Big Rock Candy Mountain

Desperate Hopefuls

2012-01-23T08:30:00.000-06:00

Enough time off recovering from our December blowout and Best Of lists...let's kick the New Year off proper, with the first in our series of Killer Records that we we'd never heard before until a pal shared it with us, and we can't stop playing it because it kick our ass all over the schoolyard! (yeah, not sure how long this series will last under its current name).

Today's superstar is Brijitte West and the Desperate Hopefuls!

Straight outta New York (and England?), a mix of The Sweet, the New York Dolls, Wanda Jackson, Lucinda Williams, The Runaways, Nico, The Donnas, and, oh, let's say Kitty Wells.

Dirty, dirty candy-smeared gum-poppin' snarl geetar, with honey-dripped wasted alley vocals tossed off like Phil Spector girl-groop on amphetamines, loud and punk rawk in the sunshine blinking out between tall buildings, with the night coming on, and bad thoughts and bad deeds awaiting. Filthy and glammed up, with a touch of honky tonk, even referencing "Fox on the Run" on the tune "Bleeding Heart", it's a record that demands the volume at 11, blasting from yr speakers and hopping up yr Camaro on the streets of yr town.

This record is a must-have for all Big Rock Candy Mountain visitors...have we ever steered you wrong? You can hear more tunes here. And you can buy the record here. Do yrself a favor...grab the rekkid and rock the sleazy night away!

Brijitte West and the Desperate Hopefuls: Hard To Believe (mp3)

As always, keep on rawkin' in the free world...support yr local independent before Newt or Mitt take it away from you!

Hickory Wind

2012-01-04T08:30:00.002-06:00

Ok! Here we go! The Top Ten Big Rock Candy Mountain Favorite Records of 2011! Hide yr wives and husbands, cuz we're taking this mofo to 11! Can you stand the excitement??? Already figured out #1??

A great year of music, fuck cynicism. The rawk is still alive and well, and we're here to testify!

What will be keen on in the coming year? Who knows? Stay tuned!

Before we begin, a final "best of"...

Band of the Year: The Bunting Pussies! (we got to see this seminal band in a tiny bar in Brooklyn before the start of the Norton Records blowout. They've promised a website coming up. We managed to snag their essential 7" "Wiggle Waggle Woggle b/w "Dickey Pearce"" from them direct, and are absolutely enamored! Got a chance to talk to singer Lord Fairley McSquat after the show and he's promised a full LP before the end of the year. The sheer greasy, loud, boozed up energy of this band is like nothing we've heard before. We're incredibly pleased to have been a witness to their resurgence, and will be covering that 7" and their future LP once it comes out. Keep yr eyes peeled!)

And, finally, The Top 10!

The Big Rock Candy Mountain Favorite Records of 2011 (part 5 of 5)

10. Juke Joint Pimps: Boogie The Church Down

Hallelujah trash, deep and primal shouting, distorted AM radio filter in robes smeared with semen and sermon the Church of the Blues, baptized holy moonshine water, sanctified by the holy holler, god in the Juke Joint (indeed), shimmy wobblin' the midnight hour, chasin' tail and salvation, and he's taking the devil home at the end of the night.

Juke Joint Pimps: Juke Joint In The Sky (mp3)

9. Reverend John Wilkins: You Can't Hurry God

From a previous post: "Reverend John Wilkins is the son of legendary blues man Robert Wilkins, and they say still waters run deep, but the waters are moving like a pentecostal baptismal on fire, and run deep blues, baby. Wilkins brings a Mississippi hill country trance to the dirty gospel, and Soul, good Soul, where the spirit is lifted and swayed in secular and salvation. Wilkins' voice, the very sound of repent personified, is the highlight of it all, of course, a lost crackle in heaven's transistor. At the end of the day it's a road to glory tabernaclin' sweatbox of a gospel record, sex and salvation swing low, big tent revival meetin' hootenanny. The path to salvation starts here."

Reverend John Wilkins: I Want You To Help Me (mp3)

8. The Spartan Dreggs: Forensic R'n'B

Got this record as a "single of the month club" deal, ahead of the regular regular release. Some of the vinyl is different from the final product. That's typical, and very, very, good. So. It's Billy Childish. Every damn year we include a Billy Childish joint in our list. There's a reason for that...he's one of the most important voices in rock 'n' roll over the past 30 years or more. Until we turn the man into a million-seller, well, we're gonna keep pimpin'.

This new incarnation of his is full on rawk, 60's inspired, full of piss and loud as a motherfucker, out of control and singular. Situationist, but furious and angry, the very essence of punk aesthetic filtered through Huddie Ledbetter and The Sonics. The best "pure" rawk record of the year.

The Spartan Dreggs: Forensic R 'n' B (mp3)

7. The Speaking Tongues: The Speaking Tongues

(Note: proper review coming shortly) Two men. One big-ass sound, grooved out surge and demon-swilled dirt bombed primal rawk, slide-shit fuck yr mama geetar and satan drummed insanity, a velocity of hound dogs trailin' garbage scent and filthy blooze destruction!

The Speaking Tongues: Hell Down Below Me (mp3)

6. Left Lane Cruiser: Junkyard Speed Ball

From our review of the record: ""Giving Tree" is the lowest of low down groove, a dirty diamond of rough, aching, swirling James Leg keys back-dropped by muted and fuzzed slide shimmer guitar. A voice, still growled in pure soul underneath, wounded and in love, lost and rambled, fighting through the sonic din. It's a stunner of a song, and nothing like we've heard before by these cats. A revelation.

The rest of the record is high point, followed by high point, nasty (again) and loud, driving and slathered butter'n'pork rawk. Themes appear...the road ( "Road Again"), as befits their name, and food ("Cracker Barrel", "Pig Farm", "At The Denny's"). That the sheer sonicness of their sound can be fed through an AM radio dial in your '72 Chevy Nova or slapped down on yr turntable when you want yr latest house rent party to get sweaty is a given. That they've fed the Blues through a blender and come up spittin' nails on the other side is a given. That what they do to the guitar and drums aesthetic is probably illegal in most states is a given. That Freddy J IV's vocals are a shattered glass yowl of stomped larynx glory is also, and again, a given. But what's missed most, and what is most important, is that Left Lane Cruiser is a Soul band. As informed by Mississippi, they've got a little Memphis in 'em as well. And, of course, as befits the name, a thousand or more miles of gravel in the headlights and in the rearview mirror."

Left Lane Cruiser: Giving Tree (mp3)

5. James Leg: Solitary Pleasure

The mighty lord of the Beelzebub Fender Rhodes and Black Diamond Heavy goes solo, crafting a record of nasty grease and Soul, daddy-o! The sound of the soul alone, wailing and mud-smeared blown gasket holy rhythm junk-shop destruction. Sick with clattering sweet and wet spot jackenanny groove, whiskey soaked crusted preacher rhythm and hellfire solitude!

James Leg: Have to Get It On (mp3)

4. John Paul Keith: The Man That Time Forgot

More review goodness we did awhile back: "We've preached before that Mr. Keith is a songwriter with a timeless brilliance: 2 1/2 minute songs, honky bar-hook-filled and longing, desperate and full of belly up to the bar observation. It's rock'n'roll, without the pretense, country-fried, soulful, a little boozy, a little trashy, a little bit dance 'til the end of dawn. Imagine, if you will, that Buddy Holly took the template for "Rave On", and made a long player record with that aesthetic. Seriously, stop for a moment, and imagine it. But he didn't. John Paul Keith did. And the world is a better place for it. Oh, and John Paul Keith has better hair than you.

rom the punkish, Summertime Blues jab of "Anyone Can Do It" to the Here Comes a Regular regret of the title song, "The Man That Time Forgot" is a bar record, running the gamut from entry to last call . 12 songs. That's all you need (that's all you ever need). Especially when they're these 12 songs. Follow the track listing from braggadocio to reflection, with all the classic moments in between.

