Christmas album recommendations, for that secret elf in you :)

Note: This is an extra posting in a blog that's usually in Finnish and filled with gloomy analyses on Finnish and international politics and the current threats to liberal democracy. But since I own this blog, I can damn well write here about Xmas music, and in English too, if I please ;)

My friends and long-time acquaintances are well aware of the fact that inside this liberal and grumpy blogger resides a hopeless romantic who blossoms at Christmas time. The central myth of an innocent child defeating the forces of darkness has always felt very important to me, even if I have left the more formal teachings of church Christianity behind. I love Dickens' A Christmas Carol  and wish I could have written the wonderful defence of Christmas that Scrooge's nephew gives to his uncle.

I guess you could say that the biblical Christmas story and Dickens, combined with the Nordic winter landscape's peacefulness (assuming we have snow in these era of tragic climate change) and our more gentle Christmas traditions, together create a warm blanket of hope and tranquility I love to wrap myself in during the season. It is my happily irrational refuge from a world that's getting more and irrational in a worse sense.

Music, of course, is my main Xmas decoration. I would never give up the tree and a bit of tinsel in the house, but they would not be the same without the music. But the commercialized Xmas season has made many outright allergic to carols and seasonal songs. No wonder: a force-fed overkill of machine made bulk renditions of the most overused melodies would drive anyone up the wall and have them renounce the damned holiday altogether.

And that is why I have curated this list especially for all of you who are avoiding the Xmas chaos but would not mind having some decent or even excellent, spirited and inspired/insipiring seasonal music to decorated the tree or warm some eggnog or glogg by. This list is decidedly mid-brow,I have left both the higher and lower ends of the cultural scale out of this. So fear not: there's nothing here to challenge you artistically (too much anyway) or make you desperate with just how numb and dumbing pop music, especially seasonal, can be.

And here we go...

CHAPTER 1: THE AMAZING LADIES OF WINTER

Annie Lennox: A Christmas Cornucopia (2010)

 I have never been her fan - I could not stand the Eurythmics one bit - so I was totally dumbstruck when I heard this the first time. Annie has chosen a surprisingly spiritual set of familiar songs here, and she really blows a whole new spirit into them; this just may be the most inspired modern Xmas album I have heard.

She boldly combines quiet passages with endlessly multitracked vocals, innovative instrumentation, Christian sentiment with a very pagan drum/heartbeat and world music elements. Somehow she manages gives a whole new shine to these old Xmas warhorses and on occasion (especially "See Amid The Winter's Snow" and "In The Bleak Midwinter") seems to recreate the songs from scratch, they feel absolutely fresh in her vision. And what she does with "Silent Night", the most tired song of all, is amazing: she plainsings it with minimal accompaniment, and it's just... staggering.

I don't know what her spirituality is but on this album, she believes and proclaims every word and it's really very touching. The final track, "Universal Child", is her own piece and it is a beauty, especially the lyrics. It's all there, nothing to add.

https://open.spotify.com/album/28ayEbdpI9KqBgzLZLwYOF

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a-christmas-cornucopia/id397488010

* * * * *

Sarah McLachlan: Wintersong (2006)

Another extremely fine seasonal album from another very talented female artist. Wintersong is a luminous set of mostly familiar seasonal tunes. For innovation, there is nothing here that would come close to Lennox's highly original approach, but but Sarah plays her strenghts to the max here. The music is gentle but not limp; there is light and air in the soundscape but the overall emotion in strong. And, most of all, her presence is all there - she seems to come very close to the listener.

As an album, it's an even, strong performance. If one wants to point out certain songs as particularly successful, I would go for the achingly beautiful title track (written by herself and based on a very personal occurrence in her life) and a very nice, unassuming reading of Joni Mitchell's "River". But they are all good and the album succeeds very much as a whole.

https://open.spotify.com/album/66TijPOdbkKqENLhOuDUhJ

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/wintersong/id200880196

* * * * *

Tori Amos: Midwinter Graces (2009)

Tori Amos' Xmas album was a total out-of-the-blue affair; no one expected her to do anything like this. It occupies something of a middle ground between Annie and Sarah. More adventurous than Sarah but a bit more reserved in innovation than Annie, Tori found a special seasonal voice on this album.

Her approach is ingenious: the songs are her own and they're not. Almost every piece here is based on one or more familiar tunes, ie. she has taken a fairly standard set of songs and used them as a springboard for her own revisionings of them.

