New Album: One album I saw on the Billboard 200 seemed pretty odd, and especially odd considering it was at #4. It’s the Christmas album that the characters from the TV show “Duck Dynasty” made this year called Duck the Halls:A Robertson Family Christmas. Now, I have no idea what the show is about or why it’s popular enough to warrant a Christmas album – all I know is that it includes a bunch of yokels in camo with magnificent, luxurious beards, and that ducks are somehow involved.
That said, their Christmas album seems to have sold well, especially for them not appearing to be professional singers, but unlike many records by non-singers it’s actually not terrible. Of course, it helps that there are cameos on it by country stars such as Luke Bryan and a good Nashville studio band, but the non-singers of the Robertson family actually can sing.
Si Robertson’s version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” actually does the original one justice, especially augmented by his deep, croaky voice. Jase and Missy Robertson’s version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is actually good, with Missy being a fine singer and Jase holding his own. The album is mostly holiday standards except for an ode to their beards called “Hairy Christmas,” which being bearded myself, I can support immensely on principle, but the song isn’t terrible in its own right. Anyway, if you’re curious, listen to this album. It’s extremely not terrible.
What I’ve Been Listening To:
This weekend, I had a couple gigs, one of which was playing in a band called Fleetwood Mock, where we did a bunch of Fleetwood Mac covers mostly off of their album Rumours, so I gave that a spin. It’s got all the hits on there: “Don’t Stop,” “Go Your Own Way,” “The Chain,” “Dreams,” and many more. Not only is the musicianship top-notch and the singing impeccable (I was listening to it to learn the harmonies), but the lyrics about failing relationships were what was really going on at the time, which is bound to happen when your band is comprised of couples. Still, Lindsey Buckingham remains one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and there’s a reason this album is the #4 best-selling album to date.
For the other gig, I was psyching myself up beforehand by listening to the one tune my drummer and I would always listen to before shows, Bruce Springsteen’s “Rosalita” off the collection Thrill Hill Vault, which has the version of it played in 1978 in Phoenix. It’s an expression of unbridled joy by one of the greatest showmen of the 20th century, and it demands a listening to be comprehended how awesome it is.
In a similarly exuberant vein, Green Day’s album Kerplunk, recorded in 1991 when they were 19(!) is an album I grew up with that I have started re-listening to, and you can totally see how good they were even at that age. Songs like “80,” “Christie Road,” and “No One Knows” are as good if not better than those hits for which they’re more widely known. Give this often-overlooked album a listen.
Local Music Happenings:
1. Snowzee’s Music Shack in Sunderland is renovated and back in action at the same location. Go down almost any night and check out live bands, karaoke, open mics, or just have a few drinks and a good time.
2. The UMass Minuteman Marching Band will be holding its annual Merry Maple parade on December 6. Come see your fellow students play some Christmas songs in their finest holiday apparel in the town center.
3. The TEDX Holiday Benefit Concert is happening on December 4. You should go, as you’ll be supporting a great cause and you’ll get to see some great artists play.