Gonna track this record from start to finish. It's not a "concept" record in any way other than our perception. But we're gonna work on theme of our own creation, and in the process hope to convince you why this record is a masterpiece.

Kicking off with the raver (all hand-claps, greasy organ, and raving vocal), "Never Could Say No", , and the immortal line "Flying overseas with the Flipside Kid" (a Jack Oblivian reference, who Keith tours with and backs), Keith sets the stage, a willful roue, blaming others for his appearance at said joint. Follow that with the rollicking, barrell-house piano two-stepper "You Devil You" (he sees the girl), and we've got a situation.

The next three songs set the stage. The aforementioned "Anyone Can Do It" shows a punkish strut, and "Songs For Sale" is the 50's-informed groover, the sensitive guy laying out his cred. "Afraid to Look", led by greasy keys, is the dance, the manly man strutting his shit.

But with any encounter, self-doubt creeps, and "The Man That Time Forgot" weighs in with an early night lighter-raiser, a honky tonk ballad full of ripped guitars and reflection. Follow that with "I Think I Fell In Love Today". Like Tom Waits' "I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You" , we're looking at the weird moment between booze-fueled courage and resignation. But the night is still young...

So John Paul Keith takes a break, and in the garage-country track "Dry County", full of rave-up geetar and hollered backing vocals, we leave the bar with our best buds, looking for a little balm to heal the perceived wounds. But, consarnit, we're stuck in a land without liquid refreshment...so, back to the bar, and an atonement..."Somebody Ought to Write A Song About You". This song is pure Southern Soul, scratched guitar and more greasy organ. We're back at the bar, and the girl's still there, and our hero wants to transform his perceived love into the immortal. But...and but...he's "Bad Luck Baby", another surging riposte on condition, and why men are bad, bad news.

Fumbling into the night, then. another ramped-up organ-led moment, "Work At Night". Who's he working for? That's up to you, but DAMN, the band gives us a greasy workout!

And, finally, the most completely Country song on the record, "The Last Last Call". Pure Country weeper. The ultimate barstool lament..."So here's to you and to me". Does he get the girl? You'll have to find out for yourself. But he's toasting, and we're drinking, and our boots are on the floor, and we're gonna wake up, and probably do it all over again."

John Paul Keith: Never Could Say No (mp3)

3. Barry Brusseau: A Night Goes Through

What we said when we reviewed it the first time: "What Brusseau produced is nothing short of genius. Really. No hyperbole involved. A shimmering hymn of midnight moon and morning dew. The record is very much, as it's title suggests, a midnight to six am listen, inviting you into a warm room, your favorite chair facing the window, a bottle of whiskey on the table, and a broken heart mending with each beat. Brusseau's voice: a lowered, single malt bartione, whispering in yr ear from behind, urging you into the stars fell night, taking you through the small hours with each hushed prayer. Each whispered line a reflection of headlights on broken pavement.

"Why'd I even agree to come, agree to come
It was probably cause I'm drunk, cause I'm drunk
I haven't shaved my face in months, not in months
The coffee table's mine, can I put my feet up one more time?"

Musically, the record picks and trips and gorgeously wanders, at times stripped and naked, at times delicately baroque. Each passage is a Koan, a heart-broken melody, strung and neon-lit, the fireflies and the fading campfire, the salvation in yr crackled AM leading home, or at least to the fizzled motel in the end of the world.

"I am tlll and frayed, I'm shaking in and out
And I see the woods, and the rust
Relax, your voice will come sit back and feel the sun
The colors bright and blue, and the warmth"

What is crafted, what you hear, and what is communicated... a singular vision, a man in the forgotten hours, and the forgotten years, laid bare, a vision of the smallness and grandness of the in-between time, a moment of slipping and catching, while the world is sleeping. And, while the world is sleeping Barry Brusseau is breathing a sound of the moment between waking and dream.

"Float so high I hear angels sing, hear them sing
Float so high I hear angels sing. Got stars all over their wings."

Barry Brusseau: Thrift Store Buzz (mp3)

Barry Brusseau: A Night Goes Through (mp3)

2. Molly Gene One Whoaman Band: Folk Blues and Booze

A singular artist, one for whom we are left speechless...shocking, we know. But, let's try... The mighty voice, a growl to a wail, powerful and full of sin and sex, riding down the burned out mountain on the nastiest slide guitar and kick-drum racket, drunk on the sound of the end times, shaking the shotgun shack to the ground, churning up bloody dust on the backroads of old, weird America, spent rifle shells littering rusted out floor of a dilapidated pickup truck, moaning cowblues revival. Full review coming soon, but for now, take our word for it. You won't be disappointed.

Molly Gene One Whoaman Band: Country Lover (mp3)

1. Tom Waits: Bad As Me

Most of those that know us suggested that we write this review with a mere "Duh". One word, that reflects perfectly how our, yes, obsession with the enigma that is Tom Waits. They would be correct, in that this is the least surprising pick we've made. We'd prefer to let Mr. Waits' music speak for itself, but...and, well, but...what has to be recognized is legacy. Nobody wrote a sadder song this year. Nobody wrote a louder, more abrasive song this year. A record that defined the past, and, in typical fashion, looked more forward than any artist was bold enough to attempt. An old man (as our current definitions would have us believe), who continues to redefine who he is, and who he has been. No artist has been more willing to search the nature of sound and how it reflects the human condition. No artist has continued to grow like Mr. Waits, to push the boundaries and retain their singular voice. Every song on this record is a travelogue, a meeting of having been and will be. It will break your heart in places, and will stir your soul in others. It will rattle yr ears, and poke at the hidden places of your sadness.

Tom Waits has always played a "character" in his records. Very few, least of all us, could pretend to know the true man, lost as we are in his carny barker meets barfly con job. But what we take from this latest missive is a culmination, a shaking down of mirrors, a shivering and stomping throw down. When god and satan meet, and the tires are burned off, the rubber melting on the road to who knows when.

Mr. Waits' management preferred we not post an mp3 sample. That's fine. Here's a couple approved videos from his new record. Just buy the goddam thing, already!

Records are good. Records stores are good. We're all good!

Callin' Me Home

2012-01-02T08:41:00.000-06:00

More tasty goodness from 2011! Our Big Rock Candy Mountain Favorite Records of 2011 rocks on with #20-11! We're gettin' the really primo stuff now...every record in our list is great, and we recommend every damn one of them, but now we're starting to touch on the really heavy hitters! From now 'til the end..well, what are you waiting for? Support these artists! The future of music depends on you!

Did we miss some great records this year? Let us know! An open mind is a chance to hear great tunes! Tell us what we missed!

Some more "Best Of's" before kickin' it out...

Re-Issue of the Year: This May Be My Last Time Singing: Raw African-American Gospel on 45 R.P.M. 1957-182 (Holy shit! (literally)...A box set of essential hollerin' and wailin', The very roots, both spiritually and sonically, of rawk'n'roll...fighting the devil, making love to the saints, a compendium of the spiritual and the secular sound. Amazing!)

