Thursday, December 31, 2009

Amateur Night






















Happy New Year's Eve, folks.

In a wacky set of circumstances, our final Top Ten Albums of the Year list got eaten by my computer. No really. Hilarious, I know. So look for the Top 10 this Monday. Sorry, I knew how much y'all were looking forward to it...

For now, here's a couple of ditties to help ring in the New Year.

Have a good Holiday.

Roy Milton and His Solid Serenaders: New Year's Resolution Blues (mp3)

Johnny Otis: Happy New Year Baby (mp3)

Charles Brown: Bringing In A Brand New Year (mp3)

Please support your local, independent Distillery this festive eve.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Here On The Range I Belong....





























And...now it's Day 3 (of 4) of our Top Records Of 2009, eventually taking you straight into the New Year.

Slightly longer rambling in the album reviews today, as we're gearing up towards the Big Ten. Sorry about that (not like anyone reads these things anyway).

Before we jump in, jump in, jump in, here's our favorite record labels of the year. Take it for what it's worth, but please consider supportin' 'em, cuz they're helping to keep great music, old and new alike, comin' at yr busted-ass eardrums. There are plenty more great labels out there (including the fledgling High-Ball Rec....ooops, that would be telling), so support your favorites!

Favorite Record Labels Of The Year

Big Legal Mess
Mississippi Records
Goner Records
Columbus Discount Records

Now then, let's hit the list. Part 3 in a 4-part series!

The BRCM Top Albums Of 2009, Part 3 (Of 4!)


20.

Useless Eaters: Agoraphobic 7"

Useless Eaters: Sucked In 7"

Underground scuzz at it's finest in years. Main man Seth Sutton kicks the speakers all to hell and rides the volts to oblivio(a)n. More fuckin' rawk, please.

Useless Eaters: Information Freak (mp3)


19.

M.Ward: Hold Time

Ward rocks out a bit (but just a bit, ya know?), but still resides in the canyon, a harvest sun sepia-filtered through rain and low-lying clouds. Joined on this record by She and Him pal, Zooey Deschanel, which is probably all you really need to know.

M. Ward: Shangri-La (mp3)



18.

CoCoComa: Things Are Not All Right

What we said back when: "...What they play is a slobberbone style of our old favorite garage-trash punk. No reinventing the wheel here, but they do it better than anyone else. Sorta like the glory days of New Bomb Turks and the Oblivians, when all other bands sounded like pretenders to the throne, Cococoma takes their sound to dizzying heights of surging organ, caveman stomp drums, and shattered, savage guitar. With Bill Roe's vocals howling and sniping over the proceedings, it's like the second coming of The Stooges. Yeah, really."

CoCoComa: It Won't Be Long (mp3)


17.

The Clean: Mister Pop

It's always a glorious day, every six years or so, when the world is gifted with a new record from God's favorite band, New Zealand's The Clean. Brothers David and Hamish Kilgour along with The Bats' Robert Scott make some of the breeziest organ-drenched,VU-inspired Kiwi pop, swirled and Autumnal. A breath and it's gone, with only the glow of a dappled day and star-filled night naggin' a hummin' tune in yr head. It's a long way from the seminal "Tally Ho" single of days yore, but there's a reason every indie band worth its salt, from Guided By Voices to Yo La Tengo, cite these cats as the pinnacle of influence. We're gonna have a longer post dedicated to 'em down the line.

The Clean: In The Dreamlife You Need A Rubber Soul (mp3)


16.

A.A. Bondy: When The Devil's Loose

Another stunner from Bondy, following last year's "American Hearts". The darkest corners of Americana (not the music genre, but the actual "experience" and states of being) explored here, then, in a voice cracked with age beyond years. The heart is, indeed, a lonely hunter, and Bondy chases fireflies with a net made of sand and dusty floorboards. A lovely record, by camp-fire bejeweled and moon un-howled.

A.A. Bondy: I Can See The Pines Are Dancing (mp3)


15.

Box Elders: Alice And Friends

Like the Archies and the Modern Lovers, post-coital, taped on a busted four-track, taking better drugs, and twice as fast. These whippersnappers know the value of a 2-minute song, and pump their organ straight into yr face, punky and spiked, fuzzy melodic. Pure garbage can pop for now people.

The Box Elders: Death Of Me (mp3)


14.

