Inner Peace Along the Way

Look, I love turkey and mashed potatoes and just the general gluttonous glee of Thanksgiving. But I’m looking forward to this holiday wrapping up. Come Thursday, we’re pulling out the big guns. Of course I am talking Judas Priest week. Okay, no, I'm talking about some serious holiday tunes. Maybe some Hardrock, Coco, and Joe? Maybe some Ray Stevens? Maybe some more Beach Boys? And you better believe there will be some Darlene Love. No question about that. But in the meantime, we still have goodies up our sleeve, er, stockings.

White Christmas – Kitty Wells

Surely one of the prettiest voices in country music history. Kitty is still with us, though retired from performing in 2000. This version is beautiful.

Gift X-change – Calexico

This is a special song for PC. Buddy, this one probably doesn’t sum up how you feel today, but it is good old Americana and a fine song.

Blue Christmas Lights – Buck Owens

Here’s our third and final Buck Owens song this season. You just know that when Buck sings blue, he means it.

Back Door Santa – Clarence Carter

Surely one of the dirtiest Christmas songs, let’s just say that this Santa isn’t up to any good. I mean, he makes his runs about the break of day after making all the little girls happy.

Jingle All the Day

Penn State is headed to the Rose Bowl. Ohio State is heading… to an undetermined bowl. A great world for PC and I on this cold Sunday morning, right? Not quite.

I just read that The Weather Channel has essentially fired Dave Schwartz—that’s him in the photo. Schwartz had been with the channel since 1985, and first appeared on-air in 1991. I realize the economic times have hit all of us hard, but did The Weather Channel parent company NBC Universal really need to fire Dave Schwartz? The man was great on the air—lively, funny, passionate. Actually, he also seemed a bit strange, but I liked that. And to think, yesterday I was beyond excited to download the new Weather Channel app for my iPhone. Now, it just won’t be the same. If Dr. Greg Forbes, Dr. Steve Lyons, or my beloved Jim Cantore are at risk, I’m walking. I don’t know where to, but that was the best idle threat I could think of right there. If anyone messes with the furious sexual tension between Stephanie Abrams and Mike Bettes, my 8 p.m. hour might as well conclude by drinking poison. And please, keep Heather Tesch—I’ve followed her career since her days at WGAL in Lancaster, PA, and I always knew she was more talented than that toothpaste salesman Doug Allen. I also have a fond spot for Mark Mancuso—he’s another on-air veteran and a PSU graduate. Just an FYI—Penn State has the best meteorological program in the country. So call me what you want—balding, slightly overweight, obsessed with petty things, and apparently old at heart because I am this worked up over The Weather Channel—but I like my weather. And Dave Schwartz’s holiday season just got a little less happy. Today, there is no Santa in his honor.

Sleigh Ride – Johnny Mathis

I can’t hear this song without remembering the impersonation my cousin did a few years back. As he noted, Mathis has exact enunciation in every line.

Winter Symphony – The Beach Boys

This seems like a very underrated tune to me. There’s something perfect about—I know the snapshots of winter life are perhaps a bit too picture-esque. But I can’t help it—I like this one.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – The Melodeers

How about a do-wop Christmas?

Mistress for Christmas – AC/DC

Finally, I’d like to end with AC/DC. Usually I listen to this band to get pumped up, like for football or filing my taxes. But they’re great when you’re angry too. This one is for Dave Schwartz. Dave, I doubt you want a mistress for Christmas, but whatever you want, I hope you get it.

Squat

Yes, that’s Woody Hayes and Joe Paterno, dressed as Santa. For PC’s team and my team, both of whom have big, big games today.

We updated the links on the side of the page, check them out.

I’d like to give a shout-out to A Christmas Yuleblog. Head over there to see a great post on Stan Freberg’s “Green Chri$tma$” which is now fifty years old. I first heard this song on Dr. Demento’s radio show when I was in middle school, and I bought a Dr. Demento tape with Christmas songs, including Stan Freberg, soon after. Also, check out Hip Christmas—a very cool site (that also believes Ms. Darlene Love has the best Christmas tune ever recorded) with a fantastic MP3 player of nearly 350 songs.

Squat – Shelby Lynne

I snagged this one from Hip Christmas. I also picked up I Am Shelby Lynne this year, after watching a profile of her on CBS Sunday Morning. Not sure how I missed it so many years ago, but definitely check her out. Unfortunately, Santa didn’t bring her squat.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Tift Merritt

PC is back in his home state of Ohio today, heading to the Horseshoe. In my heart, I’m in Happy Valley, sitting in Beaver Stadium.