Singular Live Moment of the Year: Molly Gene, Ten Foot Polecats and the Scissormen performing "Old Black Mattie" together at the 2011 Deep Blues Festival in Cleveland Ohio. (A transcendent throwdown, in which we found the Deep Blues George'n'Tammy in Molly Gene and Jay Scheffler, Jim Chilson and Ted Drozdowski abusing their guitars in a sick, sick way, and Matt Snow and Chad Rousseau bringing tribal pounding insanity to drum kits that seemed as if they might buckle and disintegrate under the siege. Yeah, it was that good...even better. Youtube it, kids!)

Top Ten tomorrow!

The Big Rock Candy Mountain Favorite Records of 2011 (Part 4 of 5)

20, Mickey: Rock 'n' Roll Dreamer

Scuzzy glamster shine and sin, rotten loud, baby yr a glittertrash star!

Mickey: Dance (mp3)

19. Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds: 5 Greasy Pieces

5 45's making up one album, bananas and primitive sleaze boogaloo, greasy, indeed, like three day old chicken swiped from the garbage!

Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds: Bobo Boogaloo (mp3)

18. Black Oil Brothers: High Road To Ruin

More stompin' backwoods holler, darker this time, like a midnight thunderstorm on the Great Plains, washing the dust into a muddy bottom.

The Black Oil Brothers: Sodapop's Blooze (mp3)

17. Jack Oblivian: Rat City

Here's what we said recently: "... a record of dilapidated splendor...a Southern, sneering rawk'n'punk-ass record of timeless qualities...booze, cooze, and loozers, floundered, desperate in its bourbon-soaked tabletop, slippery brass rail as heaven."

Jack Oblivian: Jealous Heart (mp3)

16. The People's Temple: Sons of Stone

Menaced psych-swirl haze, droned-out murmer, float away on waves of ether!

The People's Temple: Sons of Stone (mp3)

15. Lydia Loveless: Indestructible Machine

Country record of the year, badass hillbilly girl on wrong side of the tracks, she'll fuck you up, and you'll like it, hardscrabble tonkin' hell with a pistol full of gasoline!

Lydia Loveless: More Like Them (mp3)

14. Julia Klee: The Big Charade

From our review a while back: "A booming and deep well vocalist, Klee has drawn comparisons to Neko Case, Jolie Holland (whom she covered brilliantly at her live show) and Kelly Hogan. Which is all well and good, and apt, but Julia Klee seems to be drawing from an older tradition, one that includes Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and most especially, Emmylou Harris. Some of those comparisons come from a lyrical intent. Klee is songwriter of incredible situationist gift, warping her voice into the subject, manipulating her vocals into the sad and the beautiful. Some of those comparisons are in the power of her voice. It's an astonishing instrument in it's own right...a record of depth and spirit, a hoedown of longing and beauty."

Julia Klee: Drunken Chess (mp3)

13. Husky Burnette: Facedown In the Dirt

(Note:interview and full album review coming soon) Repent, evil sinners, from out of darkest, deepest waters a junkpiled pickup truck, rusty and rattling, caked and bloody, growling red-eyed moonshine!

Husky Burnette: Hog Jaw (mp3)

12. Chicken Diamond: Chicken Diamond

From our review: "It's a loud record. Really, really loud. In a glorious, fuzzy, xpressway to yr spine kind of way, rattled and raw. Chicken's voice, a bastard child of Tom Waits and James Leg, wails "sinners in the hands of an angry god"-syle salvation, 'til yr ears are hoarse and yr throat is parched gasping water, lord, water from the sacred well. Brutal throbbed kick drum pounds sex beat degenerate lust. And some of the filthiest fuckblues guitar, drowned in a swamp and emerging covered in the goo goo muck of creation. Tribal, pulsing, very, very evil. The kind of guitar slime that gives you bad thoughts, reeks of white lightning, and scrapes, scratches and claws at yr soul."

Chicken Diamond: Bones (mp3)

11. Rocket From The Tombs: Barfly

We've got a special guest review of this record. Our pal Eric H. feels very strongly about this record, and has excoriated us about it's "too low" ranking. Take it away, Eric:

"I’ve rewritten this review 10 times or more and: nothing I’ve written as come close to conveying how immediate and powerful this album is. So I will say this. This is the FUCKING album of the year. Dave Thomas, Cheetah Chrome, Craig Bell and Richard FUCKING Lloyd – What else do you need to know? These guys aren’t coasting on past glories or putting out lame experiment in the name of ‘art’. (Lou Reed I’m talking to you) This is just a tight, muscular rock band doing what far too many rock bands these days don’t do very well, which is ROCK. Buy this album. Buy a copy of you neighbor. Buy a copy for your Mom. This album should be a the top of this or any list. Buy this album as if your life depended on it."

It should be noted, in addendum, that this is Rocket From The Tomb's first "proper" record, and that this band led to Pere Ubu and The Dead Boys, and are completely seminal in any discussion of U.S. punk. And, of course, Peter Laughner was a member as well. So, you know, you know it's gonna be a great record!

Rocket From The Tombs: Romeo and Juliet (mp3)

Thanks for visitin'. Got a quibble with our list? Let us know!

The Old Year Is Gone

2011-12-30T08:30:00.000-06:00

Special New Year's Post today!

Hey folks, sorry we missed yesterday with Part 4 of our Top 50 Favorite Records of 2011. Had some computer problems (not sure if it's fixed or not, but we're live at the moment). The final 20 will post next Monday and Tuesday (the good lord or lady of home computing willing). Today, though, we wanna spread some New Year's cheer!

Hope everyone has a good New Year's Eve and Day. Not big on resolutions and whatnot, but maybe we'll try to be better posting this coming year. And maybe we'll strive to be a little nicer to our fellow folks. Never hurts to try, anyhow.

Here's some rockin' and rollin' tunes to help get yr New Year's Eve party swingin', baby!

The mighty Quintron kicks off the night, with his own insane organ-drenched, rollerskating party version of a "New Year's Night"! Keep the night going with a beatnik bop New Year's groove of "Bear Rug" courtesy of Tony Rodelle Larson! Roy Milton and his Solid Serenaders keep us boppin' and boozin' along with their own "New Year's Resolutions"! Roy Tan and Combo get downright "bubbly" with a not so subtle suggestion on how to get, ahem, "bubbly" on the big night..."let's fill our glasses with "sunshine..." indeed! And New Year's Eve wouldn't be complete without at least one bit of sobriety, courtesy of Johnny Paycheck and his end of the night coat check.

Once again, our Best Of 2011List concludes next week.

For now, enjoy the big night of the year. We'll raise a glass to you all!

Quintron: New Year's Night (mp3)

Tony Rodelle Larson: Bear Rug (mp3)

Roy Milton Solid Serenaders: New Year's Resolution (mp3)

Roy Tan and Combo: Happy New Year (mp3)

Johnny Paycheck: The Old Year Is Gone (mp3)

Be safe!

But it Makes Me Feel Better Each Time it Begins

2011-12-28T08:30:00.001-06:00

Keeping the groove rollin' with Day Three of Big Rock Candy Mountain's Favorite Records of 2011! Ruling the world one record at a time!

When possible, tunes are taken from vinyl (or, the download card from the vinyl...yay download cards!). Most of these records are from small, independent labels that Rolling "corporate" Stone wouldn't touch if their ad dollars depended on it. Have you seen the latest "best of" lists??? Egad...we don't pretend to have the greatest, most outre taste, but good gravy! Alas...hopefully we're providing you with a modicum of "alternative" (whatever that is). Hell, maybe this list sucks, but we stand by every damn record on it. Do you really care about the latest Beyonce record?

Ok, then, here's a couple of "Best Ofs" before we kick out #'s 30-21!

