december

I just mailed out your CDs today, so . . .

Ladies, I'll be honest: I'm really nervous about how you'll feel about December's mix. Nervous because it's been a long time since I've made a mix tape. How long? Well, I just called it a Mix Tape. Nervous because a Christmas-songs CD in December is so predictable. Nervous because I think the idea is to exchange and experience new music, but you've likely heard all of these songs before. Still, I hope you'll see why I chose what I did. And if you don't understand, or like it, well, you'll just have to wait until my next turn to see what I've got to offer.

Let's begin with the underlying theme: is this CD all about being Canadian? You'd think so. Let me be clear: I adore the Barenaked Ladies, and have for a very long time. Also to be made clear: they're better (with the exception of maybe - MAYBE - three songs) when they're being silly than when they're trying to be serious. And, they've recorded quite a lot of holiday songs. You'll hear them often on this mix, and even more than once in a row. Faux pas? Sorry. It's my first time here on the Lib.

Also, I feel the need to confess: I have this weird posessive feeling about certain songs, bands, whathaveyou, and this immature feeling applies to a few songs here. I admit to feeling a slight rage when I hear some of these songs played on the radio or at the mall. "Hey! You can't play that! That's MY song! I had it first! Stop whoring it out at your leisure!" You dig?

And I do love Christmas music. Well . . . I love some Christmas music. I've come to believe, over the past few years, that everyone should have a collection, however large or small, of Christmas music (and Christmas movies! Buy Stalking Santa today!) that they enjoy. This happens to be a compilation of my favorites, which is nice to have put together so I don't have to keep changing CDs to only listen to the one (or two, or whatever) track(s) that I enjoy. Also, as a gift to you, there will be no "O Holy Night." Because everyone thinks they can sing that song. But they can't.

On with the mix . . .

track #1: Carol of the Bells, Barenaked Ladies. I am skeptical of pianists as valid contributors to bands, but I do so like the way that Kevin Hearn plays. Did you know that of all 5 guys in the band, he was the youngest when he lost his virginity? I wish I didn't know that, and I wish it didn't come to mind everytime I hear him play.

track #2: Happy XMas (War Is Over), Sarah McLachlan. I came thisclose to using Sense Field's version of this song, but at the last minute chose Sarah's because, well, it's just more beautiful. This song, in general, has never been a personal favorite, but this year it's heart-warming to me. Yes, I know people in Iraq, just like you do. I'm not making a political statement, but thinking about my friends and family missing their loved ones who are currently on the other side of the planet, hurts.

track #3: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings, BNL & Sarah McLachlan. Hey, just because you have heard a song before doesn't mean it's not good. Yes, even if it's played on some radio stations every twenty minutes. I like this because it was an impromptu recording, backstage somewhere, and there is no drum -- Tyler's drumming on a suitcase or something.

track #4: Sleigh Ride, BNL. Go on and sing along. You know the words. Okay, enough. We'll break from them now.

track #5: Bizarre Christmas Incident, Ben Folds. Oh, Ben. You're so edgy.

track #6: Christmas Song, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds. Yes, I'm from THAT era. Big DMB fan. I know that this song shows up on most holiday compilations nowadays, but this is filed away in my made-up "ownership" category, and I can't help that I still dig it. This version, from the Live at Luther College CD, is my favorite.

track #7: River, Indigo Girls. I debated over which artist to include for this song and ultimately went for Indigo Girls because it's their version I knew first. I can't explain why I love this song so much...maybe because it addresses some very real hopelessness and sadness at a time of year when most people are pretending it doesn't exist.

track #8: Christmas Day, Dido. Awwww . . .

track #9: Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth, Paul Jacobsen & Amy Gileadi. This song is on a new CD that was produced by my friend Scott Wiley. The CD is called Mary's Lullaby: Christmas Songs for Bedtime and it's billed as a children's lullaby CD. Amy and Scott were in a band called Sunfall Festival, and though that project is not currently working together, certain of its members occassionally do. Something about the way that the words, "Mary nodded," come across really touches me. Maybe it's the fact that there's no blaring snare drum incessantly getting in the way of listening to the song.

track #10: [upside-down question mark]Donde Esta Santa Claus?, Guster. This is one of the songs that my kids love to listen to year-round. Can you blame them? Who wouldn't want to hear some nice Jewish boys singing about Santa Claus? Speaking of Jewish . . .

track #11: I Have a Little Dreidel, BNL. Because you only know some of the words. Now you can know them all.

track #12: Deck The Stills, BNL. Seriously, how could I not?

track #13: Silent Night, Lisa Hannigan. For the grrrrl in all of us.

track #14: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear, Sixpence None The Richer.

track #15: Polly Anderson's Christmas Party, Stewart McLean. Okay, WARNING! This is not a song. This track is a story, and it's about twenty-three minutes long. My feelings are not hurt if you don't enjoy it, but I think it's rather funny, and even relaxing.

track #16: Wonderful Christmastime, BNL. This song isn't so much about the Napoleon Dynamite-esque blurb of music as much as it's about what directly follows.

So, listen, and don't get stuck.