Tom Waits, Neko Case - Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis

I don't think Tom Waits should be covered...ever. It's just always a bad idea. Don't tell that to Rod Stewart. While it's interesting to hear this song song sung by a female, without the gravel it's just too clean, you know? This is one where you take out your flask and sigh...



Tom Waits - Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis
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Neko Case - Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis
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"Hey Charlie, I'm pregnant
And living on the 9th Street
Right above a dirty bookstore
Off Euclid Avenue
And I stopped takin dope
And I quit drinkin whiskey
And my old man plays the trombone
And works out at the track

And he says that he loves me
Even though its not his baby
And he says that he'll raise him up
Like he would his own son
And he gave me a ring
That was worn by his mother
And he takes me out dancin
Every saturday night.

And hey Charlie I think about you
Every time I pass a fillin station
On account of all the grease
You used to wear in your hair
And I still have that record
Of Little Anthony & the Imperials
But someone stole my record player
Now how do you like that?

Hey Charlie I almost went crazy
After Mario got busted
So I went back to Omaha to
Live with my folks
But everyone I used to know
Was either dead or in prison
So I came back to Minneapolis
This time I think I'm gonna stay.

Hey Charlie I think I'm happy
For the first time since my accident
And I wish I had all the money
That we used to spend on dope
I'd buy me a used car lot
And I wouldn't sell any of em
I'd just drive a different car
Every day, dependin on how
I feel

Hey Charlie for chrissakes
Do you want to know the
Truth of it?
I don't have a husband
He don't play the trombone
And I need to borrow money
To pay this lawyer
And Charlie, hey
I'll be eligible for parole
Come valentines day"

Tom Waits - Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis

Maria Taylor, Aimee Mann - White Christmas

Ah, "White Christmas." Such a nice song. We heard versions by the Pipettes and the Flaming Lips yesterday... why not two more today!? The first comes from the Bright Eyes' 2002 release, A Christmas Album, but rather than Conor Oberst singing, Maria Taylor (of Azure Ray performs the song.) The second comes from Aimee Mann's Christmas album One More Drifter in the Snow, released last year. Both are similar in execution, stripping the song down to its core, with only sparse acoustic guitar accompanying the vocals. However, each has a different feel, the Aimee Mann version more plaintive and longing, while the the Maria Taylor version sounds more innocent and wishful. She is 16 years younger than Aimee, so its not surprising that these two versions sound like they're coming from different places in life. Yet both are undoubtedly beautiful.

Maria Taylor - White Christmas
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Aimee Mann - White Christmas
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Bright Eyes - A Christmas Album @ Saddle Creek

Aimee Mann - Another Drifter in the Snow @Amazon.com

P.S. Does anyone know any good free mp3 hosting sites? The 500 meg bandwidth limit at filefreak just isn't cutting it...

The Pipettes, The Flaming Lips - White Christmas

Today I bring two different versions of "White Christmas," one by the Pipettes and the Flaming Lips. The Pipettes version is fantastic, emphasized with gorgeous vocal harmonies and a wonderful upbeat arrangement. It's short and sweet. The Flaming Lips version on the other hand, while interesting and untraditional, it sounds like its being sung by a bad Kermit imitator. I love Wayne, I really do, but this just isn't his finest hour. I've found a video of the song being performed live during 1999, and it sounds a little better there, performed on an actual megaphone. Maybe if you can shake the Kermit thing...but I just can't. Maybe I'll think of it as a forgotten song from the Muppet Christmas Carol. It's been far too long since I've seen that.

The Pipettes - White Christmas
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The Flaming Lips - White Christmas
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The Flaming Lips - White Christmas (Live)


The Pipettes official website
The Flaming Lips official website

of Montreal - Christmas Isn't Safe for Animals

Here's the first Christmas original that I've posted so far. "Chirstmas Isn't Safe for Animals" is one of the highlights from of Montreal's 2003 tour only EP If He Is Protecting Our Nation, Then Who Will Protect Big Oil, Our Children? They actually reissued the album last month, so it's widely available for the first time. Sadly, it's one of their weakest releases. This song is really cute though and closes that said EP, so at least it ends on an up note.

of Montreal - Christmas Isn't Safe for Animals
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"Is Christmas safe?
Is Christmas safe?
Is Christmas safe for animals?
Soft and squishy animated mammals
Tapping so lightly on their teeth with a gun
My god, are they cold?