Book of the Year: The Devil All The Time by Donald Ray Pollock (Takes Breece Pankake's exploration of Appalachian life and transforms it into a noirish, muddirty drenched exploration of the evil men are capable of, and the transformative good they can do.)

Radio Station of the Year: WMSE (One of the last true independent radio stations, and more diverse than...gasp...WFMU. Yeah, I said it (though we love, love, love WMFU...no hard feelings, guys). True "public" radio run by folks who actually like music, and aren't afraid to step outside of whatever boundaries one could set.)

Coming up, then, Re-Issue of the Year and Band of the Year!

Without further postulating...

The Big Rock Candy Favorite Records of 2011 (Part 3)

30. King Louie's Missing Monuments: Painted White

Fizzed out helium balloon garage pop, bizarre and fingered round the rosy!

King Louie's Missing Monuments: The Girl of the Nite (mp3)

29. The Through and Through Gospel Review: Self Titled

Great god almighty in lo-fi survey of the history of gospel, fragile and stompin', jesus approves! The new find of the year!

The Through and Through Gospel Review: I'm Not Dead, I'm Alive (mp3)

28. Mighty Fine: Get Up to Get Down

Greasy soul in fat bottom punkass boogie, party'n'purge, lay yr leather down and shake the groove like the armageddon!

Mighty Fine: Something For Your Ass (mp3)

27. The Hussy: Cement Tomb Mind Control

Noise-nik male/female shout speed guitar freak-out spazz joy!

The Hussy: Sexi Ladi (mp3)

26. Hayes Carll: KMAG YOYO (And Other American Stories)

Last great troubadour, down Texas way, the hoedown and turn of phrase like Hank and Townes did, wry-smiling and bottle sad!

Hayes Carll: Hard Out Here (mp3)

25. Willem Maker: Agapao

Eternal Mountain fave, burning the desert down, slide the geetar and gruff blues moan, the sound of open canyon never and echoed always, believe and fall again!

Willem Maker: Yeah (mp3)

Willem Maker: Gulf of Mexico (mp3)

24. The Paperhead: The Paperhead

Pastoral Psych, like old motorways in the rain, wipers half functional, pulling over and smelling fresh Spring, the dripping like home you want to be.

The Paperhead: Back to Those Days (mp3)

23. The Happy Thoughts: The Happy Thoughts

Punk-ass muthafuckas playing record revolution sex and desperation, teenage rebellion and wanna just get some!

The Happy Thoughts: Sweet Dirty Love (mp3)

22. David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights: Left By Soft

The lord god of all New Zealand, leader of the greatest band ever, The Clean, Kilgour furthers the autumnal falling leaf strum, eyes upturned in revelation and swirl the air, the slightest grasp, the drone of all life.

David Kilgour and the Heavy Eights: A Break in the Weather (mp3)

21. Delaney Davidson: Bad Luck Man

Devil may care, and surely he does, sleaze rawk the purgatory, and round the sound, the temptation of voodoo rhythm and beat noir boozey backroads shotgun shacks, with faith healers and snake charmers galore!

Delaney Davidson: I've Got the Devil Inside (mp3)

Delaney Davidson: River of Misery (mp3)

Support Independence. Fuck the corporate stranglehold on yr dollar!

All the Riches and Pleasures, What Else Can Life Bring?

2011-12-27T08:30:00.005-06:00

Hey Ho, here we go! We've got Part 2 (of 5) of The Big Rock Candy Mountain Favorite Records of 2011! Aren't y'all a'quiver with excitement! Of course you are!

Quick caveat: We have a huge stack of records from the past year that we haven't gotten to yet. And we're not including 7"'s in this list. What that means, of course, is that we're missing out on a whole bunch of great shit! Such, of course, is the nature of lists. Are we missing a killer record? Yep! Hopefully we'll make up for it over the next few months. Got a favorite record that we're missing? For fuck's sake, let us know!

Before we dig in to the list, let's give a holler to some other categories...

Record Label of the Year: Norton Records! (so many great labels that we love...Hozac, Trouble In Mind, Big Legal Mess, Voodoo Rhythm, etc. But Norton wins, for so many reasons, but ultimately based on the next category...)

Live Show of the Year: Norton Records 25th Anniversary 4-Day Blowout in New York City! (we can't even begin to give proper props to how great this weekend was...oldsters The Sonics! ? and the Mysterians! The Robby Fuller 4! Mick Collins leading a Soul Review featuring Andre Williams, Melvin Davis, Dave "Baby' Cortez, The Mighty Hannibal! Bloodshot Bill returning to the U.S.! The Great Gaylord! Yo La Tengo as the Condo Fucks! The mighty A-Bones! Tandoori Nights! And so much more, including future Mountain favorites Daddy Long Legs! Good gravy, we left out another great 30 bands from the weekend!)

More special best-of lists over the next few days.

But let's get to what y'all are actually interested in.

Part 2 of Big Rock Candy Mountain's Favorite Records of 2011!

40. Shannon and the Clams: Sleep Talk

The Ronettes meet Jay Reatard in a garage outside a rusty shack on Sunset Strip.

Shannon and the Clams: You Will Always Bring Be Flowers (mp3)

39. Hipbone Slim and the Knee Tremblers: Square Guitar
Mama Rosin and Hipbone Slim: Louisiana Sun

Swamp hoedown, rockabilly'n' Cajun mess around, Diddlified and corn-liquored!

Mama Rosin and Hipbone Slim: Swamp Water (mp3)

Hipbone Slim and the Knee Tremblers: King of the Rocket Men (mp3)

38. Strange Boys: Live Music

Snot-nosed Dylan-woozy half lidded half lit lysergic mumbles and melody!

Strange Boys: Over the River and Through the Woulds (mp3)
Strange Boys: Walking Two By Two (mp3)

37. Dum Dum Girls: Only In Dreams

Ghost of Chrissie Hynde on swirling hymns and blissed sleep, a sound between days.

Dum Dum Girls: Bedroom Eyes (mp3)

36. John Wesley Coleman III: Little Miss Keith Richards

Space clatter liquor cabinet sprawl and fall dirt ramblin' godhead!

John Wesley Coleman III : Little Miss Keith Richards (mp3)

35. The Pussywarmers: The Chronicle of the Pussywarmers

Devil-defying voodoo party rumble, horny horns swing down gator way, the water's risin' and the jukejoint is quaking!

Pussywarmers: Me and Me Girl (mp3)

34. Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs: No Help Coming

More Golightly exploration of creaky Americana, back porch noir and sugar cane on fire.

Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs: Leave It Alone (mp3)

33. The Bats: Free All Monsters

Autumnal painted New Zealand jangle'n'hum, melting and lovely.

The Bats: Long Halls (mp3)

32. Bad Sports: Kings of the Weekend

Rawk'n'booze, soaked sweat t-shirt kicks, the kids are alright!

Bad Sports: Teenage Girls (mp3)

31. DM Bob and the Deficits: They Called Us Country

Fried cow patty, shotgun shack sleaze, hillbilly snarl junk.

DM Bob and the Deficits: I'm Not Drinking More (mp3)

Independent Record Labels and Independent Record Stores!

I Started Out Younger, Had Most Everything

2011-12-26T08:30:00.002-06:00

Well! Here we go! Our Top 50 Most Favorite Records of the Year (2011) (in 5 parts)!

Normally we'd take this time to wax ridiculous about the state of music, and all it's perceived problems. But...well, we'd rather stay positive, and recognize all the great records released this year. Sure, there was a lot of crap released this year, and a quick perusal of Rolling Stone, Spin, Magnet, Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, etc. would be enough to depress any fan of fine Rawk'n'Roll. But why do we depend on corporate magazines and websites, led by ad dollars, to tell us what we like, anyway???? That's right, we don't! There's only one record in our Top 50 that actually achieves a consensus amongst the...ahem..1% That it's our best record of the year (astute readers will already correctly guess what this record is) is not a reflection on the artist, but more a reflection of how the popular media is slow on catching up on things.

