A Confession/Radio.Blog Returns!

Finally got ye olde radio.blog back up. But somewhere along the way, I lost the tweaks I'd made to make it look nicer. Will be playing with that when I have a spare second here and there. (by the way, do yourself a favor, and click the box next to "Crossfader" to turn that off...you wanna catch the end of some of these tracks)

Oh well, this is the first of my Christmas music radio.blog's that I've planned for this Dec. What? Christmas? Yeah, Christmas music.

Those who know my aversion to this particular cultural event might be a bit surprised that I'd post something like this. In fact, some might think I've sold out/changed/been brainwashed. But no...I'm still not crazy about the way this man-made holy day has trumped the 52 we've been given and ought to celebrate correctly before we get around to making any of our own. But I've always maintained that it's a matter of liberty when it comes to individual celebration (still think it ought to be verboten on the ecclesiastical level, but that's another story) of the day, and I choose to exercise my liberty in a way that causes minimal strife on the homefront every December.

Even if we did nothing with decorations, gifts, treats, days off and whatnot around here, (and who knows, one day TLomL might go for that--probably after Arnold's out of the house) we'd probably still listen to the music. Something about it, I just love Christmas music. "Traditional" carols/songs, new ones, new takes on traditional songs, pretty much all of it.

By the way, a great new Christmas album--A Very Mylo Christmas--has just been released and you can listen to demos, purchase CDs and downloads over at www.farmboymusic.com. (that's www.farmboymusic.com: your source for the best farm-based humor on the Internet) This album also features some very nice Christmas music by Clyde & Janet Bauman in addition to the funny stuff from Mylo.

This list is the least serious of the bunch, and some of the favorites of both myself and the Offspring.

1. Jingle Bells - BNL When this track is played, it's officially Christmas season in the Newton household. The Offspring go nuts.


2. Merry Christmas, I Don't Want to Fight Tonight - The Huntingtons a cover of that Tradional Old English Carole made famous by Joey Ramone.


3. You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch - Sixpence None the Richer Is there any song that Leigh Nash and the crew can't make sound better? Nope.


4. You Gotta Get Up - Five Iron Frenzy not quite as sappy as the Mullins original, but captures the feel


5. Elf's Lament - BNL Okay, time to get political. Who takes the time to consider the plight of the North Pole Laborers?


6. Santa Claus - Harry Connick, Jr. Toe-tapping goodness. We generally have to listen to this one 2 or 3 times when it comes up on iTunes here.


7. Christmas Day - MxPx Because nothings better than melodic punk to celebrate the day. (this one might actually have the best 'message' on this list)


8. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jane Krakowski Had to be done.


9. Jingle Bells - Diana Krall Whoops. Repeat of the first track. Ah well. This one's for those who don't appreciate the Batman-Smells verse


10. Winter Wonderland - Steve Taylor Not the best version of this song in my library, but hey, it's Steve Taylor.


11. The Chipmunk Song - The Lost Dogs No comment needed.


12. Christmas at Ground Zero - Weird Al The Cold War Classic. First non-traditional Christmas song I got to know. You can blame this entire playlist on this one track.