EPISODE 4

EPISODE 4: A Very Snobby Christmas!

Song: 'Come On! Lets Boogie To The Elf Dance!'
Artist: Sufjan Stevens
Album: Ding! Dong! Songs For Christmas Vol. 3 (2006)
Label: Asthmatic Kitty

It’s not an indie-choon Christmas mix without a Sufjan Stevens joint, is it? No. It isn’t. As with… pretty much all of this cast’s artists, we probably would not have guessed we’d be droppin’ the genius by way of a vaguely Christmassey Snobcast – so a proposal before we tide any further Yule: every single one of these artists will destroy you if given half a chance. As impeccably gorgeous as these selections may seem – this is just the Christmas catalog, can you dig it? Please check em out at large. Sufjan in particular – a man who shaped / saved the decade, and for my money (whatever’s left) the most central musical figure in the ‘aughts’. All of this to say that I don’t even know where to start with trying to get you there if you ain’t already (Oooo. Snobby!) . But an additional fact to the legend – every year ol’ Soof makes a mixtape for family and friends containing original music he writes and covers just for the occasion. Around the time everyone was freaking out about ‘Come On and Feel the Illinoise’ these EPs started getting unearthed and internet-leaked. Around 2006 he finally released them all as a box set, and this has always been one of my favorite carols. He’s still makin’ ‘em every year, and if anyone knows where we can find this years’, just address it TO: Bunsen and Africa. 

Song: 'Winter '05'
Artist: Ra Ra Riot
Album: The Rhumb Line (2008)
Label: Barsuk

So as we dropped Vampire Weekend last cast, there was a promise that we'd include their counterparts Ra Ra Riot. Well...here ya go! Hailing strait from Syracuse, New York these gentleman started out playing university campuses and have since graduated to bigger and better stages.(ahh ha! see the wordplay there) Playing some of the country's best known 'snobinest' festivals like South by Southwest, Ra Ra Riot were even invited to rock the Iceland Airwaves Festival in Reykjavik last year. If that doesn't inspire you to check out this album...well, you may just be a lost cause. BAM! 

Song: 'Captain Easychord'
Artist: Stereolab
Album: Sound-Dust (2001)
Label: Elektra 

MM-MM, Stereolab. By now you might be wondering whether our definition of Christmassy sounding music is music with any combination of piano, strings, bells, and horns. Well, actually, there are lots of different types of bells so… be more specific. This track has it all, and not just in the Christmas category. From a band who’s made over a dozen jaunts into long playing “space-aged bachelor pad music”, this week Captain Easychord does a gorgeous job of recreating a festive dinner carol sing (albeit a distinctly Franco-mono-tone one) before opening out into a frozen Christmas light parade. 

Song: 'Glosoli'
Artist: Sigur Ros
Album: Takk (2005)
Label: Geffen/EMI

Speaking of Reykjavik a few tunes back, here we are with easily Reykjavik, Iceland's biggest export since Bjork, and.....well, ice. Over the past few years they have captivated nearly every critic's 'Best Of' list with one album or another, this, being their Fourth release. Some of the most etherial, all encompassing original music that has come out in sometime. Also worth checking out is their breathtaking DVD 'Heima' which followed them along their Icelandic tour in 2007. Im sure you've heard the buzz about them, so why not see for yourself what it's all about. 

Song: 'Last Christmas'
Artist: Ereland Oye
Album: Seasonal Greetings (2002)
Label: Mobile

Oh man! Another one! Just hilarious that we’re introducing these guys on the [greatest] Christmas cast [ever]! And doing a WHAM! Cover no less! This guy – Erland Oye – another one of those difficult to encapsulate proliferat-ees. I’ll list the bands: Kings of Convenience (amazing), The Whitest Boy Alive (so great!), Erland Oye (the still trendsetting solo record) any success Royksopp had (OOOHHH!!!) Expect lotsa play from all of the above in upcoming cast. We’ve caught the be-goggled prodigy here at his most innocuous (as much as one could be singing George Michael); what is to come will turn you white as the freshly fallen snow / the boy himself. 

Song: 'Scenic World'
Artist: Beirut
Album: Lon Gisland EP (2007)
Label: Ba Da Bing! 

 First off, I couldn't possibly say enough good things about Beirut. Zach Condon (the man behind it all) has come up with an incredible sound / theme for an artist, reaching from various european musical styles including French Renaissance, and Balkan Folk. I was originally blown away by the album Gulag Orkestar (released right before this album) that, like Sigur Ros, came into huge critical acclaim. The Lon Gisland EP was the follow up to that album and does not fall short. As I say, I cannot recommend every one of Beirut's albums enough. 