For every Taylor Swift, there is a Quintron. For every (yawn) Adele, there is a Neko Case. For every Black Keys, there is a Speaking Tongues or Left Lane Cruiser. Our goal is not to tell you what you like, but rather to tell you..."you might like this". To make an overriding qualification on what is "good" is facile, and doesn't recognize the power of music to transform, to have staying power, to capture one in repose or in various stages of experience.

Over the next 5 days, we're gonna let you glimpse what records we enjoyed the most this year. We think you will probably like all or most of them. Maybe you won't. That's part of the fun. Nobody has ever made the "definitive" best of list", nor will they ever. At the end of the day, it's the hum in our own heads that gets us through. That said, we believe strongly in the following records. We'd like you to check 'em out.

On a quick political note: Please research the deceptively titled SOPA Act. While we certainly have no truck with internet piracy in it's malicious forms, this bill affects every site's ability to bring you even mere "samples" of music, and affects your ability to peruse music before you buy it. Most of what we post here is "small label" stuff, with permission. But if this Act passes, with the approval of the so-called "Major Labels", your ability to listen to music, and make your own decisions, will be severely limited. The Major Labels want to to give you "product", and want you to buy it without a critical filter. We think you should have the right to a variety of music, and what choices you make should be your own, and not guided by corporate approval.

Ok, enough pontificating.

We'd like to send a special thank you to Andy, the country's greatest DJ from Zero Hour Radio and WMSE, for his help in shaping this list, thanks to his many contributions over the last year. He was also a fellow traveler to the Norton Records blow-out in New York, which we will discuss later.

Without further ado, then, Part 1 (of 5) of our Favorite Records Of 2011! We're counting down, so hang on to your hats!

The Big Rock Candy Mountain Favorite Records of 2011 (Part 1)

50. The Dirtbombs: Party Store

Soul punk god Mick Collins digs into the Detroit techno crates, makes greasy trash spangled party music!

The Dirtbombs: Alleys Of Your Mind (mp3)

49. Scott H. Biram: Bad Ingredients

Drunken hill-holler sleaze, twanged and truckin', yelped and slide geetar one man band kudzu glory!

Scott H. Biram: Killed A Chicken Last Night (mp3)

48. Useless Eaters: Daily Commute

Twitchy punk noise deconstruction, down low and lowdown, kickin' the kicks and rippin' psych-age space age!

Useless Eaters: Neon Lights (mp3)

47. The Booze: At Maximum Volume

Stones meets Replacements meets the (Small) Faces in bar scunge organ and groove rawk, baby, snotty and beer soaked brilliance!

The Booze: Hit Me Where It Hurts (mp3)

46. Light Bulb Alley: The Sound of Things

Diddley meets garbage can lid flappers, Pussy Galore bucket trash and rawk, baby, surged and shabby, sore-throated garage door catastrophe!

Light Bulb Alley: Pepper Spray (mp3)

45. Dan Melchior: Catbirds and Cardinals

Lo-fi sleaze lord, and fried friend of Billy Childish and Holly Golightly, makes chicken skizzled skillet concoction, surged with no protection.

Dan Melchior: Deep Fried Circuits (mp3)

44. The Singing Loins: Stuff

Fuck Mummy-ford and whatnot, the original busking geezers, stomping on tradition, and full of piss, shout and holler!

The Singing Loins: Ascending Chatham Hill (mp3)

43. Hollywood Sinners: Disastro Garantito

Loud! Loud! Fast and out of control, snotty, turkey leg smeared guitar, chanty desperate mememe vocal sneer, big velocity rawk, baby!

Hollywood Sinners: I'm Alone (mp3)

42. Obnox: I'm Bleeding Now

Over-distorted noise and genius from the mighty drummer of The Bassholes and the Puffy Aereolas, making his own scuzz portal, buried and murmured melody surrounded and surrendered by volume at 11, double wide insanity!

Obnox: Totalled (mp3)

41. Mark Sultan: Whenever I Want/ Whatever I Want

Two records from the king of sock-hop trash can glory, one man kicking the kicks and slathered hot-buttered basement barrel boogaloo!

Mark Sultan: Livin' My Life (mp3)

Please support yr independent record label!

On A Cold Christmas Eve

2011-12-24T08:47:00.000-06:00

Once again, we made it through another Holiday season. Hope y'all enjoyed our offerings this year. Many thanks and much appreciation for all the kind words and emails (and even the grumpy fella who didn't much care for "Psycho (Santa)" )!

Don't forget that we start our Best Records of 2011 countdown on Monday!

Now then, regular readers will already know what song(s) we're gonna post today. We do it every year, and why not? Both tunes represent what can be great about Christmas music, without being tired, overly cliched, or inane. You won't hear them played in department stores (though you might hear them in your local, independent record stores). But each song, in their own way, reach the very beating heart of what a secularist like ourselves can take from the Holiday season, and hell, even throughout the year. Yes, Virginia, there are great Christmas songs.

The Pogues' "Fairytale of New York"...what can we say that we haven't said before? A bittersweet, yet ultimately hopeful, tale of two people, chasing a dream, and down on their luck, overwhelmed by situation, and clinging to promise. The song takes place on Christmas Eve in New York City, the shining beacon of opportunity, the beckoning world of bright lights and "rivers of gold". It's an immigrant's song, the "other" chasing a promise of a better life, and instead, finding hardship and loss...the promise distilled into reality. But within that loss, within the dream, a very human existence, a willingness to believe despite obstacle. The song is about love, and all it's conflicting dimensions, and that's what we take from Christmas. We are defined, not by how we live alone, as some would have us believe, but how we live in context to others, even if it's how we relate on a one-to-one basis. Eschewing the currently popular philosophy of every person for themselves, we still cling to John Donne's "no man is an island", we cling to an inclusive ideal, where "...inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me". That Shane Macgowan's drunken lullaby of a voice is met by Kirsty MacColl's angelic riposte, only makes the song more poignant. "I built my dreams around you", indeed.

Robert Earl Keene's "Merry Christmas From The Family" is an entirely different tune, of course...a hilarious and very, very true tale of Christmas with those we love, despite the wacky nature of family. Hilariously wry, and full of the foibles that make up each and every one of us, it's a tune about who we are, and how we are. And, it's laugh-out-loud funny. Seems we've all had a Holiday experience with these folks, and we're the better for it. Drunkenly sung, and full of humorous minutiae, it strips away the sacred trappings, and lays out the true nature of Christmas, the gathering of those we hold dear and the character that makes us all both insufferable and beloved.

These songs are dedicated to the memory of Jackie Berg and Katzenjammers. Two beautiful souls who can never be replaced.

Merry Christmas! Be good to each other...we're all we have.

The Pogues: Fairytale of New York (mp3)

Robert Earl Keene: Merry Christmas From the Family (mp3)

Thank you.

Hurray For Santa Claus

2011-12-23T08:30:00.000-06:00

One more day 'til December 25th, when we celebrate the glorious birth of our savior, Shane MacGowan! Oh, and something else about that day causes folks to get all a'tremble with Seasonal joy, as well.

Tomorrow, Xmas eve, we've got a special post.

After that, of course, begins our equally insane Best Records of 2011 list! So stop on by for that, as well. So far, we've got about 60 records in out Top 50, so that should be entertaining for y'all.

