songs:illinois

I know you probably thought that there couldn’t be any more new Christmas music out there; let alone from a quality group like The Silos, a band as eclectic as Spottiswoode and His Enemies, or a singer-songwriter as acclaimed, yet as humble as Rose Polenzani. But with a little sleuthing on Christmas eve, while I digested the chicken pot pie, I turned up these three gems.

The Silos is just what I like from that band. Walter Salas Humara plus a little Walter Salas Humara plus a little Walter Salas Humara on the side. In fact were he to disband the group and just play under his own name I would be pleased. Here’s a WSH original “Christmas Comes Once A Year) You Are Always In My Heart”.

(Christmas Comes Once A Year) You Are Always In My Heart

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Rose Polenzani is the lo-fi folk gueen of Boston. Her friends are legion, her YouTube video channel charming, and her songs consistently heart wrenching. Here she takes her turn with the Christmas classic “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas”.

Have Yourself A Merry Christmas

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Spottiswoode and His Enemies are a complete unknown to me. But they run with the right crowds. In fact he co-wrote The Silos song above. Here’s their original

Chelsea Boys

I usually don’t just throw a bunch of songs up at random, but Christmas mixes are the one good reason to do such a thing. So here’s my Songs:Illinois Christmas Mix. The two newer songs are both slow burners; one by perenial S:I fave Chris Garneau and the other by S:I overlooked Benji Cossa.

P.S. If you have any of the Christmas songs I’ve posted in the past from Antsy McClain can you please send them to cbonnell@gmail.com so I can add it to this mix. Sorry for lack of a .zip, I’m surprisingly inept with computers.

P.P.S. As new songs are released by artists I like (or marginally dislike) I will add them to this post.

P.P.S.S. Swedesplease has it’s annual Swedish Christmas Mix up as well with songs by El Perro Del Mare, The Knife, Hello Saferide, Montt Mardie and Parker Lewis.

Here Comes Christmas – Bill Kelly
Santa Loves To Boogie – Asleep At The Wheel
You’re a mean One Mr. Grinch – Asylum Street Spankers
Christmas Is For Losers – Mike Nicolai
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Hem
Christmas or Columbus – Drew O’Doherty
Merry Christmas Not Xmas – Arrah and the Ferns
Christmas Past – Mike Ireland
Oh What A Christmas El Perro Del Mare
Christmas Song – Chis Garneau
O Holy Night – Benji Cossa
Christmas Time – Nourallah Brothers
That Was The Worst Christmas Ever – Sufjan Stevens
Cozy Evening – Dan Byrk
Christmas In Vermont – Ed’s Redeeming Qualities
Christmas Eve – Salim Nourallah
Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis – Neko Case
Merry Christmas From The Family – Robert Earl Keen
Christmas In Prison – John Prine
X-Mas Song For Holland – Hefner
Rock-A-Billy Christmas – Michael Bishop

Update

Red Eyed Santa – Dick Smith
Gold Front Tooth – Dick Smith
Kiss Me Beneath The Christmas Tree – Casper and the Cookies via YANP
Christmas In London – Krista Detour
Be My Valentine On Christmas – Glenna Bell
Christmas At The Trailer Park – Antsy McClain
She’s Underneath The Mistletoe – Antsy McClain
All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue – Over The Rhine
Darlin’ (Christmas Is Coming) – Over The Rhine
X-Mas Song – Fireflies