Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

So, this is the second of what will be four installments of my favorites from this year. The others will be up sometime midweek. Have a fun and safe New Year’s!

artist - song - album :: extra info

Loney, Dear - I am John - Loney, Noir
(website | myspace | @ Sub Pop | live @ NPR | I am John video)

Air - Mer du Japon - Pocket Symphony
(website | myspace | Mer Du Japon video)

Peter Bjorn and John - Young Folks - Writer’s Block :: with Victoria Bergsman on vocals
(website | myspace | Young Folks video)

Blonde Redhead - 23 - 23
(website | myspace | 23 video)

Feist - 1 2 3 4 - The Reminder
(website | myspace | 1 2 3 4 video)

The Apples in Stereo - Energy - New Magnetic Wonder
(website | myspace | Energy video)

Camera Obscura - Alaska - If Looks Could Kill single
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Apostle of Hustle - My Sword Hand’s Anger - The National Anthem of Nowhere
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Underwater (You And Me) - Some Loud Thunder
(website | myspace)

Of Montreal - Bunny Ain’t No Kind of Rider - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
(website | myspace)

Arcade Fire - No Cars Go - Neon Bible
(website | myspace | Neon Bible site | be oNline B)

Maria Taylor - A Good Start - Lynn Teeter Flower
(website | myspace | A Good Start video)

Art In Manila - The Abomination - Set the Woods on Fire
(myspace | @ Saddle Creek)

The Broken West - Down in the Valley - I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On
(website | myspace)

Palomar - Our Haunt - All Things, Forests
(website | myspace)
mp3s:

Loney, Dear - I Am John
Blonde Redhead - 23
Apostle of Hustle - My Sword Hand’s Anger
Apostle of Hustle - Underwater (You and Me)
Maria Taylor - A Good Start
Art in Manila - The Abomination
Palomar - Our Haunt

 

 Standard Podcast [58:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Just a few of the gems to be recorded by Portland musicians in 2007. I’ll be putting my best of non-Portland locales on here REAL soon!

artist - song - album :: extra info

The High Violets - Fa (Echostar Mix) - Satellite Remixes
(website | myspace)

Au - Sum - self-titled
(website | myspace | Boute live video)

The Shins - Turn on Me - Wincing the Night Away
(website | myspace)

Laura Veirs - Cast a Hook - Saltbreakers
(website | myspace | youtube)

Spoon - You Got Yr Cherry Bomb - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
(website | myspace | archive.org live recordings | The Underdog video)

Boy Eats Drum Machine - From An Oregon Shore - Two Ghosts
(website | myspace | haystack.com | in-studio on my show)

Menomena - Wet and Rusting - Friend and Foe
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Climber - Walking Tents - I Dream in Autoplay
(website | myspace)

The Fast Computers - Sweden Hasn’t Changed - Heart Geometry
(website | myspace)

The Shaky Hands - Why and How Come - self-titled
(website | myspace | @ Holocene Music | Why and How Come video)

Derby - Streetlight - self-titled EP
(website | myspace)

The Dimes - Paul Kern Can’t Sleep - The Silent Generation
(website | myspace)

The Battle of Land and Sea - Saltwater Queen - self-titled EP
(website | myspace | last.fm | @ SPIN.com)

Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation - Wild Mountain Nation
(myspace | website | last.fm | OPB in-studio)

Small Sails - No Spirit Animal - Similar Anniversaries
(website | myspace | youtube)

Alex Arrowsmith - Nuke Song (live on KPSU)
(website | myspace | Nuke Song video)

 While I really enjoy Christmas–the food, the music, the time with family, the food, the presents, it seems that we’re always chasing some unattainable ideal. Maybe we remember that overwhelming giddy feeling that we had a few Christmas mornings during our early childhood, and spend every year trying to recreate that by spreading our time and money too thin.

For years, we’ve talked about how odd it is that we celebrate God arriving as a vulnerable, tiny child, sleeping not in a crib, but a feeding trough, by spending money we don’t really have, often out of obligation, thus putting not only our families in a bad position, but our economy as well (unless you’re a big box retailer). But we don’t really know how or why we’ve gotten to this point as a culture, or a way out of it.

