Death by Christmas Music

I’m on day 8 without power – I’ve become a local geek refugee, fluttering from coffeeshop to coffeshop in search of quiet places to work.

I’ve discovered the neurotic edges of my writing habits: I can’t write a word if I people are talking nearby, fiddling with newspapers within eyeshot, or if there is bad music playing overhead – escpecially the sonic evil that is bad Christmas music.

There is nothing festive about the relentless attack of dull, trite, treekly trash that passes for Christmas music in most stores and cafes. Who thinks this is fun? And do we really need to play it continually, on repeat, unless the goal is to get people to leave (or confess their sins). Can’t we mix it in? Like 1 holiday tune for 2 regular ones?

Or perhaps in the infinity of alternative and world music, there’s something more authentic than cheezy retreads of retreads of Christmas standards?� (Why cover a song in exactly the same tempo, style and sound of the original? I’ll never know).

So dear readers: do you have alternative holiday tunes or playlist of actually good holiday music? Perhaps world music? Colombian quartets doing the twelve nights? Punk rockers doing silent night? Anyone have a creative playlist for this time of year?

Help me out – you can save me and my book deadlines :)

Posted Thursday, December 21st, 2006 at 3:13 pm

in humor, music | 23 Comments » |

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Ric - December 21, 2006 at 3:52 pm #

I’m afraid your Christmas music salvation will have to depend on someone else – I don’t know of ANY Chrstmasy music I’d recommend for someone trying to author a book (I can only recommend it for people anxious to become inebriated – it’s a great excuse to drink).

Despite the power outage and bad muzak, I hope you manage to enjoy the season …

Scott Berkun - December 21, 2006 at 4:26 pm #

There was a brief NPR segment I caught on one of the staff’s funky Christmas music selection: I heard two songs I liked. One was a techno version of silent night (called, I believe, “Angry silent night”). The other sounded like Gogol Bordello doing another classic (possibly jingle bells). Both were funny and interesting – I could totally listen to stuff like that for an hour.

But writing aside, I’ll take all recommendations for any kind of good, less than mainstream, holiday music choices.

Tiff - December 21, 2006 at 4:59 pm #

http://www.djbc.net/santastic/

DJ BC is a mashup DJ of rather remarkable quality. His Santastic album is *completely* unhelpful if you have to work. But if you don’t have to work, it’ll bump up your traditional xmas tunes. Probably better for the attention-deficit set.

Paul - December 21, 2006 at 6:24 pm #

The good folks at Gourd Music put out a couple of discs of lovely Victorian instrumental carols by Robin Petrie:

http://www.gourd.com/catalog.html

…they also publish the most excellent “A Toolbox Christmas” by Woody Phillips. Which is, admittedly, most excellent in a delightfully broken way.

There’s also this:

http://www.pittsburghcamerata.org/apw.htm

…which is a nice sampling of (among other things) some of the music of Eastern European traditions.

Josh Maher - December 21, 2006 at 7:39 pm #

hehe, I can’t offer you christmas refuge, but I have a spare bedroom (North Seattle) with Wifi that are you are welcome to crash in for the day…

I am usually working on my book in the family or living room (so there isn’t much for interuption during the day). I couldn’t imagine trying to write at a coffee shop!!

Jason Kemp - December 21, 2006 at 10:44 pm #

I totally agree with you on the Christmas music. The only album I can tolerate is Barenaked for the Holidays by the Barenaked Ladies.

Best. Jingle. Bells. Ever.

marrije - December 22, 2006 at 2:18 am #

Go classical! I love Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium, very Christmassy and not annoying at all, very good to write to.

BTW, I’m working my way through your book on Project Management at the moment, and I’m really enjoying it (also mildly grateful that my teams aren’t as large as yours were…)

Scott (admin) - December 22, 2006 at 2:36 am #

Who are all you people and where have you been all my life? Geez – While I’ve be suffering lo these many years in the sonic duldrums, you’ve all been basking in the glory of musical wisdom (then again, powerless as I’ve been, I haven’t had the chance) – thanks for sharing – you guys rock.

John Corrigan - December 22, 2006 at 4:39 am #

Warren Ellis posted a link to a version of Hark! The Herald Angels by Psy-Sci. It is an electronica style arrangement and it’s very good.

The link is at:
http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=3428

Acieed Ed - December 22, 2006 at 5:14 am #

http://www.somafm.com is actually broadcasting some “lounge” christmas music as well as a very funny “XMas in Frisco” station. Still those boring classics, but then different.

Examples her: http://somafm.com/recent/?christmas

Mal Ross - December 22, 2006 at 5:26 am #

From a UK perspective, how about the following:

Jona Lewie – “Stop The Cavalry” (1980)
Saint Etienne ft. Tim Burgess – “I Was Born On Christmas Day” (1993)
The Pogues ft. Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale of New York” (1987)

Don’t know whether they made it across the pond, but The Pogues’ tune is considered a Christmas classic on this side of the Atlantic.

Have a good holiday!

Bryan Zug - December 22, 2006 at 2:58 pm #

Sufjan Stevens Christmas (5 CD boxset, Poster, Comic Strip, Animated Video, short story, 2 intro essays, lots of original illustration, AND stickers — all for $15 at Easy Street in West Seattle) — featuring the breakout hit ‘Get Behind Me Santa’ –

http://www.asthmatickitty.com/suf_xmas/suf_xmas.php

and the always classic Bruce Cockburn Christmas — featuring 2 pub/bar song carols with “Mary Had a Baby” and “Early on One Christmas Morn”

http://www.brucecockburn.com/xmas.html

But may favorite of alltime is a song by Cockburn on a regular album called “Cry of a Tiny Babe”

http://cockburnproject.net/songs&music/coatb.html

Whatever your persuasion, it’s hard to a Christmas song with hookers ad hit squad’s dull.

andrew - December 27, 2006 at 4:53 am #

If you dig jazz and Hammond organ, you can’t miss Jimmy Smith’s “Christmas Cooking”. Also remarkable in my opinion is “Hymns, Carols and Songs About Snow” by guitar master Tuck Andress (of Tuck & Patti). Both records are excellent apart from the subject, and instrumental, which is maybe less distracting when you write.

Lori - January 3, 2007 at 4:56 pm #

I know you’ve got your power back, but still I would reccomend http://www.garageppunk.com … there are some great christmas podcasts, I especially like DixieGrrl’s. St. Louis had a nasty windstorm not too long ago and frequent power outages from our typically weird weather, I can feel ya man. Best!