The A Bones: Not Now

What we said earlier: "...The A-Bones are a swinging, shimmying, stompin' stew of sax-skronkin' sin and sleaze. Taking the tropes of 50's teen dance euphoria, mixing in the danger of black sunglasses, devil-driven rock'n'billy, and opening up the garage doors onto suburban streets, The A-Bones recognize the similarity of the sock hop and the strip club, barely controlled sex urge grunting yeah, baby yeah. It's milkshake-shakin' rumble, tribal poundin', guitar frenzy, finger poppin' rebellion, with the needle on the record, and go,caveman,go."

The A-Bones: Shallow Grave (mp3)


13.

Bobby Ubangi: Inside The Mind Of...

Bobby Ubangi died earlier this year, and we'll have more to say about that later. What he left behind is a few singles and this stunner of a record. Short, sharp, and shocked like a cracked egg, helium-laced, girl-obsessed and full of piss and vinegar. This is a record folks'll be talking about for years.

Bobby Ubangi: Another Girl Like You (mp3)

12.

Chooglin': Sweet Time

A big, big fuckin' sound, horn section and all. Southern-style fried boogie'n'blues, hard ground and revelation-bound, hallelujah. Pop down yr car windows and blast this puppy, watch the road melt in the rear view mirror.

Chooglin': Risin' Sun (mp3)

11.

Jack O And The Tennessee Tearjerkers: Disco Outlaw

Jack Oblivian: Saturday Night Part 2

Jack Oblivian continues to make great record after great record, and this year we get two LP's (well, one's kind of an E.P., and he had a couple of singles, but you know what we mean). Earlier this year we wrote "...a strong Country streak lingering at the edges, and a nod (as good as a wink) to The Faces' brand of bar band boogie, but pressed and squeezed into a Memphis rhythm'n'booze grease pit. His voice is still there, a dried corn-husk of a sneer, snot-flecked and leering. But, with a vignette-heavy songwriting maturity, he creates a rawkin' ramble of lowdown sleaze, bad attitude and bad intentions, pistols and pussy, and southern-style burned down house-party." And that sums it up. If you love the rock and the roll, then these two platters will find your salvation waiting at the doorway to yr soul.

Jack Oblivian and The Tennessee Tearjerkers: Ditch Road (mp3)

Jack Oblivian and The Tennessee Tearjerkers: Walk Of Shame (mp3)


Jack Oblivian: Milkshake Baby (mp3)

Part 4, the Big Top Ten tomorrow. Any guesses?

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Deep In My Heart Is A Song...
























Welcome back.

Today we're proud to present Part 2 of our Top Records of 2009. Please refer to yesterday's post for the full info on how this is all gonna go down.

Some bonus stuff, first.

Band Of The Year: The Black Diamond Heavies (constant touring, including two revelatory sets that we got to see, a brand new Live Album, and older records that never left our playlist). We wrote about 'em here.

Music Festival of the Year: The Deep Blues Festival (Duh. But it's actually our Festival Of The Decade. Yeah, it was that good.)

Book Of The Year: Blood's A Rover by James Ellroy

We'll have some more of these little random Best Of's over the next couple of days.

But, now, what y'all are bated breathing for...Part 2 (of 4) of our Best Records Of The Year.

The BRCM Top Albums Of 2009, Part 2




33.

NoBunny: Raw Romance cassette

Man-child filth monger with bubblegum in his soul.

Nobunny: Masks On (mp3)


32.

Outer Spacist: Mind Is As Outer Space 7"

Sun Ra on punk planet, gritty afterburn like stars on fire.

Outer Spacist: I Talk With Telepathy Baby (mp3)


31.

Dan Melchior: Thank You Very Much

Dan Melchior Und Das Menace: Dim Are The Lights 7"

Ex-Medway (and friend of Billy and Holly), bedsit sonic folkblues fuckery, hiss and fuzz loud, situational.

Dan Melchior: My Fiery Moon (mp3)


30.

The Chatham Singers: Juju Claudius

Billy Childish (again) and friends, making with hoo doo barn dance and hay ride.

The Chatham Singers: Angel Of Death (mp3)


The Chatham Singers: The Good Times (mp3)



29.


Califone: All My Friends Are Funeral Singers

Swirled, loping Americana kitchen sink, echoes and mantra collided, sadly beautiful between the stations on AM.

Califone: Funeral Singers (mp3)


28.

Yo La Tengo: Popular Songs

Condo Fucks: Fuckbook

Flip a coin and get two sides, one Autumnal reverie, the other a thrashed and fuzzed out ode to rawk, equally tasty.