Is Christmas safe?
Is Christmas safe?
Is Christmas safe for animals?
Crippled with fear of the sparking wires
On an electrical beach
Plagued by the thought
That a bird cannot smile

Why rent when you can own your own washer and dryer for $225 each? Put it on your Sears card!
Why rent when you can own your own washer and dryer for $225 each? Put it on your Sears card!
Put it on your Sears card!
Why rent when you can own your own washer and dryer for just $250 a month? Put it on your Sears card!
Why rent when you can own your own washer and dryer for $225 each? Put it on your Sears card!
Why rent?
Put it on your Sears card!

Christmas isn't safe
Christmas isn't safe
Christmas isn't safe for animals"

of Montreal @ Polyvinyl Records

Belle & Sebastian - The Twelve Days of Christmas, O Come All Ye Faithful

These come from a 2002 Christmas Party Peel session. The band sounds like they're having a lot of fun while playing, especially on "The Twelve Days of X-Mas" which in turn is fun for us listeners. "I was very taken with the turtle dove..." As these are only a few of the Christmas songs Belle & Sebastian covered during that session, I'm sure that I'll cover some of the others later on.

Belle & Sebastian - The Twelve Days of Christmas
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Belle & Sebastian - O Come All Ye Faithful
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Belle & Sebastian @ Matador Records

Cocteau Twins - Frosty the Snowman

Cocteau Twins - Frosty the Snowman


Here's a little history on this unexpected proto-shoegaze cover by the Cocteau Twins:

"The only sounds heard from them between Heaven or Las Vegas and Four-Calendar Café were "Frosty the Snowman," which was originally recorded for the Volume CD Magazine Issue 5 in 1992, and the Guthrie/Fraser version of "Be Still"—a song on the Peace Together compilation, which was a benefit album for Northern Ireland.

Simon explained "Frosty...": "There's a Christmas record that comes out on Capitol Records (the Cocteaus' US label) every few years. And they were trying to get all their bands to do a cover version of a Christmas song. I didn't think that's what it was at the time. I thought it would be like sitting next to Frank Sinatra. But in fact it would've been, y'know, Skinny Puppy, doing 'Merry Xmas Everybody.' Anyway they'd said, Would you do one? And Liz suggested—it must have been for a joke—'Frosty The Snowman.' Then Robin went, Yeah, good title, people will think it's a normal Cocteau Twins song with a title like that."

"Once we'd got the music down, I wrote down the lyrics on a piece of paper and said to Liz, Hey, look at these, and we were laughing away. As we were going through it I was listening to Liz's reactions and thinking, this is never gonna get done. She was going, 'He's a very happy soul'—me sing that?! No way, I could not in a million years... 'with a broomstick in his '—you've gotta be fucking kidding!'"

"I just didn't think she'd do it." [Volume 5, 1992]

...But she did, and "Frosty the Snowman," which eventually appeared on the very-limited release, Snow, with "Winter Wonderland," was a "Holiday '92" favorite, and can still be heard at Gap stores around the world at Christmas time!"

Cocteau Twins Official Website

The Fall - Hark The Herald Angels Sing

So I just finished watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Despite its cornball nature, I just feel incomplete without seeing at least some of it each year. Of course, I won't sit down and watch the entire thing- I'll wake up, put it on, and then drift in and out of consciousness with it on in the background. One thing it did do for me this year was cement how annoying I find most Christmas music, at least when it's at its most commercial and float-worthy. Now that's why I'm doing this blog!


Here's the Fall, certainly the longest existing post-punk band out there (existing from 1976 to the present and never breaking up) doing a version of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." It comes from their Peel session box set, compiling a total of 24 Peel sessions that the Fall recorded. They were John Peel's favorite band. This song comes from a session recorded on November 20th 1994 where "Jingle Bell Rock" was also performed.

The Fall - Hark the Herald Angels Sing
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The Fall - The Complete Peel Sessions 1978 - 2004 @Amazon.com

Deerhoof - Little Drummer Boy

With yesterday's Daniel Johnston entry and today's on Deerhoof, this may be shaping up to be a very strange and twisted holiday season... exactly the way I like it. Not this twisted though- no thank you. Let this Christmas be quirky but not metal. No metal and Christmas, please.

Deerhoof's version of "The Little Drummer Boy" comes from their "The Perfect Me" 7" picture disc from earlier this year.

