Music Blogs

Welcome Christmas: Carols & Lullabies From Around The World

Welcome Christmas? Obviously your MP3 purveyor can't get enough of this holiday cheer bunk. I mean, over the course of the three previous blogs we've downloaded Yiddish Christmas music, Latin Christmas music, House Christmas music and even mechanical Christmas music. BUT! I love Christmas music. You should too. So for the final installation of our Yahoo! Music MP3 Christmas Bonanza, let me entertain you with some stocking stuffers for Christmas (or Hanukkah) '08.

"At last!" exults the liner notes of this long out-of-print Christmas classic, "The world premiere recording of Conrad Susa's beloved Carols & Lullabies: Christmas In The Southwest, plus a delightful collection of carols from around the world, tied together by their diversity and charm. Featuring the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers with woodwinds, cello, bass, harp, guitar and percussion under the direction of conductor Philip Brunelle."

What does the cost of your cable bill today? Who wouldn't love a tune or two from the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers? This is classic choral music, the kind of stuff I should have offered at the start of our Christmas freebie campaign. Mormon Tabernacle Choir meets Motley Crue? Not hardly, but we sometimes need to reflect on the simpler pleasures, the music manna your G-Ma would enjoy. Heck, give the G-Ma an iPod and direct her here if the following MP3s don't make your day. Anyway, the first half of this 26 track collection features Christmas in the Southwest, traditional choral tunes sung in happy Mexicali Spanish. It's both harmonically correct and folk music compliant, trained voices buffering rustic instrumentation. All in all, the perfect music for Christmas morning church goers and pagans in need of that old time religion.

VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and instrumentalists
"Christ Was Born on Christmas Day" (mp3)
from "Welcome Christmas: Carols & Lullabies from Around the World"
(Innova Recordings)

More On This Album

VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and instrumentalists
"Ding, Dong, Merrily on High" (mp3)
from "Welcome Christmas: Carols & Lullabies from Around the World"
(Innova Recordings)

More On This Album

VocalEssence Ensemble Singers and instrumentalists
"Away in a Manger" (mp3)
from "Welcome Christmas: Carols & Lullabies from Around the World"
(Innova Recordings)

More On This Album

The Hanukkah Lounge

Even Yiddish cornballs need to spread their wings, party like it's 2099, and get busy with their bad selves. Using robo Pro Tools instrumentation to transform traditional Jewish music, the musicians of The Hanukkah Lounge turn latkes, dreidls and matzoh balls into a damn fine time for one and all. Join the Afro-Semetic Experience, former Paul McCartney guitarist Laurence Juber, new boy toy jazz singer Josh Nelson and others as they get the lead out.

"Maoz Tsur"

"Chanutronikah"