The soundscape is simply gorgeous; more the winternight blue of the album cover than Santa red or tinsel gold. It's not a cheerful album but not gloomy either; there's a sense of almost meditative reflecting on familiar material, and her dark-toned voice lends an extra depth to the proceedings. My favorite is the utterly majestic "Star Of Wonder", possibly the most impressive version of the song I have heard, with her totally-in-it vocals really giving weight to the slightly mysterious lyrics.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0xydCyvseRJPqiCk7WJO48

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/a/id337829352

* * * * *

Kate Rusby: The Frost Is All Over (2015)

When the central lady of British folk music came out with her Xmas album, she did not compromise her style. The combination of traditional folk and singer-songwriter ethos dominates the album, and from the first bars the result is totally delightful, sometimes even playful, and always as warm as a mug of warmed up cider on a winter's day. There's a bit of Tori's "let's mix this up a bit" strategy here, too: for example, a song called "Sunny Bank" is actually a nice reworking of ye olde "I Saw Three Ships".

 It's mostly own material, combined with some standard elements, and all of it is very humane and 0 % cloying. In the barrage of Xmas pomp and circumstance and all the overtly jolly cheer, The Frost Is All Over is like sitting down in front of a fire with some very good company for an unhurried good time. My very only complaint is about the cover art: the chill and the frost are furthest things from this music :)

* * * * *

Holly Cole: Baby It's Cold Outside (2001)

In case you prefer a jazzier mood for your Xmas ladies, Canada's Holly Cole delivers, big time. Her seasonal album may not offer anything very surprising, but it's smoky, it's tempting, it's stylish and it expertly walks the fine line between jazz clubs, lounge bars and bigger stages. It's not glitzy in the way, say, Diana Krall's Xmas album was, but a much more intimate affair.

As a big bonus, there a two intriguing songs with strong lyrics showing the shadows some people have to live with at Christmas. "If We Make It Through December" and "What About Me" are healthy reminders of the real lives people live even in the festive season.

https://open.spotify.com/album/3bt93syd8tXz406kBywkEQ

* * * * *

Aimee Mann: One More Drifter In The Snow (2006)

Just like Tori Amos, Aimee Mann surprised everyone by releasing a Xmas albun ten years ago. It is a fantastasic effort, making up in stunning quality for its way less han 40 minutes duration.

From the opening chords of Jimmy Webb's "Whatever Happened To Christmas" to the sincere final e "Calling On Mary", the album is awash with twangy guitars and 1960's studio echo, creating images of nighttime highways and those lonely drifters amid snowbanks, headed for who knows where. The extra dark and veeery slow reading of "White Christmas" pushes this envelope as far as possible, almost into early Tom Waits territory... and it works.

The spotless production is a sheer marvel, especially to those who can appreciate the subtlelest arrangements and neo-retro sounds.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5HG425mpvfjpIQcbaKkhQl

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/one-more-drifter-in-the-snow/id550527518


* * * * *

CHAPTER 2: THE REFINED GENTLEMEN

Josh Groban: Noel (2007)

Okay. Josh Groban. Sold 3,7 milloin copies of this. But why is this here, on this list?

It's actually hard to say. On the surface, this album is intolerable. Safe arrangements, guest artists on selected tracks, Hollywood bling and schmaltz all over the place, boring old selections. Right?

Yes - and no. It just happens that Mr. Groban has a rare gift: he can actually project a gentle and sincere personality to the listener. And with producer David Foster's insight, his semi-trained, semi-classical vocal style has been fitted with the arrangements his voice deserves.  And when the arrangements forego the classical for the small scale acoustic, his delivery is a delight, as in "The Christmas Song". His open, attractive personality and welcoming presence, along with Foster's skilled production, quite simply turn what might have been a train wreck of album into a humanized version of the all too familiar mass produced American Xmas glitter.

But do enjoy responsibly ;)

https://open.spotify.com/album/4kqXw1yf9EKamws0zCarGt

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/noel/id738166403

* * * * *

Michael Bublé: Christmas (2012)

Where Josh Groban and David Foster managed to turn hideousness to niceness, Michael Bublé used another strategy to sell trillions of his Xmas album: the time machine.

Without any shame whatsoever. Bublé not only embraced every cliche on the Xmas pages of the Great American Songbook, he became those 1940's-1950's cliches. There's always something creepy when a person adopts someone else's personality, in this case, the personality of an entire era.


