desert island

Desert Island Christmas Music Addendum

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sufjan stevens christmas

 

Since I last posted on my favorite Christmas, I’ve come across some additional Christmas albums worthy to take their place in the illustrious Christmas Island Christmas Music Hall of Fame. If you get stranded on that odd island with unlimited batteries but no electricity, you may find these picks useful.

1) Silver & Gold- Sufjan Stevens. It’s gloriously weird and wonderful. I never know what to expect from one track to the next, but I can definitely tell you it’s not the same ol’ renditions of the same ol’ holiday fare. This one is only for the musically adventurous folks who like to venture outside of top-4o-land from time to time.

2) Andy Williams Christmas Album- This one’s a classic from 1963 that deserves a place in any holiday music collection. Andy Williams’ passing earlier this year makes this one a poignant choice for the season.

3) Straight No Chaser- Holiday Spirits. This one’s a fantastic acapella album that I like to call traditional-with-a-twist. It’s worth the investment if only for the fantastic live version of 12 Days of Christmas. I don’t remember who recommended this one to me, but thanks to you, whoever you are and wherever you are.

As always, these lists are subject to change, especially if I run into an especially good Christmas album. I welcome your recommendations and suggestions. The more off-the-wall and eclectic, the better.

 

Desert Island Christmas Music Part Two

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I’ve been thinking about this mysterious desert island with electricity and I think it’s should be more like the island on the TV show Lost. That way, there’s at least a semi-plausible reason to have electricity. But on to the list.

I’ve thought of some more essential Christmas music that I have to hear every Christmas season.

16) Christmas- Michael W. Smith. Some brilliant arrangements on this one.

17) The Dawn of Grace- Sixpence None the Richer. How can you not like Leigh Nash’s voice?

18) White Christmas- Martina McBride. Her version of “O Holy Night” is probably my second favorite behind Michael Crawford’s.

19) A Very She & Him Christmas. This is the band featuring Zooey Deschanel, my #1 celebrity crush. Very festive and fun music for the holidays.

20) Christmas Caravan- Squirrel Nut Zippers. For the nonconformist and nontraditionalist.

21) A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra. ‘Nuff said.

22) Christmas Songs- Diana Krall. She’s one of my favorites and this one was an instant classic from day one.

23) Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails. “Garishly retro and naughtily nostalgic, this kind of slinky Christmas gift should probably be illegal in many prudish states”, says the review on amazon.com

24) Yule B’ Swingin’/Yule B’ Swingin’ Too!. Some great vintage holiday music that you can swing dance to.

25) Hipsters’ Holiday. Another great compilation for when you get tired of hearing “White Christmas” for the 500th time.

26) The Revels- A Victorian Christmas Revels. Like stepping back onto a crowded street in 19th century London on Christmas Eve.

27) Songs from White Christmas and Other Yuletide Favorites- Rosemary Clooney. If you’re a fan of the movie musical White Christmas, you’ll love this.

28) Boogie Woogie Christmas/Dig That Crazy Christmas- The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Big Band meets Rockabilly meets Christmas music. It’s great!

29) Any Christmas album by Mannheim Steamroller. Ok, so I cheated a bit, but how can you pick just one?

30) The Christmas Album- Manhattan Transfer. If you’re a fan of tight harmonies and fantastic arrangements, check this one out.

If you have additional favorites that I didn’t include in this list, let me know. I plan to keep adding to my collection and there are probably a few gems out there that I have sadly overlooked.

This concludes my two-part list of my favorite Christmas music (subject to change as I continue to add to my collection).

Or as Sean Connery’s character from The Untouchables said, “Here endeth the lesson.”

Desert Island Christmas Music Part One

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I love it when someone asks, “If you were stranded on a desert island, what kind of music would you have with you?” Which assumes that you’re either 1) stuck on the only desert island in existance to have electricity and outlets and an unlimited supply of batteries or 2) a very cool solar-powered CD player (or MP3 player if you please). And wouldn’t you be too tied up with small details like finding water and food to be concerned about what’s on your playlist?

Still, I think when it comes to the Christmas season, a few albums come to mind that are essential listening to get into the festive spirit. I’m giving you this list early so you have time to rush out to Best Buy or Barnes & Noble (or one of those “hipper than thou” music stores). Or you  could rush over to your laptop with high-speed internet to amazon.com.

Here’s my list.

1) A Charlie Brown Christmas- Vince Guaraldi Trio. It’s not Christmas without Snoopy and Charlie Brown.

2) Elvis Presley- If Every Day Were Like Christmas. This one has all of Elvis’ Christmas recordings on one fantastic CD.

3) Harry Connick Jr- When My Heart Finds Christmas. This one goes well at any Christmas party.

4) Sarah Maclachlan- Wintersomg. Breathtakingly beautiful.

5) A Christmas Gift for You- from Phil Spector. Vintage 60’s holiday fare.

6) The Christmas Album- David Foster. Lushly produced album with my favorite rendition of “O Holy Night” by Michael Crawford.

7) Croon and Swoon: A Classic Christmas (Volume One and Two). Some of the best voices of yesteryear sing holiday standards.

8) The Christmas Song- Nat King Cole. Perfect Christmas Eve music.

9) Merry Christmas- Mariah Carey. One of my favorites of the contemporary Christmas albums that has a real throwback feel.

10) A Merry Christmas with Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters. Again, this is required holiday music.

11) To Drive the Cold Winter Away- Loreena McKennitt. Haunting.

12) Behold the Lamb of God- Andrew Peterson. I think “Labor of Love” would move even the Grinch to tears.

13) A Christmas Cornucopia- Annie Lennox. Very reverent and sacred take on Christmas Carols both popular and obscure.

14) My Holiday- Mindy Smith. A good mix of standards and originals.

15) Christmas- The Big 80’s. Christmas done 80’s style.

Part two coming soon. . .

PS I would love to hear some of your favorite Christmas albums that you listen to every year. I’m always looking to add to my ever-growing, awesome collection of Christmas music.

 

Random Favorites and Desert Island Picks

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This might seem like a filler blog (and it is, because I’m all out of profound ideas that I “borrowed” from other people). Hopefully, it will bring a bit of levity in your life after a hard week of work. FYI: TGIF!

If I were stranded on a desert island and could only have one kind of food, I think I’d go with the Chick-fil-A nuggets. Those just never get old for me. Plus, I’m taking it for granted that they come with all the usual dipping sauces.

If I had only one album I could take with me to the desert island (which just so happens to have electricity and a good sound system), I would take Miles Davis’ A Kind of Blue. It is rightfully considered one of the best jazz albums ever.

I don’t know if it’s still hip or trendy to admit celebrity crushes, but my all-time celebrity crush is still Audrey Hepburn. If we’re going with only living people, it’s Zooey Deschanel.

I miss that chantico drink from Starbucks that I probably spelled wrong. It was like a chocolate bar melted into a drink, or what I like to call a little foretaste of heaven. I also miss the Snapple drink, Ralph’s Cantalope Cocktail, that tasted just like real cantelopes.

I don’t know if you ever get the urge to watch a movie you’ve seen before, but lately I’ve been feeling the need to watch Juno again. Then after that, I’ll go buy some orange tic-tacs.

At the end of the day, regardless of how I think my day was a success or a total fiasco, I still need God. I need to know that He’s still got the whole world in His hands (to borrow from a great song by All Sons & Daughters).

That’s all for tonight. Told you it would be random.