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2

Nothing tops Darlene, but U2 does a pretty fantastic version of my favorite holiday tune.

Morningtown Ride – The Seekers

There is a Christmas version of this song—I’ll post the YouTube link below. I’ve never been a huge fan of reworking a hit song to fit with Christmas. But you can’t deny that both versions will be in your head all day.

I Feel Like I'm In Paradise

Sometimes things break. Sometimes things fall apart. Sometimes the songs we upload don’t work. We do what we can. We carry on, fight the urge to succumb to frustration, and we walk through another day. The last post “Santa Kong!” is now up and running again. No idea what happened on that one. Peter, I owe you a coke. Or more songs. Actually, let’s just do more songs, that sounds easier.

Last Month of the Year – Blind Boys of Alabama
A pretty straight-forward religious song here. Don’t let that scare you though, unless you have an aversion to a raucous good time.

Listen to Otis Redding At Home During Christmas – Okkervil River
Home is where beds are made and butter is added to toast. It’s where layers of clothes are applied to my cold body.

Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding
I have to follow-up a tribute to Otis Redding with the real Otis Redding.

White Christmas – Otis Redding
And one more.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Jigsaw Seen

Okay, call me crazy. I know this song pretty much rips off “Paint It Black,” but dang if it’s not one of my favorite versions of this song. Download this and turn it up loud.

He Came to Life One Day

Is JV not knocking it out of the park with these drawings? Fantastic.

I'll start with a few instrumental tracks.

Mark Mothersbaugh: Snowflake Music. From the Rushmore OST.

Nicolai Dunger: Going Home For Christmas

And, as a reminder of the dangers of Psychedelic Warming:

The Grateful Dead: Cold Rain and Snow
(Don't worry, this is a studio cut--no 67 minute noodling)

I can't hold off on the Phil Spector Christmas album for very long, so here's some:

The Ronettes: Frosty the Snowman

The Crystals: Parade of the Wooden Soldiers

A little otherworldly harmony for ya:

The Louvin Brothers: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

I'm trying to stay away from the Christmas songs we all hear 77 times a day on the radio at home, in the car, at the store, etc... but I have to post this one for JV. Always reminds me of working in the admissions office (for money we immediately squandered on beer, pizza, and cds) during our last years of grad school. Probably the best job I've ever had, sadly.

Gayla Peevey: I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

And I'll close it with a country classic:

Jim Reeves: An Old Christmas Card

PC

Santa Claus Has Run Amok!

Behold! I give you the eighth wonder (and picture in our series) of the world! Santa Kong! We found him on Candy Apple Island, captured him by carefully aiming our elephant guns at his groin and belly, and have fed him nothing but candy canes and eggnog. Now we have a giant ape hopped up on liquor and sugar. Oh yeah, he also hates being held captive. May God save us all!

I’m Gonna Lasso Santa Claus – Brenda Lee

Oh Brenda, I appreciate your willingness to help, but I’m afraid we’re going to need a bigger lasso. However, your sweet voice could surely serenade this entire city that has plunged into chaos due to the stark raving mad giant ape made up to look like Santa Claus who is hell-bent on pulverizing all of us with the brute force of his paws.

Hey Santa Claus – The Moonglows

Please, whatever you do, don’t call the ape, taunt the ape, or try to get the ape’s attention. It’s best to let him pass you by, and don’t yell out his name, even if you’re doing so in a jazzy, bouncy style with great back-up harmonies.

Santa’s Gonna Come in a Stagecoach – Buck Owens

Listen Buck, you know I love you. But that giant ape is now climbing the tallest building in town. He’s going to foul up cell phone reception when he gets to the top—that’s where the towers are. Buck, I don’t know where you’re getting this stagecoach business, even though this is one hell of song. But that ape is getting higher and higher and we live in a city. There are no stagecoaches here.

The Santa Claus Boogie – The Tractors

Oh I get it. This is like at the end of Ghostbusters, when everyone kind of dances in the demolished streets lathered in the remains of the State Puff Marshmellow Man. So when the giant ape is decimated by the high-powered weapons of our air force planes and he careens lifelessly into the ground and his body squirts all over the street, rather than saying, “Who you gonna call?” we’ll instead say, “What you gonna dance?” The Santa Claus Boogie!

