 at 08:01 AM
you had better have some dick cheese on your x-mas music list....i am just saying...
and make this a barry lite x-mas.
Posted by: bigdaddy | November 27, 2007 at 08:21 AM
Damn Bizzle, you're just as bad as my sister. I have to listen to Kenny G's christmas cd because of her. Please don't tell me you like that one?!
Posted by: Robert | November 27, 2007 at 08:46 AM
I am a huge Christmas music enthusiast. Thanks for the tips on your favorite new Christmas albums. I really love Over the Rhine so I am excited about checking out their new effort. Keep up the great work!
Posted by: Eddie | November 27, 2007 at 08:56 AM
You know Bean...I don't know if I really needed that site, but at least it's interesting. I enjoyed the swing one. :) BTW--if you're going to put f'ing Chris Issak up there...so Josh Groban some love. Really. "Noel" is a fantastic Christmas album. His version of "O Holy Night" (found on his "Josh Groban: In Concert" CD), is PHENOMENAL. I'd also suggest "Little Drumemr Boy" on the CD, even though there are stupid bagpipes in it.
Seriously...the album is great. I recommend it so much, I'd even send you the CD so you wouldn't even have to pay for it.
Tiffiny
Posted by: Tiffiny Whitney | November 27, 2007 at 09:23 AM
Yay! Bean's blog is back! Clyde Tombaugh is still alive! Okay so I feel like I'm the last one to know and I have some catching up to do reading-wise. Thanks for the Christmas songs! Rochelle
Posted by: shredbettie | November 27, 2007 at 09:53 AM
Yeah, so I hate me the Christmas music. I think I started hating it when I saw that corporations were airing commercials that incorporated their own words into the traditional songs. I refuse to listen to Christmas music - and if it makes me part of the minority, I can live with that.
Posted by: Kings Fan | November 27, 2007 at 01:02 PM
OMG - I love you Bean!! People call me crazy for my Christmas music playlist on my iPod. I am so excited for your new blog and for the Christmas music... Do put up the Josh Grobin "o holy night" it is amazing, and maybe some Ella Fitzgerald (i'm just sayin'....)
thanks for making my day!!!
Posted by: Cathy G. | November 27, 2007 at 01:22 PM
The Chirstmas blog is fun! I'm sure I'll enjoy it year round! :)
Posted by: Michelle | November 27, 2007 at 01:27 PM
I know it's an old one ... but you still gotta love the Waitresses' Christmas Wrapping! I first heard it on the alternative station in college (GO WVU!) and I've loved it ever since! The holidays can't start without the traditional ceremonial playing of it for the whole family! "Sing it if ya know it!!" :)
Thanks for the Christmas love, Bean!
Kate
Posted by: Kate | November 27, 2007 at 04:02 PM
I love Christmas music! I used to drive my mom nuts with wanting to play Christmas records prior to Thanksgiving. I heard a great Christmas song today--Glow Worm/It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Rockapella. Now I'm on the hunt for that cd.
Posted by: Lefsegirl | November 27, 2007 at 06:08 PM
Thanks for the reminder Bean. Just put the Christmas music back on my iPod while adding the latest Podcast from my favorite radio station (I'm just saying). Was going to wait until December 1st but you have put me in the Christmas music mood a few days earlier. I enjoy having Christmas music peppered in with my other music.
Posted by: Lynne_T | November 27, 2007 at 07:45 PM
Bean, has anybody ever told you that you're kind of a weird guy?
Posted by: Frances | November 27, 2007 at 08:17 PM
Bean...
you scored some additional bonus points by calling out Raul Malo!!! One of my favs. His solo stuff and work with the Mavericks is some of the best music ever made.
Kudos to you for giving him some props!
e.
Posted by: Eric Cwiertny | November 27, 2007 at 10:52 PM
The greatest Christmas song ever is Chris Cornell's version of Ave Maria from one of the Very Special Christmas CDs (I can't remember which number). It is epic.
Harry Connick, Jr., has a terrific Christmas CD, too. It's probably 10-15 years old, but I can listen to it any time of year.
Posted by: LA | November 28, 2007 at 08:02 AM