Yo La Tengo: I'm On My Way (mp3)

Condo Fucks: So Easy Baby (mp3)


27.

Wheels On Fire: Get Famous!

Fried and blasted Replacements/Faces barstool rock'n'soul, baby.

Wheels On Fire: Can't Get A Line (mp3)


26.

Scott H. Biram: Something's Wrong/Lost Forever

A semi-truck full of woe and gut-bucket Country'n'Blues trash, boozed and bled through the deepest veins of coal and grime.

Scott H. Biram: Still Drunk, Still Crazy, And Still Blue (mp3)



25.

Eat Skull: Wild And Inside

Pop-bomb wrecked and speakers shiny with burst-guitar and vocal chicken in the road splatter-shot godhead, sprawled.

Eat Skull: Heaven's Stranger (mp3)


24.

Amen Dunes: DIA

A delicate ice-island, man in pscyh-transformer, bowed and wandering wonder, fields of sandy Mars disassembled with gulped gulfs.

Amen Dunes: Two Thousand Islands (mp3)



23.

Chain And The Gang: Down With Liberty

Protest as K-Records funk'n'groove vox spar, gettin' jiggy in sexual commie congress, mining the seam of sleaze and social satyrs for vox populii.

Chain And The Gang: Unpronounceable Name (mp3)



22.

Kurt Vile: Childish Prodigy

Strummed and freaky in the urban wilderness, concrete stumble and cracks in the sidewalk where weeds grow in technicolor rainy day rainbows.

Kurt Vile: Freak Train (mp3)


21.

Black Diamond Heavies: Alive As Fuck

Live and dirty, satan fucking a groove to the end of times, preacher hollerin' locusts and hell fire, a wail and riff into the broiling night.

The Black Diamond Heavies: Take A Ride (mp3)

Part 3 tomorrow. It just gets better...

Monday, December 28, 2009

I'll Keep Rolling Along...



























Howdy folks, and welcome to our annual Best Of 2009 list.

As ever, this isn't really a list of the Best, since we're in no position to judge what records will hold their own down the line. These are simply the records we found to be our favorites, the records we listened to again and again over the past year. Regular readers will already be familiar with several of these. Perusing through some other Best Of...lists out there, from the blogs to the major music magazines, it seems we had a different take on what were great records than other folks. That's ok. It's a big tent.

We're not gonna do a Best Of The Decade list. We don't have the time, and our memory is notoriously addled. We can barely remember what came out this year.

And here is where we'd normally issue some sort of screed on the state of music, usually a rambling so-called indictment on the music industry. We're not gonna do that this year. For one, nobody cares. For two, we think there are great records coming out all the time. Maybe you won't hear them on the radio (independent and public radio excepted). There's no use getting one's underpants all in a bundle over shit you can't do anything about. Maybe the collective consciousness is over, or focused elsewhere. Maybe we'll never have another all-encompassing song or artist that captures the zeitgeist of a generation. Maybe we will. Time will tell. This is the year we realized it's ok to let things go and groove on what we love.

We bought one (1) CD this year. Everything else we purchased this year was vinyl or digital downloads or albums sent to us by kindly promoters. We got rid of a little over a thousand CD's, ripping them digitally and waving goodbye to the physical copies. Even with that, we found several hundred of those shiny frisbees we couldn't bring ourselves to part with. Such is the nature of collecting.

Some of what we got this year was pretty great. Some, not so much. These things happen.

Now, about the actual Top 50 Records Of The Year List: We're gonna do this over 4 days. Just because. By our count (and we're mathematically challenged) we've got 54 Records, and 46 Entries. Trust us, it all works out. Mostly. About 75% of the list are ripped from vinyl, and we don't feel bad about that. Write-ups on the "bottom" half will be done in short-ish, grammatically incorrect single sentences. Once we hit the really heavy hitters, we'll have a bit more to say.

We realize we're missing a ton of great records, but it's the nature of lists to create discussion (re: argument). Please tell us what we missed, or what y'all think we should take a listen to.

Are we set, then? Ok, let's get this mutha-fucker started. Remember, we're taking 4 days to get this done.

The BRCM Top Albums Of 2009, Part 1

46.

Mountain Goats: Life Of The World To Come

Psalmic smallness, and (a) god in context, life lived between the verses.

The Mountain Goats: Romans 10:9 (mp3)




45.

Hex Dispensers: Winchester Mystery House

Boy/Girl chanted punk rawk, baby, surging electric to yr skull.