A Cold Winter Day

It’s the return of our on-going 77 Santas projects! Here are numbers 4, 5, 6, and 7. Only 70 more drawings to go! Some of you might think it’s cute that my son drew these pictures. Those people would feel like silly fools however once they learned that the crude drawings are in fact done by yours truly. You’d feel even worse knowing that I shoot blanks and can’t have children, but then feel awkward when I confess that I made that last part up.

So it seems we’ve solved file-sharing problems. Hopefully the new way is working for everyone. But if you can’t get anything, leave a comment. We will at first curse at our ineptitude, then weep over the hopelessness of our efforts, but eventually we’ll muster the courage to confront life’s problems.

The Man with All the Toys – The Beach Boys

This comes from a seminal album here at 77 Santas, and this is one of my favorite tracks. The harmonies on this, as with most Beach Boys material from this era, are fantastic. It’s short, fast, and perfect.

Santa Looked A lot Like Daddy – Buck Owens

No one sings this like the late, great Buck Owens—does it get any better than when Buck says “down the chimney”? I don’t think so. And there’s nothing sexier than role-playing at Christmastime.

Up On the House Top – Gene Autry

I remember singing this in elementary school, when the entire school had an assembly for Christmastime. One section would sing, “Ho, ho, ho” and the rest would take the chorus. Since my last name ends in a V, I usually sat next to Jennifer Wagner, who smelled as though her father routinely spilled kerosene from their heater on her clothes.

Cold Winter Day – Blind Willie McTell

This isn’t a seasonal tune, but it’s bone-achingly cold here in Virginia tonight. A gray flannel sky clung to the ground, and it felt that snow could fall any moment. Unfortunately, nothing white just yet. Blind Willie McTell knows all about cold winter days—it was the freezing cold that claimed his sight. He vowed revenge against Old Man Winter to his dying day.

Enter

It's Michigan week, so my mind is occupied. Still, I can post a few songs here and there.

The Ohio State Marching Band: Sleigh Ride

This band rocks:

Black Mountain: Heart of Snow

A couple of old 77 Santas classics to close it out:

The Flaming Lips: Christmas at the Zoo

The Band: Christmas Must Be Tonight (Alternate Take)

PC

Snow Place Like Home

Ho, ho, ho. I was in Italy for the past week or so and returned on Thursday with a nasty cold that had me down for the count. To all those on that United flight—I’m very sorry you are now probably ill because of me. If it’s any consolation, I watched Get Smart on the airplane and didn’t like it. So we all suffered on that flight. I was able to secure some myrrh and recover from this cold—you know, myrrh isn’t used nearly as much today as in Biblical times, and that’s a shame. The stuff heals better than the most powerful antibiotics.

Sorry for the delay, but I’m here for good now, ready to tear this joint up until Christmas. PC reports that the snow is falling in Chi-town. The cold has reached Central Virginia, but no white precip just yet. I’ve attempted to contact Jim Cantore of The Weather Channel for a special 77 Santas forecast. Thus far, he has not returned any of my letters, emails, phone calls, or personal visits to his office and home. I’m sure he’s just recovering from hurricane season and will get back to me as soon as he can.

But I’m in the mood for a good old fashioned snow-down.

Purple Snowflakes – Marvin Gaye
I’ve never seen purple snowflakes. Perhaps this is something I should also ask Mr. Cantore about. I believe it might have something to do with global warming or psychedelic drugs. Perhaps a combination of both.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! – Vaughn Monroe
This is my favorite version of the song. Monroe sounds like he’s three sheets to the wind, and there’s just a relaxed feeling to this one.

On A Snowy Christmas Night – Elvis Presley
Little known fact: while Elvis was recording this song, he insisted that sawdust painted white be dropped lightly from the studio ceiling. By the fourth take, Fidge McPadgit, the midget bassist, had to be placed on top of the piano to avoid drowning in the fake snowflakes. Luckily, Elvis nailed this song on the eighth take, saving the studio band from sawdust suffocation.

You're Living in a Fantasy

Excited because I found The New Possibility: John Fahey's Soli Christmas Album/Christmas with John Fahey Vol. II at the record store yesterday, I offer these:

John Fahey

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Fantasy

Christ's Saints of God Fantasy

Christmas Fantasy--Part II

And, a poem by the wonderful Frank O'Hara:

Fantasy (dedicated to the health of Allen Ginsberg)

And, since many of us are walking out into the year's first snow, a song from the Kingsbury Manx, off their first album, which sounds and feels a lot like winter.

