Vinyl Me, D - A Free Record Club

Djxfactor511 said:
BTW - They're doing an in-studio session at my (and their) local radio station later this month. I'll be sure to post the vids once they're up. Or, if anyone's in the area (Akron, OH), I get a +1.

Excited to get my record signed! Met Bob Kidney's wife last time I saw them, but never got the chance to say hi to the man himself.
Click to expand...

Please give Bob and Janet my kind regards. Tell him to keep playing shows and eventually I'll pop up at one.
 
Yer Ol' Uncle D said:
VMD #2...

Various Artists - Psych-Out ChristmasView attachment 156639View attachment 156640

Click to expand...

I am very excited about this pick! This year I picked up a copy of Sleepy Sun's Fever LP after I was reminded up seeing them a decade ago opening for Arctic Monkeys. When this record was posted elsewhere on the forum semi-recently and I saw Sleepy Sun had a song on the comp, I almost bought it. Seems that fate has brought it to me anyway!

My wife is ready to go full on holiday season, so this will be our compromise
 
1st listen highlights:

Silent Night - keys and percussion - I'm here for it!
What Child Is This? - Ok, ok, I just really have a soft spot for Sleepy Sun
Time of the Season - Love this take on a classic

Christmas Tears - good ol' blues guitar goodness
Run Rudolph Run - If the red-nosed reindeer smoked a bowl in the desert
White Christmas - Iggy and Christmas is a match made in heaven/hell

Reactions: Me - Yeah, I can dig this. Wife - Hate :(
 
My "compilation" review..
Note: I've only listened once, due to trying to not listen to XMas music before 11/25, but these reflect my first impressions...

As someone who has a sprawling collection of yuletide tunes, it becomes more and more important to find new takes on the old favorites, as well as completely original holiday music that's never been heard before. Most people eschew Christmas music because most collections have the same old overplayed classics done by the same old overplayed classic crooners. It is precisely for this reason why Psych Out Christmas is such a hit.

We see totally new takes on classic old tunes, as well as some uniquely original holiday creations. Iggy Pop's version of "White Christmas" alone makes the CD totally worth having in your music collection, while Dead Minnow's version of "Mele Kalikimaka" and the Vacant Lots' original "No More Christmas Blues" put the icing on the cake of this fine collection. "Santa Claus" by the Fuzztones and The Movements' enigmatic version of "Little Drummer Boy" will put the heck-yeah! back in your holiday music appreciation.

There is nothing sacrilegious about this album whatsoever, it's just a few musicians having some harmless fun and supplying entertainment for those of us in dire need of new Christmas music. Some traditional classics are given a customary psychedelic makeover, with long guitar solos, sitars and spacey keyboards. Even though we're hearing the same songs, it feels very different and you don't get the same sense of numbness as when hearing the traditional Jingle Bells for the gazillionth time. Some of the artists actually made an effort to contribute their own material, which was a nice touch.

Psychedelic legend has it that Santa’s red suit is a colour-coded reference to the hallucinogenic toadstools favoured by European reindeer and used as a cheap trip by their human herders. Believe that and ‘Psych-Out Christmas’ will more than meet your needs. Elephant Stone’s sitar-drenched take on The Beatles’ ‘Christmas Time (Is Here Again)’ and The Fuzztones’ overdriven stomp through The Sonics’ ‘Santa Claus’ are the peaks, while Sons Of Hippies find a festive theme within The Zombies’ ‘Time Of The Season’. Sleepy Sun, Psychic Ills and Dead Meadow also get on board for a wayward sleigh ride through carols, classics and originals. Bizarre archive curios include a twanging ‘Jingle Bells’ instrumental by cult South Korean psych band He 5 and vintage frivolity from US voiceover artist Len Maxwell’s nonsensical 1964 album ‘A Merry Monster Christmas’. It finishes on a true high, with a drawl through ‘White Christmas’ from Santa’s favourite elf, Iggy Pop.

This isn’t really a Christmas album for the masses. Indeed, a lot of it is plain scary, but then that is why we love psych so much. If you want something a bit different this year from Santa then this is the place to come and if anything shows the sense of humour inherent in a lot of these bands. Besides, any Christmas album that has the balls to end with Iggy Pop singing ‘White Christmas’ has got to be the ultimate stocking filler. Celebrate the end of year party with some of your psych favourites, probably best served with lashings of mulled wine and mince pies.

This album blows up the stereotype of tired Christmas classics. While it might not be for Grandma, it will definitely add some special cheer (blue?) to your holidays.

Psych-Out Christmas, despite a couple of missteps, is a solid addition to your holiday music collection. It’s got lively tunes and melancholy ones, which should help you survive the tumultuousness of the season.
 
This is legitimately the first holiday themed album that I could see myself playing at other parts of the year! The sound is very much authentic to the garage, powerpop, paisley underground vibe and doesn't overemphasize (at all) the insistent bounce or overuse of jingle bells that so many holiday-themed albums do. Because of that, you can almost ignore specific lyrics and render the voice as another instrument and not realize that it's a Christmas album.

I love this! It's like if the Nuggets people put together a Christmas comp!
 
Djxfactor511 said:
First measurable snow of the season coming down. Wife out of the house.

You know what time it is.
Click to expand...
And in summary -

1668804791880.png

MadLucas said:
This is legitimately the first holiday themed album that I could see myself playing at other parts of the year! The sound is very much authentic to the garage, powerpop, paisley underground vibe and doesn't overemphasize (at all) the insistent bounce or overuse of jingle bells that so many holiday-themed albums do. Because of that, you can almost ignore specific lyrics and render the voice as another instrument and not realize that it's a Christmas album.

I love this! It's like if the Nuggets people put together a Christmas comp!
Click to expand...

I think this is part of why I like this album. I'm not a Christmas music listener. My anxieties surrounding the holiday season makes traditional Christmas music subconsciously triggering at some level. This, however, is far enough removed from the classic feel that I can properly enjoy the songs.

Djxfactor511 said:
1st listen highlights:

Silent Night - keys and percussion - I'm here for it!
What Child Is This? - Ok, ok, I just really have a soft spot for Sleepy Sun
Time of the Season - Love this take on a classic

Christmas Tears - good ol' blues guitar goodness
Run Rudolph Run - If the red-nosed reindeer smoked a bowl in the desert
White Christmas - Iggy and Christmas is a match made in heaven/hell
Click to expand...

Yep, these are definitely gonna stay as the highlights. Jammed out to the same ones without referencing this list.
 
I basically don’t choose to listen to Christmas music (but I hear it all through the season as my wife and kids love it). I’m not a Scrooge - I love the holidays and go all out putting up decorations and lights, earlier than many of you 11/25-adherents - but I just don’t really enjoy Christmas music, and I was deeply skeptical of this album, despite @Yer Ol' Uncle D’s pedigree. I was wrong - this album is awesome, and my wife and kids liked it, too!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top