08 December 2009

HOLIDAYS 09 - WEEK 2


Good morning, and welcome to week two.

Not a very festive picture at right. For those who don't recognize the evil geniuses, that's The Monarch and the woman who at the time of recording today's song was known as Dr. Girlfriend, but is now known as Dr. Mrs. The Monarch. If you didn't already know all that, you should be watching The Venture Bros.

For several years, the good people over at IGN gave away free mp3s of [adult swim] characters singing Christmas tunes. Today's little gift is one of those.


(Dec. 8) The Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend - "Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy" Released for free online back in 2004. Yes, the raspier voice is Dr. Girlfriend. Buy The Venture Bros. swag (DVDs / CDs / clothing).

(Dec. 9) The Knife - "Reindeer" The Knife are an electro-pop band from Sweden. This song was released for free on the inter-web back in 2006, as a Christmas gift to the fans. Buy Silent Shout regular or deluxe.

(Dec. 10) The Fratellis - "Lonesome Anti-Christmas Blues" Scotland's Fratellis are currently on hiatus. This was issued as a non-album single last year, before they (hopefully temporarily) went their separate ways. Buy Costello Music.

(Dec. 11) Tiny Tim - "Santa Claus Has Got The AIDS This Year" Tiny Tim was always an interesting performer, but where the hell he got the idea for this one I don't know. Apparently, this was issued as a single in the mid-eighties, while he was attempting to revive his career. Maybe he was courting some controversy. Whatever the reason this is one of the most bizarre holiday tunes I've ever come across. Buy something completely unrelated, to get that song out of your head.

(Dec. 12) The Ramones - "Merry Christmas (I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight)" Not exactly a hard one to hunt down this time of year, but I needed something with a bit more classic cool to cleanse the pallet after that Tiny Tim tune. This one originated as a non-album b-side of "I Wanna Live" in 1987, but has since found its way onto several hits packages and Christmas compilations. Buy Weird Tales of The Ramones box set.

(Dec. 13) Candypants - "The Happiest Time of the Year" I don't know heaps about Candypants. They're from L.A., and they put a very cool album out back in 2000. This very festive song wasn't on that album. That's all I know. Buy the album.

(Dec. 14) Tom Waits - "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis" (Live) Yeah, everybody posts this song everywhere this time of year. At least I'm taking a slightly different approach - this one's recorded live during his appearance on Austin City Limits, more than 30 years ago. Buy every Waits product you can get your hands on, if you know what's good for you.

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