Piss Diary

PC

Fleet Foxes: White Winter Hymnal

Current darlings. Much deserved--they make gorgeous music.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy: Cursed Sleep

This is what the night before Christmas is like, right?

Close it out with two guitar driven, instrumental numbers by two masters:

Willie Nelson: Christmas Blues

John Fahey: Good King Wenceslas

Keep checking in--JV is back tonight!
PC

Ok, I'm going to try some tunes, using Yousendit, good for 100 downloads or 7 days. Please let us know how this works. I do not have all of the same songs as JV, so you will have to wait for him to return to the US for those. Sorry. But I have some of those songs and plenty of other good ones.

My Morning Jacket: The Xmas Curtain

Darlene Love: (Christmas) Baby Please Come Home

Helene Smith: Willing and Able

And, to get us ready for the ultimate stocking stuffer, Chinese Democracy, I give you this, which is the forecast today in Chicago:

Guns N Roses: November Rain

I'll do my best to post as much as I can while school is still in. Then, when break hits, look for more.
PS, this is out today!
PC

Tiding of Comfort and Joy

Long story short—PC and JV both had some bad news today. So I need some comfort and joy. Here is a trio of somber Christmas tunes.

John Fahey was an absolute master guitar player, and a true fan of pre-World War II Blues. Check out anything on the Revenant label if you don’t believe me. Here’s a simple, beautiful version of one of my favorite winter tunes.

In the Bleak Midwinter – John Fahey

For my money, George Jones has one of the best voices in not just country, but all music. There’s such deep loneliness in his voice and delivery.

Lonely Christmas Call – George Jones

This is one of my favorite holiday songs, and there are plenty of great versions. This is certainly one of the saddest out there.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Pedro the Lion

No post tomorrow—go vote.

Any feedback on the Rapidshare usage? We’re going to have to update to something bigger soon, but I just wanted people’s thoughts. Any preferences over this or YouSendIt or another service I’m not aware of?

Need Some Ice and an Extension Cord? Vota Santa!

PC will be along in a few day—he’s educating some of today’s students. And he loves it. But today, I’m back with a few more. How about that Texas win last night? Maybe an early Christmas present for Penn State fans?

A nice, mellow instrumental track is up first. Okay, so you might not have snow, but the leaves are probably falling. Just imagine those are snowflakes.

Snowfall – Skitch Henderson and the “Tonight Show” Orchestra

This is really a modern classic in my book—each year, I love this song more and more. It’s strange, heartfelt, and funny.

Merry Christmas from the Family – Robert Earl Keen

When this guy says that Santa is coming to town, you better believe that he means it. That’s a passionate delivery!

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town – The Harmony Grits

Raise the Christmas Curtain!

Halloween was yesterday. Today’s November 1. And in my book, that’s the start of the holiday season. If it’s too early for you, come back when you’re ready. But here at 77 Santas, we’re ready to kick-off the season. And I know PC promised some songs post-Election Day, but what can I say? I’m like a kid on Christmas morning—I just can’t wait.

So let’s raise the Christmas curtain!

Xmas Curtain (Live) – My Morning Jacket

You might notice the picture—I’m hand-drawing 77 Santas this year. I don’t expect any of them to be good. But maybe Gayla will see all 77?

77 Santas – Gayla Peevey

And what would this season be without the best Christmas song ever recorded? Darlene, close out our first day…

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love

Yes We Can Start Posting Songs Again

Hello. We have not gone away, we promise. We have plans to bring the songs like we've never brought them before. So, get your ears ready for stockings upon stockings of various musics. Our plan: to begin the song posting next Wednesday, in honor (Oh, God, we hope) of our new Commander in Chief.
So, please, go vote today, tomorrow, Tuesday.
And then check in Wednesday and thereafter until Christmas (and beyond?).
PC & JV

Remembering Jerry Reed

Some people think I’m joking when I say that Jerry Reed was one of my heroes. It’s no joke. Ever since I was a kid, watching Smokey and the Bandit on Saturday afternoon reruns, I absolutely loved the man. That Southern drawl, that husky laugh. And no one ever owned driving a semi-truck in a movie like the Snowman. In fact, in the past few days, PC and I joked about organizing a Smokey and the Bandit road trip that followed the same path Bandit and Snowman and his old hound Fred followed in the film.

