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The CHIRP Blog
DS writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2014: Andrew Stola
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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2014. Our next list is from CHIRP volunteer Andrew Stola.
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Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesTop 25 Christmas Songs of the Last 25 Years: #24 - The Hives and Cyndi Lauper, “A Christmas Duel”
It's the holiday season, which means Christmas music. Lots and lots or Christmas music, most of which was written before the people listening to it were even alive. While "Jingle Bells" and "We Three Kings" are great, and resilient, we're devoting this year to finding the best Christmas song written since 1989. We continue today with #24, and a duet from two unlikely collaborators.
#24: The Hives and Cyndi Lauper, "A Christmas Duel" (2008)
Come on a holiday journey with me for a minute. First, think of "Fairytale In New York," one of the Pogues' greatest songs and the tune that would probably top this list if it hadn't come out in 1987. Remember the couple from that song, the ones whose sentimental deathbed reunion can still wring boozy tears from all but the most flint-hearted of Scrooges? They're great, right? Now, imagine how they must've been years before, back when they were younger and healthier and still being total assholes to each other.
Such is the scenario suggested by "A Christmas Duel," a swaggering carol of infidelity and antagonism that features Howlin' Pelle Almqvist of Swedish garage journeymen The Hives trading suggestive, profanity-laced barbs with none other than Cyndi Lauper. In a genre loaded with high-profile, ill-advised duets (lookin' at you, Bing Crosby and David Bowie), this one is the definitely the least schmaltzy. No wonder it's also probably the most fun.
Clarence Ewing: The Million Year Trip writesCHIRP Radio Best of 2014: Clarence Ewing
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Throughout December, CHIRP Radio presents its volunteers’ top albums of 2014. Our next list is from DJ and Blog Manager Clarence Ewing. One of the reasons I like posting these end-of-year lists is it gives me the chance to read the choices of my fellow volunteers and discover a lot of great music I missed over the year. The hard part is finding the time and resources to listen to all this stuff. A nice problem to have, for sure. Now that Apple has decided to stop making iPods (one of the bigger and more symbolic stories in music news this year, IMO), will I soon have to worry about how I will carry around my entire music collection wherever I go, which I've decided is now my right? Walkman, it's time for a comeback! |
SHROSS writesJoin on on Dec. 3rd for Cold Specks at Schubas!
Chirp is thrilled to welcome one of our favorite Northern neighbors back to Chicago. On December 3rd, Canadian songstress Al Spx, performing as Cold Specks, will be holding court at Schubas. Her second album, the critically acclaimed Neuroplasticity, dropped in August and since then, has been awing audiences with its graceful power.
For her latest record, Spx chose to collaborate with a variety of musicians, resulting in more of an experimental sound. Artists like jazz trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire and bass clarinetist Chris Cundy, add a bold, jazzy kick to Spx's soulful rock vocals.
Before the show, take a moment to experience the haunting talent that is Cold Specks...
Cold Specks will be performing at 9:00PM on December 3 at Schubas. Tickets cost $12.00 and are available for purchase online at www.lh-st.com. Please keep in mind that this show is 21+.
Tyler Clark presents: Local Mythologies writesTop 25 Christmas Songs of the Last 25 Years: #25 - The Posies, “Christmas”
It's the holiday season, which means Christmas music. Lots and lots or Christmas music, most of which was written before the people listening to it were even alive. While "Jingle Bells" and "We Three Kings" are great, and resilient, we're devoting this year to finding the best Christmas song written since 1989. We begin today, with #25.
#25: The Posies, "Christmas" (1996)
I'm going to open this countdown with a bold assertion: compared to the 2000s, the '90s were a terrible time for indie-rock Christmas tunes. Whether it was fatigue from the charity single explosion of the mid-1980s or the slack-assed Gen-X jadedness that colored most of the decade, it suddenly stopped being cool to write your own holiday music if you weren't Mariah Carey or NSYNC.
Fortunately, the Posies were fine with being squares. On the simply-titled "Christmas," singer Ken Stringfellow quietly turns in one the best performances on Geffen Records' 1996 Christmas compilation Just Say Noel. Instead of hiding behind irony (Sonic Youth's "Santa Doesn't Cop Out on Dope") or turning in a smirking adaptation of a classic (Beck's "The Little Drum Machine Boy"), the Posies' frontman does what he does best: sing a delicate song about feeling uncool feelings at a time of year when everyone else is happy. It's the best (and most melancholy) four minutes on the entire compilation, and one of the finest holiday songs from a decade not known for them.