But it worked: this has sold more milloins than Wikipedia even dares to count.  And it has even created memes:

So, is Christmas any good? Actually, yes. It is so utterly shameless in its wholesale plunge into the pre-Elvis era, only very few artists could pull this off. Bublé is obviously very deeply in love with this genre and the era, because he brings not only the style but some of the spirit with him. In a way, with this album, he became The Ghost of Christmas Past. The results are, in their own way, perfect and I, for one, cannot but helplessly grin when "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" starts to play. So, if you want to celebrate in old skool style, go ahead, no shame. But, if possible, skip the truly hideous "All I Want For Christmas Is You". It's got autotune and plastic and digital whatevers that Santa does NOT accept here.

https://open.spotify.com/album/3CKVXhODttZebJAzjUs2un

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christmas/id669854820

* * * * *

Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song (1960)

Do I really have to introduce this?

No, I don't. Except to say that this is the album where the most amazing male voice in popular music history made old and tired carols and Xmas songs alive and aglow. If you've never played this, say you're sorry and play this now.

Bless you, Nat. And a Merry Christmas to you, too.




https://open.spotify.com/album/2d3wa6DNw6HEdrKf6VmW4O

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-christmas-song/id737347219

* * * * *


Sting: If On A Winter's Night (2009)
 

Seasonal or not, this is actually one of Sting's best efforts. Richly acoustic and filled with subtle energy - it's wintery but not frozen - the combination of standards and his own songs work well together. My favorite track is probably "Christmas At Sea", where Sting's personal background probably raises its shadow and Mary MacMasters' backing vox create absolute Celtic magic. And the simple rustic arrangement to "Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming" is just magnificent.

A fine album to be listened to in a darkened room, with some peaty whiskey to go with it, if possible.


* * * * *

CHAPTER 3: THE BAND ALBUMS which I shall introduce more briefly

Barenaked Ladies: Barenaked For The Holidays (2004)

Canada's satirical poprockers found a great balance between jokes and warmhearted jollity on this one. Can be listened to for the jokes (both musical and verbal), for the excellent playing or, preferably, both. High point: "Green Christmas".


https://open.spotify.com/album/2AZIdUBbQHYXLkewM1Ouvx






* * * * *

The December People: Sounds Like Christmas (2001)

15 years ago, a bunch of US prog musicians got a daft idea: what if old Xmas songs had been written and recorded by prog rock and classic rock bands? How would they sound?

This is the result - an album with very familiar songs that sound like Yes, Queen, Zep, Genesis, Kansas...

Dumb? Yeah, kinda. But also very, very well made - and tons of fun if you're into those bands :)

https://open.spotify.com/album/3DQVEw9YtkkTsMBEndUjY4

* * * * *

Sixpence None The Richer: The Dawn Of Grace (2008)

The Christian/indie band's seasonal album makes no gestures to be grand or imposing. It's tuneful, relaxed, fun, anything a nice, acoustic-driven band can be. And there are times and days when that is just what you need: sincerely delivered essentials and humanity. It's here.

https://open.spotify.com/album/7cTjnPaR1RmKsKPHU7KQ2X





* * * * *

Weeping Willows: Christmas Time Has Come (2014) 

The Swedish low key, retro style band's Xmas album is a pretty perfect throwback to mid/late 1960's poprock sound, at times reproduced with the same precision Bublé applies to his retro turns. It's easy to just softly sink into this slightly melancholy soundscape that has its expertly rounded shadowed corners and bright spots of joy.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0JILGtqUJ1HwHbfmfgf4cu

Itsenäistä unelmahöttöä

Itsenäisyyspäivän kunniaksi muutamia ajatuksia unelmahötön puolustukseksi.

Halvan populismin ravistellessa läntistä maailmaa, yhdeksi syypääksi on osoitettu politiikka itse. Mutkikas ja hidas prosessi ei vastaa kieleltään eikä tunteiltaan tavallisten kansalaisten vaatimuksia ajassa, jossa viisi sekuntia on liian pitkä odotusaika verkkosivun latautumiselle ja "Kulta, sinusta on tullut pullukka" saa jälleen uuden kauden.

Kritiikki on sinänsä oikeutettua, mutta ei pidä vähätellä sitä faktaa, että selkeän ja yksinkertaisen puheen käyttäminen usein erittäin kompleksisten asioiden työstämiseen ja viestimiseen nyt vaan on kovin haastavaa. Siihen pitää pyrkiä, mutta samalla tunnustaa, että perustulomalleista tai Venäjä-pakotteiden purkamisen ehdoista ei oikein voi selvitä pelkällä "on se ilmoja pijelly" -puheella. Välimaasto on syytä löytää.