Reed was a fantastic guitar player. And he was cool. Sure, Bandit was cool, with his Trans Am, but I always admired trusty Snowman. No matter what, you could depend on him. And he was an all-around original. Jerry Reed passed away yesterday at age 71, and country music got a lot less cooler.

Download these two (especially Eastbound and Down) and blast it for my man. Somewhere he’s drinking one of those beers he and Bandit stole.

Eastbound and Down – Jerry Reed

Westbound and Down – Jerry Reed

She Got the Goldmine, I Got the Shaft – Jerry Reed

Apologies…

I know—this Christmas in July is a bit lackluster. I’m sorry. Had some car issues I had to tend to, and I just didn’t have the time to roll em out like last year. That’s the nice thing about our holiday season here—you’ll get two solid months of hardcore Christmas, if there can be such a thing.

Speaking of which—I met someone today who just didn’t like Christmas. It wasn’t the commercialism or the decorations. She just flat out didn’t like it. Rather than argue with Susie Q. Grinch, I just kept quiet. I guess if you don’t feel that holiday spirit—the music, the family, the friends, and the decorations—you just don’t feel it. That’s a shame. Luckily, we feel it here every single day of the year.

If Everyday Were Like Christmas – Elvis Presley

Calling On Mary – Aimee Mann

Frosty the Snowman – Leon Redbone and Dr. John

Just Like Christmas – Low

One of You (In Every Size) – Marty Robbins

I’ll be back tomorrow, a day late, but we’ll do this thing up proper!

Back Friday

Such is life, things pop up now and again. I'll be away from the computer for the next two days and will have to make up for it on Friday and Saturday. I suppose I could make posts with my iPhone but I just got it and honestly, I have no idea how to go about that! So, see you in a few days.

Some Depression

Some of my favorite Christmas tunes are ripe melancholy. Sure, I love the upbeat around that time of year, but there’s something great about the following songs. They don’t hide their sadness or misery, no matter how catchy.

7 O’Clock News/Silent Night – Simon and Garfunkle

Oh, how that newscast could be updated to fit with today.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Pedro the Lion

Stripped down and beautiful, this has become one of my favorite versions. The vocals sound pained and there are points where you wonder if he can finish.

Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day – Brenda Lee

My Queen of Christmas.

If We Make It through December – Merle Haggard

Thanks to PC for reminding me of this one. Written in the grasp of the 1970s recession, it’s looking like this song might continue to resonate this year.

Call Collect on Christmas – Del McCoury

An all-out bluegrass tear-jerker—when your mother asks you to call on Christmas, do as she says.

Please Come Home for Christmas – Charles Brown

There are other versions—this is the best.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Judy Garland

And the same with this—nothing beats Judy’s original, the hands-down winner for the most depressing Christmas song ever written.

Christmas In Paradise – Mary Gauthier

If you don’t know Mary Gauthier, seek her out. She’s similar to Lucinda Williams and Kathleen Edwards—female singer/songwriters who write some of the most painfully honest songs.

Merry Christmas from the Family – Robert Earl Keen

Lastly, here’s a mix of happy/sad. Sure, the family has some problems—what family doesn’t? But there’s something nice about this song. At least, no matter how much eggnog is consumed or Marlboro Lights are smoked, the folks are together.

Some Dedications

Happy Christmas in July! For the next week, you're going to take a sleigh ride through some holiday tunes. Central Virginia is burning up—the air outside feels thick as butter. And I here PC is sweating the pounds off out in Chicago. All the more reason to celebrate a cold winter holiday.

As we usually do during July, we’ll throw up a few new tracks (for 77 Santas at least) and some old. So turn up the air conditioner and construct some kind of elaborate snow-making machine in your house (we’re not engineers and have no suggestions—you’re on your own). Dig out the Christmas lights and hang them up outside--people will think you're crazy but who cares.

Purple Snowflakes – Marvin Gaye

Hear those flakes fall—the music almost twinkles here and then Gaye’s great voice kicks in. This one is for PC out in Chi-town.

We Three Kings of Orient Are – The Beach Boys

This one is for Brendan—he runs The Rising Storm, a superb music blog, and is also a huge Beach Boys Christmas album fan. During the “off season” for 77 Santas, I check his site regularly and hope you do as well.

Scarlet Ribbons – Bobbie Gentry

Another blog I check regularly is Living in Stereo. Their writing is often thoughtful, interesting, and lots of fun to read. Last Christmas, they threw up a great post with some amazing tracks. Here are two of them—let’s start with Bobbie. It seems with each passing month, I love this woman more and more.