Deerhoof - The Little Drummer Boy
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Deerhoof @Kill Rock Stars

Daniel Johnston - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Raindeer

I know I've been a bit spotty with entries lately...I've been busy, or otherwise didn't know what to write about. However that's all going to change as the Christmas season now nears and I'll have a timely theme. I personally feel that the rush of Christmas merchandise into stores immediately after Halloween is more than a bit excessive, but this week, the week of Thanksgiving, is a perfectly acceptable time to get into the mood. It snowed today- something that immediately jump started my holiday enthusiasm. I really love this time of year. I'm so ready for the winter. Lots of great Christmas music lined up for the next month or so, so check back in! It's going to be great.

I'll start things off with Daniel Johnston's version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It's originally from a radio-promo only album called So This is Christmas that Atlantic records put out in 1994. Yes, that period where Kurt Cobain had the record industry so tightly wrapped around his finger that he could start a bidding war between two of the biggest record labels over an artist who was more well known through a piece of clothing rather than his actual music. Actually, I'm pretty sure the labels never even heard his music. That major label period was a major failure commercially, but regardless some solid music came out of it. Plus a Christmas song!

Daniel Johnston - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
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Daniel Johnston Official Website

The Beta Band - Dry the Rain

Rob Gordon: I will now sell four copies of "The Three EPs" by The Beta Band.
Dick: Go for it.
[Rob plays the record]
Beta Band Customer: Who is this?
Rob Gordon: The Beta Band.
Beta Band Customer: It's good.
Rob Gordon: I know.

-High Fidelity

The Beta Band - Dry the Rain

"This is the definition of my life
Lying in bed in the sunlight
Choking on the vitamin tablet
The doctor gave in the hope of saving me
In the hope of saving me

Walked in the corner of the room
A junk yard fool with eyes of gloom
I asked him time again
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain the rain
The rain the rain the rain now

Dusty brown boots in the corner
By the ironing board
Spray on dust is the greatest thing
Sure is the greatest thing
Since the last since the last

Walked in the corner of the room
A junk yard fool with eyes of gloom
I asked him time again
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain the rain
The rain the rain the rain now

I asked him time again
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
Take me in and dry the rain
The rain the rain the rain now

If there's something inside that you wanna say
Say it out loud it'll be okay
I will be your light
I will be your light
I will be your light
I will be your light

If there's something inside that you wanna say
Say it out loud it'll be okay
I will be your light
I will be your light
I will be your light
I will be your light

I Need Love, yeah
I Need Love

If there's something inside that you wanna say
Say it out loud it'll be okay
I will be your light
I will be your light
I will be your light
I will be your light

If there's something inside that you wanna say
Say it out loud it'll be okay
I will be your light
I will be your light
I will be your light
I will be your light

I Need Love
I Need Love"

The Beta Band - The Three EPs @Amazon.com

Beat Happening - Cry for a Shadow

This song saved me today.




Beat Happening - Cry for a Shadow








"I see you crying
I see the patterns
They come and go
Leave you shattered
You shed for so many untrue
Can you cry for a shadow
Can you cry for a heart crying out for you
Can you cry for a shadow
No one asked you to

They don't deserve your priceless tears
And the whisper
Fill your ears
A reflection of a love long due
Can you cry for a shadow
Can you cry for a heart crying out to you?
Can you cry for a shadow?
I've cried for a few

Can you cry, cry, cry?
Dry the tears and try try try?
Stop cryin'
It doesn't matter
Just come closer
So I can gather
every drop of yr precious tears
Can your cryin' for a shadow
Can your cryin' for a heart cryin' out to you
Can your cry for a shadow?
Like I cried for you"

"Cry for a Shadow" live in a parking lot


Beat Happening - Jamboree @ K Records

Mojave 3 - Love Songs on the Radio

Country tinged shoegaze. You wouldn't think it'd work, but it does. Mojave 3 formed after Slowdive disbanded, containing three members of the band. Yep, that's where the 3 comes from. This song is gorgeous.

Mojave 3 - Love Songs on the Radio
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"She looks just like an angel
When she walks across the room
She shines tonight
Her golden light
Is everything I need

Lovers all around her
She wears them like her jewels
My friend says she's all he needs
To feel alive

Love songs on the radio
His sweetheart lies in bed
She's dreaming of the things he said
She's hoping that he's well"

Promo video:


Mojave 3 - Ask Me Tomorrow @ Amazon.com