Bur you're not here to hear us blather on...On with the Holiday tunes, and our Fox-approved War On Christmas!

Let's make this brief...Massive funk workout, and one of our favorite songs from this Season, from the Harvey Averne Band! Garage punk joy from The Fleshtones! Hillbilly Holidays, and a version of one of our favorite Xmas songs ever, from The Ranch Girls and the Hillbilly Boogiemen! A short and woozy warm Yuletide blanket from Betty and the Cavaleros! Joyous pure pop egg nog from the very mighty Saint Etienne! Deep rooted honky tonk makes peace with the hippies, in the spirit of Christmas, thanks to Don Sneed! Grouchy Fall-followers, The Wedding Present, find some Holiday spirit, courtesy of a nifty cover! Groovin' soul Santa from The Voices! And, finally, organ-drenched doo wop culmination of what we've been working toward, thanks to The Rhythm Kings!

Santa's Got A Mixed Bag of Gifts!

The Harvey Averne Band: Let's Get It Together This Christmas (mp3)

Fleshtones: Hurray For Santa Claus (mp3)

Ranch Girls and the Hillbilly Boogiemen: Christmas Time's a Comin' (mp3)

Betty and the Cavaleros: Hey! I'm Your Gift Today (mp3)

Saint Etienne: 21st Century Christmas (mp3)

Don Sneed And Co.: Santa's a Hippie (mp3)

The Wedding Present: Step Into Christmas (mp3)

Voices: Santa Claus Boogie (mp3)

The Rhythm Kings: Christmas Is Coming At Last (mp3)

Thanks as ever. Be good to each other.

Santa's Midnight Run

2011-12-22T08:30:00.000-06:00

Just about made it. Only a few more days until the big gimme gimme gimme hoo ha. Hopefully we've managed to entertain y'all a bit this Yuletide. As the days grow shorter, we're finding new tunes amongst our thousands to share, and so we start loading things up (holding a few killer tracks for next year, of course).

Gettin' greasier than a turkey today!

Boca Chica gift us with a lazy-eyed honky tonk fuck off. Then we've got a trashy barrel house piano and strip club sax shout out from Ebony Moods (who'd make Andre Williams proud). Santa Surfabilly rawk follows courtesy of the Lucky Cupids. Things get a little scary with Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers' "Monster's Holiday". Mountain favorite and Mexican Presley, El Vez brings us a trailer park Holiday extravaganza. The Raveonettes cool things down a bit with their Jesus and Mary Chain meets Julie London brand of Holiday "cheer". And the gifts wrap up in fine form with the insane rumble that is the mighty Untamed Youth.

Primo Santa Sauce!

Boca Chica: Not On Christmas Eve (mp3)

Ebony Moods: Rockin' Santa (mp3)

Lucky Cupids: Merry Christmas and Happy Rockin' 'n' Rollin' New Year (mp3)

Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt Kickers: Monster's Holiday (mp3)

El Vez: Oranges For Christmas (mp3)

The Raveonettes: Come On Santa (mp3)

The Untamed Youth: Santa's Midnight Run (mp3)

Time's running out. Please support whatever or whoever you can.

Xmas By The Tail

2011-12-21T08:30:00.003-06:00

Hee Haw Holidays, folks! Just lit up the barn with sparkly lights, and decorated the boots with tinsel. We're goin' a little Country on ya, with some exceptions, so pull out yr Solstice line dancin' moves!

And remember, if you don't like today's posts, well, hell, who knows what we're gonna do tomorrow! A little somethin' for everyone, we'd like to think.

The boot scootin' Santa love starts off with Dale Watson and a tale of booze, jail, and Santa Claus. Rick Fines brings us a little Country Blues yuletide in the big, big city. Dwight Yoakam delivers a bizarre tale of dysfunction on the Holidays. We couldn't go this year without a little Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks kicking up a bit of dusty snow on the proceedings. Moving out of the genre, Johnny Moore and his Blazers deliver a sweet tale of Xmas eve. And finally, Mountain faves The Dyes rock us out into the night with a punk'n'billy take on a Sonics classic. So merry Xmas to all, and to all a rockin' good night. Indeed.

Hillbilly Holiday!

Dale Watson: You Can Call Me Nick (mp3)

Rick Fines: Country Christmas Blues (mp3)

Dwight Yoakam: Santa Can't Stay (mp3)

Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks: I've Got Christmas By the Tail (mp3)

Johnny Moore's Blazers: Xmas Eve Baby (mp3)

The Dyes: Don't Believe In Christmas (mp3)

The big day is almost here. Lots of cheer and gettin' stuff. Hell, we like gettin' stuff as much as anybody. Please keep in mind those that "gettin' stuff" means a warm coat or a hot meal. We're all tryin' to make it in this world, and money's tight for all of us. A dollar here or a quarter there can help folks more than we can imagine.

Santa's Got A Shiny Nose

2011-12-19T08:30:00.001-06:00

Six days to go, and then we start our Best Of 2011 record countdown.

Another special Yuletide treat for y'all today! Should be rather obvious, so we won't belabor the point. Some of the following are re-posts, and some are new to this here site.

We're just here to make the season bright, and maybe a little bit wobbly. Do not attempt to drive or operate heavy machinery after listening to these lovely Holiday tunes.

Santa's got a big red nose!

John Denver: Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas) (mp3)

The Poor Bastards: Buy Me A Beer For Christmas (mp3)

Smiley Bates: Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas (mp3)

Paul Sanchez: Drunk This Christmas (mp3)

Clyde Lasley: Santa Came Home Drunk (mp3)

The Rimshots: Santa Stole My Whiskey (mp3)

Better Off Dead: All I Got For Christmas Was Drunk (mp3)

Guinea Worms: Christmas Booze (mp3)

Driveway Drinkers: Christmas on Boone's Farm (mp3)

Sherwin Linton: Santa Got A DWI (mp3)

Alcoholics Unanimous: Santa Claus DWI (mp3)

Alcoholics Unanimous: Santa Forgot the Booze (mp3)

The Hot Rods: Santa's Too Drunk to Drive (mp3)

Minus 5: Your Christmas Whiskey (mp3)

Dwarves: Drinking Up Christmas (mp3)

The Iguanas: Reindeer 'n' Whiskey (mp3)

Tiger City Jukes: Watch Out, Santa's Been Drinking (mp3)

Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen: Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas (mp3)

Fleshtones: Champagne of Christmas (mp3)

Mike Ireland: Merry Christmas From a Bar (mp3)

Please support your local, independent pub of choice. Xmas lights spin!

Teenage Xmas

2011-12-18T08:49:00.000-06:00

One week to go until Shane MacGowan's brithday (December 25th, dontcha know)! In tribute,we're gonna get a little Xmas trashy today!

No Holiday blowout would be complete without a Billy Childish Xmas tune...so today we've got the wonderfully snotty "Dear Santa Claus". Deliriously catchy "Teenage Christmas" by Eux Autres follows. Then we've got a howlin' greasy harmonica garage blues raving, courtesy of The Brood, "One Winter's Night". And finally lo-fi nihilist geniuses The Guinea Worms gift us with "Oh Fuck, It's Christmas Again".

Man, does it get any better than this? Well, just wait 'til tomorrow!

Santa is a fuck up!

Billy Childish and the Musicians of the British Empire: Dear Santa Claus (mp3)

Eux Autres: Teenage Christmas (mp3)

The Brood: One Winter's Night (mp3)

Guinea Worms: Oh Fuck, It's Christmas Again (mp3)

Thanks for all your support. Please support whatever local charities you can. Cheers!