Gonna Wrap My Heart In Ribbons – Hank Thompson

Here’s another courtesy Living in Stereo. Nothing makes you want to pop open a can of brew quite like Hank Thompson—one of country music’s great unsung heroes.

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Darlene Love

Finally, this one is for me—throughout the past seven months, on any given day, I have found myself listening to this, my absolute favorite Christmas song (and if you read this regularly, you know my love). Darlene, carry us out of here today.

Hard Times Come Again No More

Just an FYI—Christmas in July will start on July 21. Until then, we’ll do a little warm-up with some posts.

First up, the always light-hearted Great Depression. Lately, it’s been near impossible to turn on the television and not hear about oil, subprime mortgages, and corporations on the brink of failure. Our rebate checks, courtesy Uncle Sam, arrived in the mail—did it make a dent for anyone? Helped to pay bills or pay down debt. Times are tough for many, though just fine for the top-tier. That gap between rich and poor grows each year.

Here are some songs to get you through the hard times, most written around the Depression. They need little introduction and speak for themselves.


Hard Times Come Again No More – The Graham Brothers

Bonus: Hard Times – Bob Dylan

Stephen C. Foster wrote this song way back in 1859 and it never achieved the popularity of his other songs during the era. Decades later, the song’s lyrics of troubled-times spoke to a new generation of folk singers and those suffering through economic ruin. This was one of Foster’s favorite songs. As a bonus, here’s Bob Dylan’s take from Good As I Been to You.

How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live? – Blind Alfred Reed

Another song recently covered—with significantly altered lyrics—by a prominent American artist (Bruce Springsteen), Blind Alfred Reed’s straight-forward song tells the story of all-out depression ravaging the land. Reed, who was born blind, supposedly died of starvation in 1956.

It’s Hard Time – J.D Short

Short’s vibrato is striking—how many times have singers copied this wholly original style?

Times Is Tight Like That – Bo Carter and Walter Vinson

Carter and Vinson trade verses throughout this song—it’s fun at first but then supremely depressing once the lyrics sink in.

White House Blues – Charlie Poole with The North Carolina Ramblers

Bonus: To Washington – John Mellencamp

The current political implications of this song don’t need to be highlighted (though John Mellencamp recently did his own update). Poole’s version is about the McKinley assassination while Mellencamp uses it for contemporary comment.

We Need A Little Christmas; Also, Air Conditioning

77 Santas will return from the summer hiatus on July 21 for Christmas in July. Mark your calendars, block off your vacation days from work, and tell the kids to take themselves to the water park—you’ve got some summer holiday celebrating to do.

Like last year, you can expect some daily songs that will make you want to cover up the pool and hang up some stockings. Who needs bug spray when you’ve got mistletoe? So, like Santa, we’ll be sipping some adult beverages on the beach with the elves for a little while longer. But make sure you stop by to visit.

Man Alive… There Are Men Alive In Here!

Yes, we’re still alive. We’ve been very busy. PC’s back into the swing of a new semester and I’m just spanning time at my job. It’s tiring and we both wish we had more time to blog. But here’s a few quick songs that sum up my mood lately.

I’m Not Like Everybody Else – Chocolate Wasteband

When Under Ether – PJ Harvey

Skinny Love – Bon Iver

Your Reverie – Kelley Stoltz

Weed Party – Band of Horses

Hopefully some more this weekend. Hang in there friends.

Best of 2007: Top 107 Songs

Not all of these songs were released in 2007. Some were songs that I heard for the first time this year—yes, it’s cheating, but get used to it. My original plan was to post all 107 songs but let’s face it—I have other things to do. And our Christmas season took a lot out of me. So, here is the list, in alphabetical order, and with a few songs linked.

When I Say Go – The 1900s

See You At the Lights – 1990s

No One – Alicia Keys

Back to Black – Amy Winehouse

Heretics – Andrew Bird

(Antichrist Television Blues) – The Arcade Fire

Sleepdriving – Archives

Fluorescent Adolescent – Artic Monkeys

Die Die Die – The Avett Brothers

Is There A Ghost – Band of Horses

I Was A Daughter – Basia Bulat

Atlas – Battles

Before the Money Came (The Battle of Bettye LaVette) – Bettye LaVette

I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You – Black Kids

Weapon of Choice – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Wild Mountain Nation – Blitzen Trapper