The Hex Dispensers: Doomsday Romantic (mp3)

44.

Times New Viking: Born Again Revisited

Louder than god, (out of) tunier than sugar, the future of lo-fi, whatever that is, distilled and seeped in sleaze and gutter glory.

Times New Viking: City On Drugs (mp3)

43.

Cave Singers: Welcome Joy

Back porch stomp'n'strum, the camp fire flickered, delicate and strange.

The Cave Singers: Leap (mp3)

42.

Ty Segall: Lemons

Brat-snot scuzz, cooler than your dad in leather, but mom knows better.

Ty Segall: Standing At Your Station (mp3)

41.

Thomas Function: In The Valley Of Sickness

Dylan on better drugs, popped out punky and ramped up on organ orgy and sloppy seconds.

Thomas Function: How Does It Feel (mp3)

40.

Kid Congo And The Pink Monkeys: Dracula Boots

Psycho-groove splatter trash, monster movie as noir beat.

Kid Congo and the Pink Monkeybirds: Late Night Scurry (mp3)


39.

Bike For Three: More Heart Than Brains

Buck 65 and sonic architect Greetings From Tuskan make desert-blasted end of the world love songs.

Bike For Three: Nightdriving (mp3)

38.

El Jesus De Magico: Scalping The Guru

Sprawled noise-junk, mumbled and mangled.

El Jesus De Magico: Summer of Luhv (mp3)


37.

Michael Hurley and Betsy Nichols: River In The Rain 7"

Snock returns with strangeness and beauty, running through fields in his armchair.

Michael Hurley and Betsy Nichols: Knockando (mp3)

36.

Tune-Yards: Bird-Brains

Trippy and world-watered songs in minor key country/blues/folk for carnivals.

Tune-Yards: Fiya (mp3)

35.

Mama Rosin: Brule Lament

Cajun blues-punk, yep, pogo and shimmy all the way to the fais do-do.

Mama Rosin: J'Vas Mon Chemin (mp3)

34.

Bonnie Prince Billy: Beware

Will Oldham returns to his mother the mountain, yelping strange like Palace of yore.

Bonnie Prince Billy: I Am Goodbye (mp3)

Part Two tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Vic




























Vic Chesnutt, 1964-2009.

Here's hoping he finds some peace at last.

Vic Chesnutt: Steve Willoughby (mp3)

Vic Chesnutt: Stupid Preoccupations (mp3)

"I am nearly reformed, So don't say that you weren't warned. 'Cause when I break into a smile that is aching, It may be too ugly to look on."

Thursday, December 24, 2009

...Then Danced Through The Night


























Well. We've reached the end of our annual Holiday madness. Hope we've helped to make your Season a little brighter, or, at least, more entertaining. Our Top 50 Records list begins Monday.

Shane MacGowan turns 52 tomorrow, what many folks recognize as Christmas Day.

We wrote this last year, but our feeling hasn't changed:

"As the world continues to revolve, and uncertainty and worry become the de riguer fallback for those concerned about their jobs and the state of the world, The Pogue's "Fairytale of New York" seems not so distant a tale. It's a story of people in hard and desperate times, making their way as best they know, searching for the "rivers of gold". Shane and the immortal Kirsty MacColl imbue their characters with such longing, such humanity (and all it entails), such anger, disappointment, and, yes, hope, that one can't help but find a bit of themselves in each line. The musical backdrop provided by the Pogues swells with beauty and sadness, pulling you in and sweeping you along. It's not really the story of two drunken Irish immigrants looking for a pot of gold in a far off land. It's a story of all of us, and the dreams we build."


Our favorite Christmas song, then. Happy Holidays, and we'll see you on Monday.


Once Upon A Time...

The Pogues: Fairytale Of New York (mp3)

Whatever your religion, or mode of celebration, we wish you the very best in the coming year. Thanks for spending some time 'round this little part of the world. It's a big old goofy world, and we're all tryin' to make our way. Be good to each other.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Sexy Christmas Baby






















Darlene Love was robbed. Just sayin'.

Fruitcake! We've got Fruitcake! We've got lots and lots of Fruitcake! (hum along). Man, we love fruitcakes. Can't get enough of 'em. Yummy, yum yum yum.

With a day to go, we've got a whole fruitcake of tunes to serve up. Christmas Eve, we'll have our favorite Xmas song (a no-brainer, really), and we'll follow that up (after a few days' rest) with our Top 50 List. Pretty exciting, innit it?