Here’s a couple things you might be interested in if you’ve been thinking about this:

Episode 148 of This American Life is dedicated to the subject of Santa Claus. The first 8 minutes of the show, Ira Glass investigates the origins of Saint Nick and his connection with modern Christmas celebrations. You can listen by going to this page here.

Morgan Spurlock, who made the documentary “Super-Size Me,” has a new film out, called “What Would Jesus Buy?”. He came to Portland a month ago and spoke at Cinema 21 before screening the film. He also stopped by the Imago Dei church to talk with Rick McKinley about the film. Rick is involved with a movement called The Advent Conspiracy, which aims to celebrate the birth of Jesus by giving of ourselves the way that Christ gave of himself, and giving in a relational way, rather than in a consumerist way.

Morgan Spurlock interview with Rick McKinley (about 15 minutes in)
What Would Jesus Buy? movie site

I don’t, by any means, have all of this figured out yet, and I love celebrating Christmas. But I’m hoping that by next year, I’ll have figured out an even more awesome way to celebrate it. I’m feeling a lot in my life lately that I want to “be the change I would like to see in the world.” Whether it’s giving people great music to listen to, figuring out how to be more environmentally responsible, or being a good parent. So I guess I’m hoping that next year, one of my gifts I give away is a really great way to celebrate Christmas.

 

 Standard Podcast [59:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

EVEN MORE Christmas music for you! If you still can’t get enough, check at the bottom of this post for links to my Christmas specials from previous years, as well as other blogs with great Christmas music.

artist - song - album :: extra info

The Swimmers - The Christmas Sound
(website | myspace | The Christmas Sound video)

Eskimo and Sons - Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown - LocalCut Presents: Another Grey Christmas
(website | myspace)

Celestial - Saving Up Her Wishes (For Another Christmas)
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Fireflies - X-mas Song - Goodnight Stars, Goodnight Moon
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Daniel Johnson - Cold Hands Warm Heart - Suburban Sprawl Music Xmas 2007
(website | myspace)

French Skeletons - Just Like Christmas - Suburban Sprawl Music Xmas 2007

Keren Ann - Silent Night - Keren Ann (special Christmas edition)
(website | myspace)

Remington Super 60 - Here Comes Christmas - Merry Christmas EP
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Romantica - Home For Christmas - Electric Fantastic Sound Christmas
(myspace)

Tiger Baby - This Christmas - Electric Fantastic Sound Christmas
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas (Piano Mix)
(website | myspace | last.fm)

The Details - Strings and Ribbons
(myspace | last.fm)

Soul Junk - Dayspring From On High - A Familyre Christmas Vol. 1
(website | myspace)

The Singing Mechanic - Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming - A Familyre Christmas Vol. 1
(website)

Woven Hand - I Wonder As I Wander - A Familyre Christmas Vol. 1
(website | myspace)

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Peace on Earth: A Charity Holiday Album
(website | myspace | @ Daytrotter)

Corporate Solace - Last Christmas
(website)
mp3s:

The Swimmers - The Christmas Sound
Eskimo and Sons - Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!
Celestial - Saving Up Her Wishes (for Another Christmas)
Fireflies - X-mas Song
Daniel Johnson - Cold Hands, Warm Heart
French Skeletons - Just Like Christmas
Remington Super 60 - Here Comes Christmas
Romantica - Home for Christmas
Tiger Baby - This Christmas
Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas (Piano Mix)
Soul Junk - Dayspring from on High
The Singing Mechanic - Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Woven Hand - I Wonder as I Wander
Corporate Solace - Last Christmas
Corporal Blossom - White Christmas
More Christmas music:

My 2006 Special
My 2005 Special (…a “lost episode” thanks, Juan! This show was lost, but now is found!)
My 2004 Special (one of my absolute favorite shows ever. I was driving while I did it!)

My show this week is indebted to the following blogs:

Hits In The Car: It’s (almost) Christmas…
Christmas A Go Go!
Swedesplease: Swedish Christmas Mix
Hype Machine MP3 Blog Search: Christmas

Also check out: FaLaLaLaLa.com

These albums are available in their entirety for free:

Suburban Sprawl Music Xmas 2007 (.zip file)
Remington Super 60 - Merry Christmas EP (.rar file)
Electric Fantastic Sound Christmas (individual files or one .zip)
A Familyre Christmas Vol. 1
Sufjan Stevens Christmas albums streaming free (plus other music people sent him)

Have you found any awesome Christmas music? Comment about it!