One Big Xmas Tree

2011-12-17T08:39:00.000-06:00

It's finally snowing here in Chicago! So let's break out the egg nog, put on our ironic Xmas sweaters, and get to work!

So...what do we have for y'all today? Some killer little packages, that's what!

Garage punk Xmas takes center stage with the staggeringly great tale of bad behavior, "Santa Aint Coming For Christmas" from Rocket 455! A jumpin' and swingin' "Santa Claus Blues" from Eva Taylor ("No money, no honey, to buy a present for me")! Contemporary music's best lyricist brings the Yuletide grouch in Magnetic Field's "Everything is One Big Christmas Tree"! And L.E. White and Lola Jean Dillon bring us a honky tonk tale both hilarious and heartbreaking in the essential "The Big One"!

Santa's a Cynical Sinner!

Rocket 455: Santa Aint Coming For Christmas (mp3)

Eva Taylor: Santa Claus Blues (mp3)

Magnetic Fields: Everything is One Big Christmas Tree (mp3)

L.E. White and Lola Jean Dillon: The Big One (mp3)

Running out of time...all you last minute shoppers! Forget the Big Boxes, check out yr local, independent stores for nifty gifts you can't find elsewhere!

Santa On The Moon

2011-12-16T08:30:00.000-06:00

Hoo boy! We've got a special, themed Yuletide treat for y'all today. A bit of a cheat, since we're including some tunes we've posted in years past, but there's plenty of new tunes as well (and it works out well for newer visitors!). Not much to say about this post, figgerin' it's pretty self-explanatory.

Some of these tunes kick some serious ass, some are a little more "special". Collect 'em all!

Santa's Blasting Off!

Bobby Helms: Captain Santa Claus (And His Reindeer Space Patrol) (mp3)

The Bellrays: Rocket Ship Santa (mp3)

Folklore: Xmas Ape Goes to the Moon (mp3)

Groovie Ghoulies: Christmas on Mars (mp3)

Hal Bradley Orchestra w/Pattie Marie Jay: Space Age Santa Claus (mp3)

Shonen Knife: Space Christmas (mp3)

Sonny Cole: Santa to the Moon (mp3)

Lawrence Welk's Little Band: Outer Space Santa (mp3)

Please support your local, independent astronaut.

Santa On The Interstate

2011-12-15T08:30:00.002-06:00

Sanity clause is checked off, reindeer are fed, nasty little elves are working day and night. It's time for another Xmas post!

We'd like to send a special shout out to Mark W. ("dat ol' varmint") for all his help these past couple of years, with killer Holiday mixes galore. Some of what you get in these posts are courtesy of Mark, so thanks, man!

No iPad under the tree today, but we got some other brightly packaged treats. First, greasy hep cat rhythm'n'booze stomper, "Rockin' Santa Claus" from The Martels. The mighty Loudon Wainwright III weighs in next, with a deceptive little number, "Christmas Morning". Just when you think he's dropped his notorious wry sarcasm, he sneaks right back up on ya. 5 Chinese Brothers follows, with "Christmas on Interstate 80", an accordion-led Country Xmas road trip, featuring waitresses, greyhounds, hope and despair. Perfect.

And winding us up is Mountain fave, Hank Thompson. We've posted numerous Xmas tunes by ol Hank, but we don't think we've done "Little Christmas Angel" yet. It's a little slight and drippy, but it's Hank Thompson, so that's all right.

Santa rides the Greyhound!

The Martels: Rockin' Santa Claus (mp3)

Loudon Wainright III: Christmas Morning (mp3)

5 Chinese Brothers: Christmas on Interstate 80 (mp3)

Hank Thompson: Little Christmas Angel (mp3)

Thanks for visiting!

DJ Santa

2011-12-14T08:30:00.001-06:00

Another Xmas Mix re-post today. One of the most requested, so here ya go! Back on track tomorrow with more tasty new Xmas treats!

As ever, the mp3 link follows the track listing.

A Big Rock Candy Cane Xmas

1. Christmas Spirit (The Wailers)
2. Don't Believe In Christmas (The Sonics)
3. Reindeer Boogie (Hank Snow)
4. Rootin' Tootin' Santa Claus (Pee Wee King)
5. I'll Be Your Santa Baby (Rufus Thomas)
6. Who Took The Merry Out Of Christmas (The Staple Singers)
7. Santa Came Home Drunk (Clyde Lasley)
8. Beatnik's Wish (Patsy Raye)
9. Deck 5 (Saturday's Children)
10. We Free Kings (Roland Kirk)
11. Merry Christmas (Lightnin' Hopkins)
12. Christmas Day (Detroit Junior)
13. Feliz Navi Dada (El Vez)
14. Old Man Spivey's Egg Nog (The Dalheart Imperials)
15. Christmas Carols By The Old Corral (Tex Ritter)
16. Santa Santa Santa (Gene Autry)
17. Santa Got A DWI (Sherwin Linton)
18. Santa Stole My Whiskey (The Rimshots)
19. The Mistletoe and Me (Isaac Hayes)
20. Xmas In Nevada (The Willard Grant Conspiracy)
21. Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis (Neko Case does Tom Waits)
22. I Wish I Was Santa Claus (Merle Haggard)
23. Please Come Home For Christmas (Little Junior)
24. Christmas Past (Mike Ireland)
25. Christmas Eve Can Kill You (The Everley Brothers)
26. What Do The Lonely Do At Christmas (The Emotions)
27. Go Tell It On The Mountain (The Blind Boys Of Alabama w/Tom Waits)

Big Rock Candy Cane Xmas (mp3)

Too bad our photo today is all too true. Please consider supporting whatever charities you are able to this Holiday season.

Santa Won't Be Blue

2011-12-12T08:30:00.003-06:00

We're still keeping at it, sharin' all the toys for bad little girls and boys!

Just a reminder, our World Famous Best of the Year list follows all this whoo-ha, starting December 26th! Odds are currently being taken on what's gonna be #1! (though I bet astute and regular readers might already have a good guess).

Keeping tidings joyful today, with some rollin' R'n'B from Jimmy Charles, followed by a little Bakersfield-style Country Xmas courtesy of Buck Owens and Susan Raye. And finally, one of our favorite Garage-Soul bands, The Bellrays, keep us jumpin' up and down the chimney.

Santa's on Shuffle!

Jimmy Charles: Santa Won't Be Blue This Christmas (mp3)

Buck Owens and Susan Raye: Tomorrow is Christmas Day (mp3)

The Bellrays: Gimme Some Funk For Christmas (mp3)

Don't forget the damn Xmas cookies!

Reindeer Hoofers

2011-12-11T09:06:00.000-06:00

Shopping is done! How's yours going?

Get on yr dancin' elf shoes today, cuz we got a Yuletide party goin' on!

Mosh along to Yo La Tengo's raved up version of Jan Terri's "Rock'n'Roll Santa"! Git down 'n' groovy with J. Hines and the Boys' insanely catchy and deep thumpin' "A Funky Christmas to You"! And swing, swing, swing the festive night away with Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra's "Christmas Night in Harlem" (which features Johnny Mercer and Jack Teagarden)!

Santa's got a party goin' on!

Yo La Tengo: Rock'n'Roll Santa (mp3)

J. Hines and the Boys: A Funky Christmas to You (mp3)

Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra: Christmas Night in Harlem (mp3)

As ever, please give what you can this Holiday season, and year round. Times are tough, and money's tight for all of us, but sometimes even a dollar can help get someone a hot meal. Thanks for stoppin' by.

Daddy Rockin' Santa

2011-12-10T08:59:00.000-06:00

How's yr tree comin' along? Stuffed yr stocking yet?