Assorted nuts today, to go with the Fruitcake. Beat noir from Morphine (Mark Sandman's death is still one of the saddest moments in recent musical history), Bluegrass from The Stanley Brothers, Irish punk Holiday drinking from Monkhouse, and garage kings outta Columbus, The New Bomb Turks doing an essential version of an old classic.

What, you want more? Ok. How about some old timey Country and Western from Al Dexter, 60's organ-drenched soul garagers The Galaxies, and Darlene Love and the E Street Band, doing their best 80's bar band Xmas lights strung bar band rave-up (And no, we're not apologizing. It's a great song, despite the soundtrack it's from.... It's fucking Darlene Love!)

Bonus Re-Posts
(and you'll have to wait 'til next year for more) today are a swinging, jumpin', jivin', rockin' affair. Dig it, cats: Cordell Jackson, Wanda Jackson, The Staple Singers, The Youngsters, The Kaisers, Rufus Thomas, and The Marquees! Does it get much better than this??

Santa Is A Fruitcake!


Morphine: Sexy Christmas Baby Mine (mp3)


The Stanley Brothers: Christmas Is Near (mp3)

Monkhouse: Guinness And Wine (mp3)

New Bomb Turks: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (mp3)

Al Dexter and His Troopers: Merry Christmas To All (mp3)


The Galaxies: Christmas Eve (mp3)


Darlene Love and The E Street Band: All Alone On Christmas (mp3)

Bonus Stocking Stuffer Re-Posts

Cordell Jackson: Rock'n'Roll Christmas (mp3)

Wanda Jackosn: Rockabilly Santa Claus (mp3)

The Youngsters: Christmas In Jail (mp3)


The Staple Singers: Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas (mp3)


The Marquees: Santa Done Got Hip (mp3)

The Kaisers: Merry Christmas Loopy Lu (mp3)

Rufus Thomas: I'll Be Your Santa Baby (mp3)


Sometimes a blanket, a hot meal, or a new pair of warm socks is Christmas gift enough. Please consider how the change in your pocket might affect those less fortunate. Please support whatever charities you are able to this Holiday Season. Times are tough for all of us, but if we've got internet access a place to store MP3's, we're probably better off than some. Sorry for the speech, but I'm just sayin'....

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Xmas Lights Spin




























So. A little less conversation, a little more Xmas action. One more post after today and then we hit our extra special Christmas Eve post. After that, it's our Top 50 Records Of The Year, and other various and sundries. Then it's back to normalcy. We hope y'all have enjoyed our little bit of Holiday insanity. We do this every year, and Mrs. Mountain has been eternally patient.

More mixed bag of toys today (and probably tomorrow).

We got an email from a feller who shared a couple of great Christmas tracks from Country/Blues/Bar Band geniuses, Better Off Dead. We're officially converts, based on their Christmas songs alone. Both tunes are the kind of boozy, slightly nihilistic, Yuletide cheer(s) we love so dearly round these part. Essential Christmas listening, we say. The tracks come from the record "A King Family Christmas", which was a benefit album for musicians who were victims of Hurricane Katrina. So well worth your time. And the songs kick serious Big Rock Candy Mountain-style ass.

Following that, we've got a little revved-up hot-rod punk from The Groovie Ghoulies, more punk from Goldblade, featuring the immortal Poly Styrene (Yes! That Poly Styrene!), and, finally, a bummer trimming from indie legends, The Radar Brothers.

For our Bonus Re-Posts, we've got some of our favorite bands/artists hitting the Holiday tip. Most of these tunes are...well...kinda bummers. But that's ok. Nuthin' says Christmas like a lonely night with a drink in hand and the Xmas lights a'spinnin'. Your Holiday bonuses are brought to you by Red Red Meat (now Califone), The Palace Brothers, Mary Gauthier, Okkervil River, The Willard Grant Conspiracy, and Mark Eitzel. Oh my. That's a hell of a line up. Enjoy, but don't hate yourself.

Xmas Lights Spin!