 

 Standard Podcast [74:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is a longer version of the show that was broadcast on KPSU. I love Christmas!

artist - song - album :: extra info

The Magnetic Fields - Mr. Mistletoe - Distortion :: out January 15
(website)

Asobi Seksu - Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight) - split 7″ with Pas/Cal
(website | myspace)

Pas/Cal - Last Christmas - split 7″ with Asobi Seksu
(website | myspace)

Chris Garneau- It’s Almost Christmas - C-Sides
(website | myspace)

Daniel Johnston - Rock Around The Chrismas Tree - Lost and Found
(website | myspace | fan site)

Frightened Rabbit - It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop
(website | myspace)

The Pipettes - In the Bleak Midwinter
(website | myspace | live @ NPR)

Rosie Thomas - Christmas Time is Here - Peace on Earth: A Charity Holiday Album
(website | myspace | @ Sub Pop)

Denison Witmer - A Christmas Song - Happy Christmas Volume 3
(website | myspace | Happy Birthday Denison)

David Bazan - Harmless Sparks/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Daytrotter session
(website | myspace | @ Daytrotter)

David & the Citizens - Christmas Eve - Graycoated Morning single
(website | myspace)

Sally Shapiro - Anorak Christmas (OK Ikumi Remix)
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Club 8 - Love In December
(website | myspace | last.fm | @ Labrador)

Komon - Poetry for the Winter
(myspace | last.fm)

Irene - Christmas on the Beach
(website | myspace | last.fm)

The Bird And The Bee - Carol Of The Bells
(website | myspace)

The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers - Shepherd’s Song - Peace on Earth: A Charity Holiday Album
(website | myspace | last.fm)

The Smithereens - Merry Christmas Baby - Christmas with the Smithereens
(website | myspace)

The Minus 5 - Your Christmas Whiskey - Oh Santa! New & Used ChristmasClassics from Yep Roc
(website | myspace)

Don Peris - Angels We Have Heard on High - Brighter Visions Beam Afar
(website | myspace | The Innocence Mission: website | myspace )

Snowden - White Christmas - Licorice EP
(website | myspace | last.fm)

The Winston Jazz Routine - Through The Snow - Peace on Earth: A Charity Holiday Album
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Th’ Legendary Shackshakers - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Oh Santa! New & Used ChristmasClassics from Yep Roc
(website | myspace)

mp3s:

Asobi Seksu -  Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight)
Chris Garneau - It’s Almost Christmas
David Bazan - Harmless Sparks/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
David & the Citizens - Christmas Eve
Club 8 - Love in December
Komon - Poetry for the Winter
Irene - Christmas on the Beach
Snowden - White Christmas

 

 Standard Podcast [66:28m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Invariable, I can’t always find and play everything that’s worth playing. There’s still hundreds of hours out there of music made in 2007, and I’ll never play it all, but this week’s show makes a small effort to cover what I missed throughout the year.
artist - song - album :: extra info

The Long Goodbye - Pilgrim
(myspace)

Ohmega Watts - The Platypus Strut - Watts Happening
(website | myspace | The Making of “Platypus”)

Anna Ternheim - Bridges - Lovers Dream and More Music for Psychotic Lovers EP
(website | myspace | Bridges live video)

Enon - Colette - Grass Geysers Carbon Clouds
(website | myspace)

Glen Hansard - Fallen from the Sky - Once Original Soundtrack
(The Frames: website | myspace | The Swell Season myspace | Once: website | myspace)

Film School - Dear Me - Hideout
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Jarvis Cocker - Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time - Jarvis
(@ World’s Fair | myspace | “Waste” video)

MIA - Paper Planes - Kala
(website | myspace)

Sunset Rubdown - Winged/Wicked Things - Random Spirit Lover
(website | myspace | last.fm | @ Absolutely Kosher)

Stars of the Lid - Apreludes (in C Sharp Major) - And Their Refinement of the Decline
(website | myspace | “Apreludes” video)

A Place to Bury Strangers - To Fix the Gash in Your Head - A Place to Bury Strangers
(website | myspace)

St. Vincent - Human Racing - Marry Me
(website | myspace)

Amy Winehouse - Love Is A Losing Game - Back to Black
(website | myspace)

The Bird And The Bee - Man - Please Clap Your Hands
(website | myspace | @ NPR)