Song: 'There Goes The Fear'
Artist: Doves
Album: The Last Broadcast (2002)
Label: Heavenly/Capitol

Spanning almost 3 decades now, after forming in the late 80's, Doves have reached huge acclaim in the UK, which for some reason hasn't transferred over to North America, still. This album, The Last Broadcast, was what turned me on to Doves and is definitely worth a listen for those who enjoy them some fantastic British rock. 

Song: 'The Shaded Forests'
Artist: Deastro
Album: Moondagger (2009)
Label: Ghostly Int'l 

Epic. Beautiful. It’s good to use those words without a hint of shudder reflex. Absolutely one of my favorites from this year, and one of the best things Ann Arbour, Michigan’s Ghostly International has ever done – Deastro. 22 year old Randolf Chabot, who by the age of 17 had written literally hundreds of “space symphonies” apparently inspired by divine visitation. A frickin’ Christmas miracle for you here on the ol’ Snobcast! Both records (Moondagger and Keeper) are fully recommendable for people into mid-period M83 synthetic rock. Such a big sound, more than fresh enough for 2009 and beyond. 

Song: 'The Island Of Seven Cities'
Artist: The Hylozoists
Album: L'Ile De Sept Villes (2009)
Label: Outside Music

I hope someone has the experience of having to walk through a bright snow covered cityscape while listening to the cast like I did while checking out one of Bunsen’s drafts of this episode’s mix, especially in the case of The Island of Seven Cities, the title track to the new record. It has actually caused me to pull out the whole record for other winter treks that week. These guys (about 12 of them, specialists in various Christmas-cast-qualifying instrumentation) live up to the literal meaning of their name when it comes to the winter season. For fans of Bell Orchestre, music in general, or this excellent live video: 

Song: 'Generator ^ Second Floor'
Artist: Freelance Whales
Album: Weathervanes (2009)
Label: Frenchkiss

Straight outta Williamsburg but in no way following the noise-wave / glo-fi trends of the cradle of hipsterdome, Freelance Whales are picking up where indie greats of the decade silently left off. With lyric writing and delivery reminiscent of Postal Service and once-pivotal precious baroque-pop instrumentation of the Midwest indie-explosion a few years back, the Whales are making us realize that some trends just mysteriously end without dying. If you dig this track you’ll dig the record, too. Most of the songs will probably concern or mention ‘lofts’, but not every song is about dying… yeah… well you know, like Winter being the last season… of life… and…so… there you go… Merry Christmas!

Song: 'Keep Fallin'
Artist: Hot Chip
Album: Coming On Strong (2005)
Label: Astralwerks

While you’re peelin’ potatahs, Hot Chip are sonic alligatahs! They make a track to shake a COW. A damn cow! I thought this, my favorite jam on the very, very first Hot Chip LP, would be the best way to gently take us from a nice cozy Christmas coma into a full out New Year’s party kazoo tha-ROW-down! (Why what do you do at YOUR New Years parties?) (One more parenthetical: do NOT miss the SnobCast New Years Party Mix ’09 – out on the 30th! We got your countdown soundtrack right here – so keep it locked!) New record out this year, first single pretty great. Believe we’ll be on that when the time comes.

Song: 'Goodnite Lovers'
Artist: Depeche Mode
Album: Exciter (2001)
Label: WEA 

 So, this track, the album closer on Exciter (an EXCELLENT place to start for people meaning to get into Depeche Mode… made a convert of me, anyway) served, and I’m sure would serve again, as the perfect late night snowfall drive soundtrack. Seriously. Try it out. Wait till you have that long head-lit snow tunnel hypnosis drive home and roll Goodnite Lovers. That bit reduced arpeggiating chime the track begins with has forever become the sound of big fat snowflakes falling, for me. Something about the sentiment of refrain is very God Rest Ye, too. You got yer angelic choir, ya got yer snow fall, ya got 80s goth wave – Merry Christmas, e’r’body. 

Song: 'Merry Christmas'
Artist: Wesley Willis
Album: Rock'N'Roll Will Never Die (1996)
Label: Oglio Records 

What? 13 tracks on a SnobCast? We shouldn’t have! Just a little Christmas Bonus from Bunsen Honeydew, Fantastic Africa and Wesley Willis. It’s been a great couple cast, y’all – and we’re just getting’ warmed up – we hope you’re enjoying it, and hope you make it back for what promises to be a no holds barred New Years BLAZ-er. Much Love and Peace out! …that’s what it’s all about in the mix… Rock over London. Rock on Los Angeles…