Better Off Dead: All I Got For Christmas Was Drunk (mp3)


Better Off Dead: Alchoholiday (mp3)


Goldblade W/ Poly Styrene: City Of Christmas Ghosts (mp3)

Groovie Ghoulies: Christmas On Mars (mp3)

The Radar Brothers: This Xmas Eve (mp3)

Bonus Stocking Stuffer Re-Posts


Red Red Meat: There's A Star Above The Manger Tonight (mp3)

Palace Brothers: Christmastime In The Mountains (mp3)

Mary Gauthier: Christmas In Paradise (mp3)


Okkervil River: Listening To Otis Redding At Home During Christmas (mp3)

Willard Grant Conspiracy: Christmas In Nevada (mp3)

Mark Eitzel: Xmas Lights Spin (mp3)

Have a Swell Season.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Funky Santa Train


























So what is your favorite Xmas song? We're partial to "Good King Wenceslas", so far as traditional-type Holiday songs go. But our very favorite is...well, regular readers already know, I suspect. And newer visitors can probably guess. But if you haven't a clue, stayed tuned, as we'll get to it later this week. Gosh...

What to say about today's Xmas jingles? Some funky Soul and boogie Blues, that's what. Oh, and one of 'em's about a Christmas train. How Big Rock Candy Mountain is that? Oh, and, also, one of the these songs is most definitely Not Safe For Work, or for the young'uns. You can probably guess which one. So thanks to The Soul Saints Orchestra, Carey Bell, the eternally filthy Rudy Ray Moore, and Mel Brown and His Homewreckers for a little Joy to the World today.

Bonus Re-Posts are all kinds of delicious Country and Western treats. I mean, how can you possibly go wrong with Tinsel tunes from Jim Lauderdale, Roger Miller, Jerry Reed, Dolly Parton, John Prine, and Merle Haggard? You can't go wrong at all. And for those wondering where the classic Ernest Tubb and George Jones Christmas songs are...well, every time we post something by them, we get a smack down from their record labels. We're already on thin ice as it is. Sorry. But we hope we've more than made up for the glaring blank spot in our Holiday posts.

Funky Santa Train!



Soul Saints Orchestra: Santa's Got A Bag Of Soul (mp3)


Carey Bell: Christmas Train (mp3)

Rudy Ray Moore: Night Before Christmas, Part 2 (mp3)


Mel Brown And The Homewreckers: Don't Plan No Party This Christmas (mp3)


Bonus Stocking Stuffer Re-Posts

Jim Lauderdale: Holly And Her Mistletoe (mp3)


Roger Miller: Old Toy Trains (mp3)

Jerry Reed: Christmas Time's A Comin' (mp3)


Dolly Parton: Hard Candy Christmas (mp3)


John Prine: Silent Night All Day Long (mp3)

Merle Haggard: Goin' Home For Christmas (mp3)

Got any change left? Please consider dropping it into those ubiquitous red buckets, or charity of your choice. Thanks.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas Dinner
























Jingle bells, Batman smells...Did I mention we have an Aluminum Christmas tree? It's slightly trippy if you stare at it too long.

Just a reminder that our World-renowned Best Of 2009 list is coming up (the week between Xmas and New Year's). We're still evaluating, re-ranking, deleting and adding, so we don't yet have a true preview of what y'all can expect. Oh, wait. Our number one record of the year is set in stone. So, there's that. Betcha can't wait.

Oh, yes, Christmas tunes.

Goin' back to the well, and hittin' up the Hee Haw Holiday Ho Ho's. Charley Pride, Bobby Bare, Tennessee Ernie Ford,Bill Anderson, and Cathy Sharpe are here to twang it's way into our Grinch-ish hearts. A little sentimental, a little rockin', and a whole lotta love, by cracky.

We're going alternately naughty and loopy with our bonus-reposts today. Suspicious characters such as Johnny Guarnieri, C.W. Stoneking, King Coleman, Mae West, and Eddy Clearwater (with Los Straightjackets) all step out of the asylum for Christmas break with tales of pot-smokin' Santa's, greed, sex, and insanity. Oh yes. And the Eddy Clearwater song offers a little hope, which aint such a bad thing at all.

Twang-Time Santa!

Charley Pride: Santa And The Kids (mp3)

Bobby Bare: Christmas In My Smokey Mountain Home (mp3)


Tennessee Ernie Ford: Christmas Dinner (mp3)


Bill Anderson: Po Folks Christmas (mp3)

Cathy Sharpe: North Pole Rock (mp3)

Bonus Stocking Stuffer Re-Posts

Johnny Guarnieri: Santa's Secret (mp3)

C.W. Stoneking: On A Christmas Day (mp3)

King Coleman: Blue Grey Christmas (mp3)

Mae West: Put The Loot In The Boot Santa (mp3)

Eddy Clearwater w/Los Straightjackets: Good Time Coming (mp3)

Please consider giving what you can, helping out your local, independent businesses, and having a peaceful Holidays.