Audio fruitcake: "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" by Diana Krall

(link)

Not a damn thing special. I hate New Year's Eve, but since others seem to enjoy it, here's Diana Krall's take on "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", off of her 2005 album Christmas Songs. Bah, humbug!

Audio fruitcake: "If We Make It Through December" by Holly Cole

(link)

We're almost done! This supreme downer - a cover of a very depressing Merle Haggard tune - appears of Holly Cole's 2001 Baby, It's Cold Outside album. Uh, happy new year?

Audio fruitcake: "Fairytale of New York" by the Priestess and the Fool

(link)

Because why not? Sure, the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl's original "Fairytale of New York" is still the best, but my second favorite take of this increasingly covered Christmas song is the one the Priestess and the Fool put out in 2008 (and it's still a free download). If you're going to cover a song, make it your own and they sure did, by stripping the Irish out and replacing it with a hootenanny.

Audio fruitcake: "It's Christmas So We'll Stop" by Frightened Rabbit

(link)

The more pessimistic among us would believe that the whole "Christmas spirit" thing is a charade and, even if people are nicer, it's only for one day. Frightened Rabbit expresses this sentiment in their excellent 2007 single "It's Christmas So We'll Stop" (presented above in the 2008 rerelease version). Next to Better Than Ezra's "Merry Christmas Eve", I think this is my favorite modern Christmas classic. Kinda funny how one is a celebration of holiday warmth and other is all about what a sham the day is.

Anyway, Christmas is now over. Go back to being a jerk.

Audio fruitcake: "It Really Is (A Wonderful Life)" by Mindy Smith

(link)

One of my family's Christmas traditions is to venture over to Carytown on Christmas night and catch a showing of It's a Wonderful Life at the Byrd. Sitting in the worn out seats for the duration of the film's 130 minute run time (plus an additional 10-15 minutes beforehand for the Sing-A-Long with Bob Gulledge and the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ) is a real test of ass-durance, but we do it for George, Mary, and Christmas. My mouth's bleeding, Bert! My mouth's bleeding!

This song by Mindy Smith, off of her 2007 album My Holiday, doesn't really have anything to do with the Frank Capra classic other than kind of using the movie's title, but it's a good Christmas song nonetheless.

Audio fruitcake: "The Twelve Days of Christmas" by Bob & Doug McKenzie

(link)

A common misconception: the Twelve Days of Christmas are the days leading up to Christmas day. As John McLaughlin would say, WRONG! The celebration actually starts on Christmas Day. And that's one to grow on.

Though I maintain that John Denver and the Muppets recorded the definitive version of the song, this take by Bob & Doug McKenzie, off of their album 1981 Great White North, is a close second. Now, I will start celebrating with a beer...in a tree.

Audio fruitcake: "Christmas Morning" by Lyle Lovett

(link)

Though not strictly a "Christmas song", Lyle Lovett's "Christmas Morning" - off of his album 1996 The Road to Ensenada - counts as one in my book, if just for the title alone. He's always been one of my favorite songwriters and this one he cooked up, with feelings of self-doubt and wee bit of paranoia, is a doozy. The last verse gets me every time and is the reason I've selected it for today:

Now each Christmas morning I sit in my chair
And I look up at the angels that float through the air
Some look down upon me, some come to my side
And they tell me that Jesus he said to say hi

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, dear readers! Here's hoping all of your wishes get fulfilled today. Or, at the very least, one or two.

Audio fruitcake: "Silent Night" by Pink Martini

(link)

Out of all the Christmas carols, I think "Silent Night" is my favorite. I just love its simple beauty. And this twinkly version by Pink Martini, off of their new album Joy to the World, ranks among the better versions, in my opinion. Of course, it wouldn't be a Pink Martini song without them going international, so the verses are sung in German, Arabic, and English.

Sleep in heavenly peace.

Audio fruitcake: "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC

(link)

Ah, kickin' it old school. This takes me back. Welcome to the soundtrack of my Christmas in 1987. Based on a horn sample from Clarence Carter's "Back Door Santa"*, Run-DMC's "Christmas in Hollis" was the first credible hip-hop Christmas song and has yet to be topped, in my opinion. R.I.P., Jam Master Jay.

And, yes, this has been my cell phone's ringtone all month.

*Itself a classic.

I find tinsel distracting.

Wishing you and yours a very happy Festivus. I know I say this every year, but I'd love to throw a Festivus party. Maybe next year...

Audio fruitcake: "Elf's Lament" by Barenaked Ladies with Michael Bublé

(link)

You're not the only one feeling overworked and underpaid. Ever think about Santa's elves? Yeah, no one does. This is an anthem for the little man.

"Elf's Lament" can be found on Barenaked Ladies' wonderful (and very fun) 2004 album Barenaked for the Holidays.

My favorite (Christmas album) things of 2010

Like pretty much all types of music, a very high percentage* of Christmas music that comes out each year is crap. Most of it is bland, overproduced, extremely saccharine, and cheesy. Or, if some indie band wants to put their stamp on Yuletide songs, it may be underproduced, discordant, and drenched in feedback. This year is no exception. Only two full length albums honked my bobo this year.



Pink Martini - Joy to the World: These multicultural folks put on a heck of a live show and, based on their back catalog, I was expecting all sorts of sublime merriment. I was only a *tad* disappointed, but it's still better than pretty much the rest of the stuff out this season. It's twinkly, twirly, and very international. It's no wonder that Starbucks commissioned this album. But don't hold that against the band.