We had a correction on our last post, and we'd like to thank the person who pointed out our mis-credit. We'd also like to thank all the kind folks who have sent Xmas tunes and/or suggestions our way. Y'all have been generous to us, and we'd like to return the favor.

Mixed (Santa's) bag today. A little more soulful doo-wop inspired Xmas R'n'B from the Sherwoods. The Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers bring us some some ragtime, jug-bandy, holly roller gospel blues for the season. And the Queen of All Country, Loretta Lynn, does sad Christmas exactly the way it should be done, sad but not schmaltzy (there's a reason we worship her).

Santa's got a crazy bag!

Sherwoods: Happy Holiday (mp3)

Cotton Top Mountain Sanctified Singers: Christ Was Born on Christmas Morn (mp3)

Loretta Lynn: Christmas Without Daddy (mp3)

Thanks for stoppin' by. Have a great Holiday season. Be good to yourselves, and others as well!

Snow Girl

2011-12-08T08:30:00.001-06:00

Awright! Keepin' the blades on our sled sharp! Remember, we're the cure for all that's oh so very bad about Xmas music. Joy! Joy!

It's all about the love today.

Ron Winter start things off this fine wintry morning with "Snow Girl", a stomping Bo Diddley meets Surf City ditty. Nifty! Old-timey rockabilly takes the stage next with Harry Lee's "Rockin' on a Reindeer". Hoedown! And we'll wrap these swell gifts up with The Uniques and a soulful little doowop-y number, "Merry Christmas Darling". A surprisingly sweet tune (at least coming from us), but what can we say? We can't always be cynical little bastards, can we?

Santa Claus loves the ladies!

Ron Winter: Snow Girl (mp3)

Harry Lee: Rockin' on a Reindeer (mp3)

Uniques: Merry Christmas Darling (mp3)

Thanks, as ever, for visitin'. Support yr local, independent stores this Holiday season. Please.

Junk Dealin' Santa

2011-12-07T08:30:00.001-06:00

Ulp. Missed a day of our Xmas madness. Shame on us. Been under the weather. Gonna have a re-post today of one of the favorite Holiday mixes from years past. There's been some demand for these, so we might have more of these popping up as bonuses over the next few weeks.

Back the "new" stuff tomorrow (or, at the least, the previously un-posted stuff).

As ever, the mp3 link follows each track listing.

The Big Rock Candy Mountain Junk Shop Christmas

1. Christmas Wish (Andre Williams)
2. Be-Bop Santa (Babs Gonzalez)
3. I'll Be Walking The Floor This Christmas (Ernest Tubb)
4. To Heck With Ole Santa Claus (Loretta Lynn)
5. Rocket Ship Santa (The Bellrays)
6. There's Trouble Brewin' (Jack Scott)
7. Santa's Doing The Horizontal Twist (Kay Martin and Her Bodyguards)
8. Empty Stockings (Floyd Dixon)
9. We Wanna See Santa Do The Mambo (Big John Greer)
10. Santa Done Got Hip (Marquees)
11. Truckin' Trees For Christmas (Red Simpson)
12. I'd Like to Have An Elephant For Christmas (Hank Thompson)
13. Put The Loot In the Boot Santa (Mae West)
14. My Last Christmas (The Dirtbombs)
15. No Christmas For John Quays (The Fall)
16. Christmas In Jail (The Youngsters)
17. Christmas Date Boogie (Big Joe Turner)
18. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (Mabel Scott)
19. Rockin' and Rollin' With Santa Claus (Hepsters)
20. I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus (Brenda Lee)
21. Dasher With The Light Upon His Tail (Kitty Wells)
22. Old Toy Trains (Roger Miller)
23. Blue Christmas Lights (Buck Owens)
24. Lonely Christmas Call (George Jones)
25. Christmas Comes But Once A Year (Amos Milburn)
26. Good Times Are Coming (Eddy Clearwater w/Los Straightjackets)

Big Rock Candy Mountain Junk Shop Xmas (mp3)

Please consider supporting independent businesses this Yuletide.

A Very Velveeta Christmas

2011-12-05T08:30:00.002-06:00

Welcome back, happy Holiday ho ho's. Got a special treat today, a few Country groaners so cheesy or painfully emotional as to be almost brilliant. Almost. This may not be our only post where we dip into the fondue. Oh, my.

Dave Dudley has created some of the best trucking tunes in the world. Unfortunately, he also gave "Lonely Christmas Again", a miserable wreck of a weeper. King of Western Swing Bob Wills does him one better with "Empty Chair at the Christmas Table". And finally, we lighten the mood with a tune from Boxcar Willie, in which a very special little tow truck helps Santa out for Christmas. "Timothy the Tow Truck" could be an after school special for the drooling 4-year old set. The song even features a singing (shouting) kid choir, oh yes indeed.

Santa's bringing boxes of Velveeta as stocking stuffers this year!

Dave Dudley: Lonely Christmas Again (mp3)

Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys: Empty Chair at the Christmas Table (mp3)

Boxcar Willie: Timothy the Tow Truck (mp3)

We wish to really, really, really apologize for today's post.

Santa's Personality Crisis

2011-12-04T09:23:00.000-06:00

More wintry Yule logs for y'all today.

Call and response, sorta, with Ron Holden and the Thunderbirds serving up a greasy, sleazey sax R'n'B raver in "Who Sez There Aint No Santa Claus". Well, punk legends The Damned seem to think there aint one, or at least they think "There Aint No Sanity Clause" (nice reference to The Marx Brothers).

Then we reach way back in the day, with Blues legend Blind Blake, and a tune for the broken-hearted.

Santa Has A Personality Crisis

Ron Holden and the Thunderbirds: Who Sez There Aint No Santa Claus (mp3)

The Damned: There Aint No Sanity Claus (mp3)

Blind Blake: Lonesome Christmas Blues (mp3)

Thanks for stoppin' by.

Candy Cane Madness

2011-12-03T08:28:00.000-06:00

Hey now! Back for more wacky, wintry treats! Aw yeah!

We've got some links to the right for more keen Holiday sites. Check 'em all out, and if you run a site, or have a fave rave that we don't have listed, let us know.

On with the show.

We've always been a big Mark Lanegan fan, even back in his Screaming Trees days, when the band was unfortunately lumped into the grunge ghetto. After leaving the band, Lanegan has carved out a killer career as a burnt desert, midnight rambling, whiskey growled performer. Pairing him with Isobel Campbell of Belle and Sebastian should not have worked, but it most certainly did. A brilliant collaboration, sweet and sour, dark and light, angels and demon. On the following track, "Time of the Season", Lanegan and Campbell nail one of the most bittersweet Holiday tunes you'll ever hear. Country-stringed, down'n'out, with hope sitting just a bar stool away, Lanegan and Campbell trading and sharing vocals, beauty and sadness under blinking Christmas lights. Maybe our favorite song this Holiday season.

Following that, things ramp up with the mighty Davie Allen and the Arrows, and a Nuggets-style garage romper, "Santa on the Run".

And finally, Lowell George and the Factory. Bit of a misnomer there, as this being George's pre-Little Feat band, he's more of a member than the guiding spirit. Regardless, "Candy Cane Madness" is a swirling psych garage slice of acid-washed overdose. Yummy!

Santa's a little trippy!

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan: Time of the Season (mp3)

Davie Allen and the Arrows: Santa On the Run (mp3)

Lowell George and The Factory: Candy Cane Madness (mp3)

Don't forget our animal friends this season, as the weather gets colder. Maybe throw a few bucks to the ASCPA or your shelter of choice.