A Christmas Alternative 2010.

A Christmas Alternative 2010 – Featuring  the Boy Less Likely To,  A Damaged Christmas Gift For You Featuring TV Smith, Erica Nockalls, Planting Seeds Records, Lola Dutronic,  The Puppini Sisters and The Joyzine Advent Calender with Viv Albertine.

At the VPME we do enjoy Christmas and are rather partial to a Christmas tune or two.  And so each year we try to highlight a selection of  the best alternative Christmas songs/albums available. ‘Cos we’re nice like that.

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The Boy Least Likely To- Christmas Special.

First up is The Boy Least Likely To who release a Christmas special, which contains the fabulous “George And Andrew”. Here’s the rather bloody excellent video.

[youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5CJpVUYOY8]

And here’s another fine festive tune

“ Happy Christmas Baby “By The Boy Least Likely To.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/7144347″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=cf0b1b” width=”100%” height=”81″ ]

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“A Damaged Christmas Gift For You”

TV Smith- ‘Xmas Bloody Xmas’

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/8000417″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=cf0b1b” width=”100%” height=”81″ ]

Not strictly from 2010’s Christmas releases Damaged Goods Records Xmas special features Christmas viewed through ex – Advert, T.V. Smith’s eyes, as well as a host of other seasonal covers and original songs from the likes of Goldblade ft. Poly Styrene, Holy Golightly and Wild Billy Childish to name but a few .  You can get the album here .

Track list

1. Holly Golightly – Christmas Tree On Fire
2. Cute Lepers – The Cute Lepers Christmas Song
3. Wild Billy Childish And The Musicians Of The British Empire – Christmas 1979
4. Singing Loins – Ding Dong Merrily On High
5. Helen Love – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight)
6. Thee Headcoatees – Santa Claus
7. Goldblade Featuring Poly Styrene – City Of Christmas Ghosts
8. Holly Golightly And The Greenhornes – Little Stars
9. Severe – Stop The Cavalry
10. Cuckooland – Silver Bells
11. Tv Smith – Xmas Bloody Xmas
12. Wat Tyler – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
13. Monkhouse – Guinness And Wine
14. Buff Medways – Merry Christmas Fritz

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Ericka Nockalls- Christmas Song.

[youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N4YPD28kgU]

Some time violinist with The Wonderstuff and Miles Hunt, Erica gives us her off the wall take on the festive Christmas Song. The video features a slightly disturbing cameo by a rather familiar looking Santa who appears to have acquired the voice of Brian Blessed.

Download

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/christmas-song/id399419992

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“Merry Christmas From Planting Seeds Records!”

“Next Christmas” by Mark Crozer.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/8058580″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=cf0b1b” width=”100%” height=”81″ ]

Planting Seeds records have a free Christmas Ep for you to download Here.

Tracks

01: THE LOVETONES “Wintertime In Hollywood”
Originally from the LP “Axiom” courtesy of Tee Pee Records.  The Lovetones featuring members of The Brian Jonestown Massacre…….their latest LP is titled “Lost” out now on limited edition 12″ vinyl (Planting Seeds Records)

02: MARK CROZER “Next Christmas”
New 2010 holiday track from Oxford, UK singer/songwriter/guitarist of The Jesus & Mary Chain and International Jetsetters (also featuring members of RIDE)…..2011 see’s Crozer releasing a new solo single “There Is No Love” (PSR071) due out in late January.

03: THE YOUNG SINCLAIRS “It’s Christmas Time All Over Again”
Orginally from the Kindercore Records Christmas comp series – a fine take on Tom Petty’s holiday classic!  Roanoke, VA wrapped up 2010 with highly successful tour dates with The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Dungen, and a slew of others.  The band is currently working on their follow up to their EP “We Spoke Our Minds” and LP “Chimeys”….early 2011 see’s the release of a new B-sides/outtakes/archive collection “The Young Sinclairs Present” in February via PSR.

04: THE BEDROOM SET W/ANGELIQUE EVERETT “Mele kalikimaka”
Originally appeared on 2001′s “Christmas Underground” (Bumblebear Records/PSR). The Bedroom Set were a Short lived Norfolk, VA duo who also shared label mates with indie noisemakers SKYWAVE (Oliver is now in the very cool A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS) on the band’s Cherry Coated Records imprint – the track also featured former Astropop 3 vocalist Angelique Everett.

05: LINDA DRAPER “Merry Christmas”
Produced by Kramer (Galaxie 500, Low, Lou Reed, etc) ; Originally released on the LP “Patchwork” and 2002′s out-of-print comp “Christmas With Planting Seeds”.  Linda Draper has confirmed more live dates for 2011 including a West Coast swing….more new songs in the works! Pick up her last two releases “Bridge And Tunnel” and “No Frills” at your fave music outlet!

06: PINKIE “Pretend Like It’s Christmas Day”
Orginally appears on 2001′s “Christmas Underground” – PINKIE is multi instrumentalist Alex Sharkey who is formerly of Sarah Records legendary band BRIGHTER as well as current project ANGEL DYNAMITE who will be releasing a fantastic new EP in 2011!

07: PAULA KELLEY “Christmas time Is Here”
A cool take on the Vince Guaraldi Classic – released via Paula Kelley’s Christmas single; Paula has also appeared on several PSR compilations – her reading of “Blue Christmas” appeared on “Christmas Underground”……Paula was also in the US indie shoegaze band THE DROP NINETEENS in the 90′s

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Lola Dutronic-‘Christmas Without Snow.’

[youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCRVa7R0wcQ]

Lola Dutronic’s remixed Christmas classic can be downloaded below.

http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/another-christmas-without/id397965160

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Christmas with The Puppini Sisters.

Get it Here.

Swingin’ and rockin’, sexy and eccentric, holiday music finally puts on the red lipstick, slips into a silky cleavage-celebrating ball gown, and goes gorgeous and glamorous with Christmas With the Puppini Sisters.

Tracklist:
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1. Step Into Christmas
2. Santa Baby
3. Here Comes Santa Claus
4. Last Christmas
5. Let It Snow
6. White Christmas
7. All I Want For Christmas
8. Mele Kalikimaka
9. Winter Wonderland )
10. O Holy Night
11. I’ll Hang My Heart On A Christmas Tree.

‘Winter Wonderland’ By the Puppini Sisters

Joyzine Advent Calendar.

Free festive downloads this holiday season at http://www.joyzine.org/ including

Viv Albertine – ‘Home Sweet Home (At Christmas.)’

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/8059549″ params=”show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=cf0b1b” width=”100%” height=”81″ ]

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Finally The Priests and Shane MacGowan revive the unlikely Crosby/ Bowie style duet thing on “The Little Drummer Boy.” Lip readers may note Shane, instead of singing “pa-rum-pum-pum-pum”, is actually mumbling “pass me a fecking double rum pum pum”. Arf !

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLSMGsvLMPo]

Related Articles

• 10 of the Greatest Christmas Song Duets of All Time (omg.yahoo.com)
• Merry Christmas To All (current.com)
• ‘Merry Ex-Mas’ Is a Fun Alternative to Classic Christmas Tunes (theboot.com)