Doves Circle the Sky – Bodies of Water

In Our Talons – Bowerbids

Darlin’ Do Not Fear – Brett Dennen

Four Winds – Bright Eyes

Long Walk Home – Bruce Springsteen

Small Town Crew – The Brunettes

Melody Day – Caribou

Ramblin’ Man – Cat Power

Dacing On Our Graves – The Cave Singers

Running Up That Hill – Chromatics

Pretty Voice – Cloud Cult

Men’s Needs – The Cribs

Assholes – The Damnwells

A With Living – Do Make Say Think

The World May Never Know – Dr. Dog

State of Massachusetts – Dropkick Murphys

I Want You So Hard (Boy’s Bad News) – Eagles of Death Metal

Hard Sun – Eddie Vedder with Corin Tucket

Going Nowhere – Elliot Smith

While You Were Sleeping – Elvis Perkins

Girl from the Renaissance Faire – Ethan Lipton

So Long, Lonesome – Explosions In the Sky

This Ain’t A Scene, It’s An Arms Race – Fall Out Boy

My Moon, My Man – Feist

Song for the Fields – Fields

If You’re Into It – Flight of the Conchords

The Pretender – Foo Fighters

Chelsea Dagger – The Fratellis

If You Want Me – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

Here Comes A City – The Go-Betweens

No Pussy Blues – Grinderman

I Became Awake – Great Lake Swimmers

When Under Ehter – PJ Harvey

All This Time – Heartless Bastards

Tick Tick Boom – The Hives

Devil Do – Holly Golightly and The Brokeoffs

Innocent Bones – Iron and Wine

The Mirror Speaks – James Blackshaw

Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)… — Jay-Z

The Opposite of Hallelujah – Jens Lekman

Johnny Appleseed – Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros

The Golden State – John Doe with Kathleen Edwards

Creedence Song – John Fogerty

White Dove – John Vanderslice

Heartbeats – Jose Gonzalez

Right Moves – Josh Ritter

D.A.N.C.E. – Justice

You Can’t tell Me Nothing – Kanye West

Back Out on the… — Kevin Drew

Fireworks – Knoxville

All My Friends – LCD Soundsystem

It’s Nothing To Me – Lee Hazelwood

Poor Old Dirt Farmer – Levon Helm

Are You Alright – Lucinda Williams

Ain’t Never Been Cool – Lucky Soul

Paper Planes – M.I.A.

You Don’t Wanna Leave – Mike Mangione

Fine + 2 pts – Minus the Bear

Gunpower and Lead – Miranda Lambert

Missed the Boat – Modest Mouse

Mistaken for Stranger – The National

Myriad Harbour – The New Pornographers

Sucka Muthafucka – Northern State

The Past Is A Grotesque Animal – Of Montreal

Our Life Is Not A Movie or Maybe – Okkervil River

Call and Response – Or, the Whale

Bros – Panda Bear

The Magic Position – Patrick Wolf

Mr. Bellamy – Paul McCartney

Love Reign O’er Me – Pearl Jam

Committed to Parkview – Porter Wagoner

Make It Wit Chu – Queens of the Stone Age

Welcome Home, Son – Radical Face

Reckoner – Radiohead

Dead Sound – The Raveonettes

Umbrella – Rhianna (featuring Jay-Z)

Silver Lining – Rilo Kiley

My Punishment for Fighting – The Rosebuds

Lake Michigan – Rouge Wave

Halloweenhead – Ryan Adams

Black Dirt – Sea Wolf

100 Days – Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings

Phantom Limb – The Shins

Elysium Number Five – Sir Richard Bishop

Tarantula – Smashing Pumpkins

You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb – Spoon

Now, Now – St. Vincent

Take Me to the Riot – Stars

Way Down in the Hole – Steve Earle

Big Chair – Travis

Rag and Bone – The White Stripes

Impossible Germany – Wilco

Best and Worst 2007: Television

I hope everyone had a nice holiday and enjoyed some great Christmas tunes. We’re back at 77 Santas with our annual year-end lists. Always fun and sure to spark arguments, we cover television, movies, and music. Let’s kick it off with television.

Best Television of 2007

12. Countdown with Keith Olbermann (MSNBC)
This show should be essential viewing every American. With a mix of wit, snark, and intelligence, Olbermann never forgets to keep the viewer entertained with this mix of news and opinion. While his special comments sometimes verge into over-the-top parody, it’s impossible not to agree with his impassioned pleas to our incompetent and corrupt government.

