Merry Christmas!

Hello everyone! I probably won't post on Christmas day but I just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Sherwood family!

Various Artists - "Fleas Naughty Dog, Vol. 1"

Various Artists - Fleas Naughty Dog, Vol. 1
2010, Rottweiler

1. "O Holy Night" - Tim Bushong
2. "Silent Night" - Bridgeshadows
3. "Little Drummer Boy" - Blissed
4. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" - True Liberty
5. "Anti-Santa's Coming to Town" - Eistein Savage
6. "What Child is This?" - Coriolis
7. "Angels We Have Heard On High" - Marty Warren
8. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" - Grave Robber
9. "Christmas For Real" - Harry Gore
10. "Jingle Bells" - Confessions of a Sinner
11. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" - Leper
12. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" - False Idle
13. "All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" - Fire Born
14. "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent" - Frost Like Ashes
15. "O Come All Ye Faithful" - Cryo-Mancer
16. "Holidays Suck" Desiring Dead Flesh

Fleas Naughty Dog, Vol 1 was a sampler put out by the fledgling Rottweiler Records last year. They were offering it for free, so of course I had to check it out given my love of both metal and Christmas music. The results are somewhat mixed but it's hard to complain about something that was free - so I'll just hit the highlights. Grave Robber's "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is naturally stellar. Sometimes I think these guys can do no wrong. Einstein Savage, a rock-a-billy type band, lends an original song, "Anti-Santa is Coming to Town." It's catchy and quite amusing - one of my favorites on the comp. Marty Warren's thrash take on "Angels We Have Heard on High" impresses as well. Coriolis turn in a techno version of "What Child is This?" that has successfully creeped out my wife. Speaking of which, remember on the Deliverance tribute CD where I said Leper sounded like Devo? Well, they don't sound like that here. They've provided one of the most tortured, angsty versions of a Christmas song I have ever heard. I'm not sure I like it, per se - but it is different. Confessions of a Sinner's thrashy "Jingle Bells" is a lot of fun. While there were some low points for me, there's enough cool material to make it worth the download.

Useless Fact: As I understand it, Rottweiler Records is prepping Fleas Naughty Dog, Vol. 2 for release soon. It will have some new artists on it as well as the tracks from Vol. 1. Head over to their homepage and check it out!

Slow Month....

Hey everyone!

It's been a pretty slow month, musically speaking. Haven't gotten much at all this month because we've still been broke. However, I will be getting some good stuff for Christmas! In fact, I've been doing a lot of exploring on Itunes for new bands and I've heard some great stuff. The first being Fair to Midland - a crazy "progressive" metal band. I say "progressive" because they're not like Dream Theater or anything. They're much more modern - LOTS of great hooks. The other one is 3. Yes, 3. They kind of sound a bit like Coheed & Cambria. Lance King has also just released a solo album called "A Moment in Chiros." The samples I've heard sound awesome. Grave Robber's new album is also finally on its way to my house!

So, it'll be slow until the end of the month, then things will be better. Hope you're all having a good month!

Cole, Nat King - "Chestnuts Roastin'"

Cole, Nat King - Chestnuts Roastin'
1991, Cema Special Markets

1. The Christmas Song
2. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
3. O Little Town of Bethlehem
4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
5. Away in a Manger
6. O Come All Ye Faithful
7. O Holy Night
8. The First Noel
9. Silent Night
10. Caroling, Caroling

I bought this a many years back at a pawn shop in Ft. Wayne. It was cheap. It was probably cheap when it originally came out. In fact, I suspect this was bought as an impulse item at a grocery store. That's okay though because it's friggin' Nat King Cole. He's one of the "Big 3" for me in terms of Christmas music (the other two being Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra). While the quality of the packaging may be on the flimsy side, the music is not. After all, what bad can be said about Nat King Cole? I mean, really. Back in the day the man was probably singing in clubs that he wouldn't have even been allowed to enter normally. He's got a silky smooth voice and even his non-Christmas music is timeless. I feel compelled to inform you that if you'd like to add some Nat to your Christmas music library there are many, many collections out there. All of which I am sure are better than this one.

Useless Fact: Dave Chappell did a little skit about Nat King Cole and objectifying women. It was very, very vulgar. But also very funny!

The Glenn Miller Orchestra - "In the Christmas Mood"

The Glenn Miller Orchestra - In the Christmas Mood
1991, Delta

1. Sleigh Ride
2. Yuletide Melody No. 1 (Oh Holy Night/Joy to the World/O Little Town of Bethlehem)
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
4. Silver Bells
5. Jingle Bells
6. Frosty the Snowman
7. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
8. Yuletide Melody No. 2 (O Christmas Tree/It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)
9. I'll Be Home For Christmas
10. Silent Night
11. In the Christmas Mood

This disc is excellent, even though I'm not a huge fan of big band music. Not to say I don't like it because - surprisingly enough, I do. However, I find that, for me at least, it's much more background music than something that really engages my soul. Of course, the fact that it's Christmas makes it instantly better and more listenable to me. Yeah, I know it's weird. The Glenn Miller Orchestra expertly delivers these timeless Christmas melodies with style. Style. Like suits and ties and fedoras style. The type of old tyme style we don't have now. In the Christmas Mood makes a great soundtrack to whatever holiday activities you're engaging in.

Useless Fact: Um... didn't Glenn Miller go missing or die in a plane crash or something? Yeah... you can tell how well-versed I am in Glenn Miller! Someone better informed can fill us in on his fate.