Christabel and the Jons - The Christmas Album: This band is completely new to me, but another blog recommended it and, wow, I'm impressed. The Squirrel Nut Zippers' Christmas Caravan is one of my favorite seasonal albums and this one sounds like its spiritual successor. It's jazzy, swinging, and brassy. I love it.

These two new albums will surely join my other favorites at the forefront of my hifi's festive rotation.

*I'd say a good 70% or so, but then again, I have a very high threshold for Christmas music. Your results may vary. For reference, I maintain that a good 90% of all music releases range from "blah" to "sucks".

Audio fruitcake: "Believe in Me" by fun.

(link)

fun. produced one of my favorite albums of 2009 (dare I say it's a indie pop masterpiece?) and they followed it up with this Christmas single a few months later, which wears a heavy Beach Boys influence on its red, velvety sleeve.

In addition to it being offered as a free download by Amazon, it's also included on my Christmas mix this year, which you can snag here.

Silent nighTunes

As we rush headlong into Christmas week, I figured it was the right time to unleash this year's A Very Micah Christmas mix upon your precious, little ears. This being my twelfth year of making these mixes, I've pretty much exhausted all of the Lite 98 December staples, so enjoy some less familiar takes on your old favorites, as well as some great Yuletide originals.

Without further ado, here is the soundtrack to your seasonal anxiety disorder:

1. "Everybody Wants to See the Lights" - Kevin McKinney
2. "Darlin' (Christmas Is Coming)" - Over the Rhine
3. "Winter Wonderland" - Dean Martin
4. "O Tannenbaum/We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - Liberace
5. "It Snowed" - Meaghan Smith
6. "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" - Big Al Carson with Lars Edegran and His Santa Claus Revelers
7. "Believe in Me" - fun.
8. "I Wish It Was Christmas Today" - Julian Casablancas
9. "Christmas Party" - The Sweptaways
10. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" - C.W. Morris
11. "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" - Frank Sinatra
12. "When the Leaves" - Ingrid Michaelson
13. "There Are Worse Things to Believe In" - Stephen Colbert and Elvis Costello
14. "Grateful For Christmas" - Hayes Carll
15. "White Christmas" - Jamie Randolph
16. "In the Bleak Midwinter" - Paper Route
17. "Away in a Manger" - Hyperbubble
18. "Fruitcake" - The Superions
19. "Up on the House Top" - The Jackson 5
20. "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" - Wizzard
21. "Party Hard" - Little Isadore
22. "Pour Another Ounce of Rum in the Eggnog" - Heather Blush and the Uppercuts
23. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" - Jo Stafford
24. "I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas" - Yogi Yorgesson
25. "Year End Letter" - Garfunkel & Oates
26. "Auld Lang Syne" - Pink Martini
27. You'll see

Grab an .rar file of the mix here.

Jonesin' for more festive goodness from Christmas past? The last few AVMCs can be found here, here, and here. My goal for 2011 is to put digital copies of all of my previous ones up on their own blog. I won't get to it right away, but keep checking throughout the year.

Merry Christmas to all! And to all, RAWK!

Audio fruitcake: "Everybody Wants to See the Lights" by Kevin McKinney

(link)

Yeah, you make fun of Clark W. Griswold's buffoonery, but admit it: his over-illuminated house is pretty bitchin'. Kevin McKinney's "Everybody Wants to See the Lights", the eponymous song off of his 2009 album, explores the inner thoughts of the neighborhood "Christmas light guy". He does it for you, you bunch of ingrates.

This is the lead off track of my Christmas mix, which I will unveil shortly. As for the video, I threw it together using pictures from Richmond's Tacky Lights Tour.

Audio fruitcake: "Silver Bells" by Gavin DeGraw

(link)

There are two types of people in this world*: those who want a country Christmas and those who prefer a festive city setting. I'm squarely in the latter camp, though I recognize the merits of the former. There's just something about the combination of cities, Christmas decorations, and snow that I love. And the song that really puts me in an urban Christmas mood is "Silver Bells" (key line: "city sidewalks, busy sidewalks dressed in holiday style").

I think my favorite version of the song is by Gavin DeGraw and is found on the Target exclusive 2005 Sounds of the Season compilation. But that's out of print now and I'm not sure where one can currently find this song (legally, that is).

*Well, four types if you also include those who like Neil Diamond and those who don't.

Bonus Crush of the Week: Rebecca Hazlewood

This week's Bonus Crush is actress Rebecca Hazlewood, lately of "Outsourced". Really, she's the best part of that show.



"Outsourced" isn't as terrible as everyone says, but it's not all that great, either. Basically, for me it acts as a bridge from "The Office" to "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia". I'm eagerly awaiting the return of "Parks and Recreation", which should've never been banished from the fall in the first place.

Audio fruitcake: "Your Christmas Whiskey" by the Minus 5

(link)

Sometimes all it takes to get through the holidays is a wee nip or two. This Minus 5 Christmas song is a nice chunk of jangly* power pop and appears on Yep Roc Records' 2007 compilation Oh, Santa!

*Of course it's jangly, since R.E.M.'s Peter Buck is a member of the band.

Crush of the Week: Annie Little

This week's Crush is actress and musician Annie Little. You likely know her as the star of the Kindle commercials, the music for which was provided by her duo Little & Ashley. She's also in a couple of holiday Marshalls/T.J. Maxx commercials that seem to air during every other commercial break, not that I'm complaining.



I can't recommend Little & Ashley's Christmas EP Winter Night highly enough. It hasn't left my iPod all season. (Their Kindle commercial music's great, too.)