11. The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Earlier this year, Colbert, the fictional, blustery, self-obsessed right-wing nut case, interviewed Bill O’Reilly, a real, blustery, self-obsessed right-wing nut case. Surreal, meta, and brilliant, the Colbert is the perfect antidote to the real-life blowhards like Glenn Beck, whom too many people take seriously.

10. The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
John Stewart continues his brilliant run as host, though sadly hasn’t been seen in months due to the writers strike. It’s a shame, because this season of political campaigns seems apt for humor, especially with a buffoon like Mike Huckabee taking the Republican lead and Hillary Clinton’s camp criticizing Obama’s kindergarten essays.

9. Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
Low-budget, low-concept, and low-key, no show made me smile or enjoy myself as much as Conchords. Two New Zealand musicians struggle to make it in New York City with the help of their manager, who also happens to work at the New Zealand Consulate. Each episode features an inspired and spot-on music video.

8. The Office (NBC)
The once solid stalwart saw its status fall this year. The hour-longs felt forced, uninspired, and long. Plus, Michael Scott has gone from a decent boss who makes impulsive, stupid decisions to an impulsive, stupid boss who occasionally makes a decent decision. He’s no longer believable or the least bit realistic. Still, for all the show has done wrong this year, it continues to provide solid laughs. And PB&J finally got together.

7. South Park (Comedy Central)
Somehow this show only becomes more relevant and painfully funny with each passing season. Nothing proves that more than October’s brilliant three episode “Imaginationland” arc. South Park casts its net wide, satirizing nearly everything imaginable. Smart, irreverent, and inventive television like this doesn’t happen often.

6. Lost (ABC)
Okay, so I’m cheating on this one—I’m only ten episodes into the third season on DVD. But Lost is hands-down the most entertaining show on network television. Some fans complain that the answers don’t come fast enough—perhaps I’m in the minority in feeling totally at ease with what’s been revealed thus far. Dense, complex, and wholly original, Lost is unlike anything that’s ever been on television.

5. Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO)
Maybe it was Larry David’s real-life divorce that injected the latest season of Curb with some much needed vigor. Past seasons had always felt a bit dark but this season spewed bile—while the ever-paranoid Larry always believed everyone was against him, this season they actually were. The resulting ten episodes were equal parts hilarity and pain.

4. 30 Rock (NBC)
30 Rock has grown from a show providing slight laughs to the funniest show on television. Tiny Fey and her brilliant writers keep the pop culture references coming at rapid-fire pace—but the show is deeper than that. Fey satirizes liberals, conservatives, corporations, and entertainment with flawless ease. And the talented supporting cast, lead by a hilarious Alec Baldwin, is the best on television. While no show has proven itself a worthy successor to Arrested Development, 30 Rock has come the closest to taking over that pedestal.

3. The Sopranos (HBO)
Tony and company had suffered through a slow and meandering season five and season six—part one. Thankfully creator David Chase steered his show back to what it made so great—the family, whether that be the Bada Bing crew or Carmella and the kids. The final nine episodes rivaled the show’s perfect first season. And that final smash-cut to black is an ending for the ages.

2. The War (PBS)
Ken Burns proves yet again why he is an American treasure. This six-part series explores America’s relations to World War II via residents of four towns—an original take on something that’s been done countless times. While the information within might be old-hat to the hardcore WWII buff, it is invaluable to the casual viewer who believes that World War II was a “good war.” No war is good, but some are necessary.

1. Mad Men (AMC)
No other show was as well-crafted, intriguing, and entertaining as AMC’s freshman drama Mad Men. Set in an advertising agency circa 1960, the show nails down smoky and boozy period details yet is only a microcosm for the same societal issues we still face today. It has the ambition to take on sweeping topics such as the 1960 presidential election, yet its true brilliance lies in the quiet and subtle relationships of its deeply flawed yet undeniably compelling characters.

Worst Television of 2007

1. Family Guy (FOX)
Tired and predictable, the fact that Family Guy remains ever-popular isn’t just a statement on the laziness of television writers, it’s proof that our society might have plummeted into a free-fall.

2. 24 (FOX)
How do you follow up your show’s best season? With its worst. Uninspired and boring, 24 lacked all relevance and tension this season. Here’s hoping the producers can get the show back on track next year—and by next year, I mean 2009, since it likely won’t return in 2008.

3. Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader Who Didn’t Forget the Lyrics and Can Dance with the Stars? (Every Network)
Picking one of these seemingly endless game shows is like picking which way you’d like to die.