| Last week, renowned Christmas carol expert William Studwell lamented — in these very MidWeek pages — the lack of quality Christmas carols since the dawn of the rock ‘n’ roll era. OK, Mr. Studwell, I give you Kenny G, Mariah Carey and anything involving Santa Claus kissing someone. But, deep within the track listings of a few recent albums, the last few years have revealed artists who, if nothing else, allow for some refresher time when ol’ Bing’s on repeat. Here are but a few: Guster – “Donde Esta Santa Claus” Available on iTunes This cover of an Augie Rios tune brims with a spirit more infectious than the flu around a holiday party punchbowl. The members of Guster, with an energy seen |
| Various Artists |
| Recent Christmas music |
 |
| in hits like “Amsterdam,” boozily pluck away at hand-me-down instruments without a care in the world, building up to a chorus of “Ole! Ole! San-ta Claus!” yelps. The ditty reminds us that Santa’s sleigh doesn’t confine itself to snow-covered landscapes.
Badly Drawn Boy – “Donna and Blitzen” Available on the About a Boy soundtrack album Not all holiday tunes are plucked from albums with snowscape album covers. One-man-band Damon Gough takes his trademark brand of intricate pop songs and infuses it with the type of buildup that makes any fan of The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” proud. Finger-snaps give way to pounding piano, urgent strings and a yearning and burning selection of vocals. Gough meshes the need for love and the normal season-induced emotions like red and green on a present wrapping, and when he repeats, “I will … I will … I will …,” there’s no reason to doubt him. Redbone and Zooey Deschanel – “Baby It’s Cold Outside” Available on the Elf soundtrack album Old classics never die — they just wait for reinterpretations. What could have been a throwaway vanity track spins and warbles, but never falls over. In what may be the season’s most flirtatious song (and its most glowing endorsement of cold-weather drinking), the actress Deschanel sounds unadorned and real … something at least Charlie Brown looks for as the shopping days countdown hits single digits. |
| Originally published in a December edition of The MidWeek, as written by Hank Brockett |