What's New In 2003?
the best and brightest new Christmas releases
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This has been an active year for hip new holiday records - especially in the realm of reissues. These are my Top 10 - five by individual artists and five by various artists. In addition, look for hot tracks by The Darkness (an imported CD single), Jet (MP3 download), and The Raveonettes (the non-LP b-side of "Heartbreak Stroll"). What are your favorites? Drop me a line...
Randy Anthony
Johnny Cash, Christmas With Johnny Cash (Sony)
The Man In Black released a bunch of holiday albums throughout his career - the best being The Christmas Spirit (1963) - though none measure up against his best work (read more). This smartly mastered collection cherry picks the best tracks from 1959 to 1980. [purchase]
Gary Hoey, Ho Ho Hoey! The Complete Collection (Surfdog)
Hoey's possesses an unparalleled ability to shred along with a rare enthusiasm for Christmas music. Starting in 1995, these qualities produced no less than three holiday albums in just five years. This release combines all three in one convenient package - plus new recordings! [purchase]
Jackson 5, Best Of The Jackson 5: The Christmas Collection (Motown)
During their "Golden Decade," Motown produced quite a bit of holiday music, and the Jackson 5 made some of the best. On top of that, this is about as good as Christmas reissues get: a great album remastered (Christmas Album, 1970) plus a bonus track - Michael Jackson's "Little Christmas Tree" from A Motown Christmas (1973). [purchase]
Lonely Hearts Band, St. Nick's Christmas: Classic Christmas Songs With A Dash Of Pepper (Not Lame)
This is certainly one of the most unusual offerings this year - holiday favorites styled like songs from the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper," played on electronic instruments, pseudonymously waxed by power popper Tommy Marolda. Kinda weird, but it comes with a couple of fab tracks Marolda's bands, The Toms and Horizontal Ladies Club. [purchase]
Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison, Happy Holidays (Boars Nest)
Willis and Robison are the "It" couple of Austin, Texas, and they've graced us with a minor, lo-fi masterpiece in between crankin' out babies. Seven songs, all covers, ranging from Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" to John Denver's "Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk" to Charlie Louvin's "A Shut-In At Christmas." [purchase]
Papa Ain't No Santa Claus, Mama Ain't No Christmas Tree (Viper)
A sackful of frightfully rare rock 'n roll, jazz, R&B, doo wop, and blues holiday tracks from the 20's through the 60's - likely compiled under Europe's loose public domain copyright laws. The title track (by Butterbeans & Susie) must be heard to be believed, and it's just the beginning. [purchase]
A Santa Cause: It's A Punk Rock Christmas (Immortal)
This jam-packed disc of new and gently used punk and emo benefits the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Artists include Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, and MxPx. Be sure to check out the hidden track: Nerf Herder's hilarious "Santa's Got A Mullet," taken from a super-rare 2000 EP. [purchase]
Trojan Christmas Box Set (Trojan)
This three-disc set is just one of dozens of retrospective boxes from longstanding, UK-based reggae label Trojan, and it culls holiday tracks from a variety of sources spanning three decades, including eight tracks each from John Holt and Yellowman. Santa, it turns out, is a Rastaman. Irie! [purchase]
Very Special Acoustic Christmas (Lost Highway)
I've grown pretty weary of this venerable and well-intentioned series benefiting the Special Olympics, but the latest installment - featuring folk and country - is a breath of fresh air. Some of the best cuts come from some of the least popular artists - including Dan Tyminski, Tift Merritt, and Sam Bush. [purchase]
Yule Be Miserable (Verve)
I am such a sucker for songs about how horrible Christmas is, was, or will be. This is a whole album of them, featuring vintage jazz and blues classics alsongside rare novelties like Spike Jones' petulant "My Birthday Comes On Christmas" and Ella Fitzgerald's unintentionally racy "Santa Claus Got Stuck (In My Chimney)." [purchase]