Sanoja suuremman ongelman löydän aivan tietystä kohdasta nykypolitiikan retoriikkaa. Se on puhe unelmahötöstä. Jokainen yhteiskuntavisio, joka ei mahdu tämän vuoden budjettikehykseen tai jonka edellyttämä teknologia on vasta betavaiheessa, saa nykyisin äärimmäisen herkästi vastaansa tuon yhden sanan tehokkaan tylytyksen, jonka avulla sekä visio että sen lausuja leimataan todellisuusvajeisiksi idiooteiksi.

"Höttö" viittaa lisäksi pehmeään, hattaramaiseen, hössöttävään - siis negatiiviseen naisstereotyyppiin, ja lähes aina unelmahöttöilystä syyttävätkin eleettömät baritonimiehet (pahoittelut toisen stereotyypin käytöstä), joiden äänensävystä tihkuu isällinen turhautuminen pilvilinnoja piirtelevän jälkikasvun hömpötyksiin.

Unelmahötöksi leimataan tyypillisesti sellainen yhteiskunnallinen keskustelu, jossa piiretään ääriviivoja tulevalle yhteiskunnalle ehkä sellaisella 5-15 vuoden horisontilla. Siinä keskustelussa ohitetaan ne esteet, jotka juuri nyt ja tässä hetkessä tekevät vision toteutumisen mahdolliseksi. Koska kärsivällisyys-, mielikuvitus- ja empatiahorisonttimme ovat kaventuneet samassa suhteessa kanavapaikkojen lisääntymisen, kvartaalitalouden ja solvaavan puheen sietämisen kanssa, visioivalle yhteiskuntakeskustelulle on nykyisin surkean vähän tilaa. Sitä kun ei voida noin vain muuttaa kustannusarvioiksi, ei projekteiksi, ei edes julkisen velan taittumisen indekseiksi. Niinpä on sopivinta kutsua sitä unelmahötöksi ja lopettaa keskustelu siihen ennen kuin se ehtii edes alkaa

Tämä surettaaa kovasti. Omat lapseni ovat maailmanpelastusiässä eli parhaassa työmarkkinaiskussa noin 15 vuoden kuluttua, mutta mitä he ovat rakentamassa ja parantamassa, jos kukaan ei uskalla katsoa tulevaisuuteen ja hahmotella niitä ihmisen hyvinvoinnin päämääriä, joita varten me säästämme, digitalisoimme, leikkaamme ja kilpailukykyilemme? Vai ajattelevatko nykyiset johtajamme, että ainakin suomalaisen ihmisen kohtalona on keskittyä sinnittelemään itsearvoisen sinnittelemisen vuoksi ja kehittämään järjestelmiä jotka kehittävät järjestelmiä ilman mitään muuta visiota kuin se, että seuraavillakin sukupolvilla olisi mahdollisuus sinnitellä ja mutista että "näin se nyt vaan on"?

Ei, ei ja ei. Kun Suomi tänään täyttää 99 vuotta, haluan muistuttaa itsenäisen Suomen olleen vuosikymmenien ajan täyttä unelmahöttöä, jonka tavoittelusta ja ääneen puhumisesta viranomaiset rankaisivat ankarasti ja jonka puhumisesta sen ajan tolkun ihmiset pidättäytyivät. Nykyisestä unelmahötöstä ei rangaista Siperialla - ainakaan vielä - mutta vaikenemisella ja sarkasmilla kyllä.

Jos ei ole ilmaistuja visioita, ei ole myöskään suuntia, joista valita ja joiden välillä rauhanomaisesti neuvotella ja sovitella. Niinpä haluan unelmoida tasa-arvoisesta, avoimesta, keskustelevasta, viisaasta, koulutetusta, kulttuuria vahvasti tuottavasta, energiaedistyksellisestä, väristä ja uskonnosta ja sukupuolesta riippumatta ihmisiin panostavasta Suomesta, joka ei peräydy maailman haasteiden edessä vaan on mieluummin osa ratkaisua kuin osa ongelmaa.

Unelmointi on minun ja meidän kaikkien oikeus ja sen pitäisi olla lähes velvollisuus kaikille niille, jotka siihen pystyvät. Koska jos emme tiedä, minne ja miksi olemme menossa, emme mene minnekään. Se on vaihtoehto, jota itsenäisenä, maailmassa asuvana suomalaisena en hyväksy.

Valoisaa ja visionääristä ja unelmahöttöistä itsenäisyyspäivää 2016!

*****

Soundtrack: Jean Sibelius, sinfonia nr. 1, toinen osa: Andante (ma non troppo lento)
https://open.spotify.com/track/6Vu2WTMvKInpQcpOF12MFu