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights - 100 Days
(website | myspace | “Days” video)

Sia - Buttons - Some People Have Real Problems
(website | myspace | Buttons video)

Flight of the Conchords - If You’re Into It - The HBO Soundtrack
(website | myspace | @ HBO | “Into It” video)
mp3s:

Jarvis Cocker - Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time
Sunset Rubdown - Winged/Wicked Things
Stars of the Lid - Apreludes (in C# Major)
A Place to Bury Strangers -To Fix the Gash in Your Head
Sharon Jones - 100 Days, 100 Nights

 

 Standard Podcast [57:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

artist - song - album :: extra info

Holiday Fun Club - Hamburg in the Night - Holiday Fun Club
(myspace | @ Sounds of Subterrania)

David & the Citizens - Graycoated Morning - single
(website | myspace | @ Friendly Fire | )

Sally Shapiro - He Keeps Me Alive - Disco Romance
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Hell on Wheels - Gone Too Far - Little Darla has a Treat for You vol. 25
(myspace)

Kele Goodwin (with Laura Gibson and Douglas Jenkins) - A Kiss for Your Eyes - The Spider
(myspace)

The Whitsundays - Sorry James
(myspace | @ Friendly Fire)

Tulsa - Breath Thin - I Was Submerged EP
(website | myspace)

We Were Pirates - Nervous - The Wolf EP
(myspace | last.fm)

Dot Tape Dot - Come to Me - Ground[works] Sampler :: Free @ Insound (.zip file)
(myspace | last.fm | @ Ambulatore)

The Raveonettes - Aly, Walk With Me - Lust Lust Lust
(website | myspace )

Darker My Love - Helium Heels - Darker My Love :: Free @ Dangerbird (.zip file)
(website | myspace | @ Dangerbird)

Oh Astro - Snow Queen - Champions of Wonder
(website | myspace)

The Heliocentrics - Sirius B - Out There
(website | myspace)

They Might Be Giants - Whithered Hope (live on XM)
(website | other website | myspace | fan Wiki)
mp3s:

Holiday Fun Club - Hamburg in the Night (via It’s a Trap!)
David & the Citizens - Greycoated Morning
Sally Shapiro - He Keeps Me Alive
Hell on Wheels - Gone too Far (via Pitchfork)
Kele Goodwin - A Kiss for Your Eyes (via WW Local Cut)
The Whitsundays - Sorry James
Oh Astro - Snow Queen
The Heliocentrics - SiriusB

 

 Standard Podcast [55:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Maybe six different versions of the same song was a bit much, but they’re all so different… Let me know what you think!

artist - song - album :: extra info

We Were Pirates - The Three of Us - This American Life Break-Up Song Contest
(website | myspace | last.fm)

The Raveonettes - Dead Sound - Lust Lust Lust
(website | myspace | Dead Sound on YouTube)

Lionel Neykov - I Need You - Songs of Want and Loss
(myspace)

.d88b. - The Three of Us - TAL Break-Up Song Contest
(website)

The Summer Darlings - The Three of Us - TAL Break-Up Song Contest
(myspace)

Zookeeper - Snow in Berlin - Becoming All Things
(website | myspace)

Alfred Brown - The Three of Us - TAL Break-Up Song Contest
(website | myspace)

Say Hi - Northwestern Girls - The Wishes and the Glitch
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Plastiscines - Lost in Translation - LP1
(website | myspace)

Reade Pryor - The Three of Us - TAL Break-Up Song Contest

The Vandelles - Swell to Heaven - The Vandelles EP
(myspace | @ Safranin Sound)

Johan Hedberg - Var Dig Sjalv - 5 Spars EP
(website | myspace)

The Fast Computers - Math Predictions - Heart Geometry
(website | myspace)

Tinmantle - The Three of Us - TAL Break-Up Song Contest
(myspace)

mp3s:

We Were Pirates - The Three of Us
The Raveonettes - Dead Sound
.d88b. - The Three of Us
The Summer Darlings - The Three of Us
Zookeeper - Snow in Berlin
Alfred Brown - The Three of Us
Say Hi - Northwestern Girls
Reade Pryor - The Three of Us
The Vandelles - Swell to Heaven
Johan Hedberg - Var Dig Sjalv
Tinmantle - The Three of Us