Tag Archives: christmas

folk, Free Music, Indie

Free Christmas music 4: Indie Folker – Monster in the Christmas album

In spirit of the Holidays and in support of the re-release of “Monsters In The Christmas Album”, here’s a music video starring a puppet for the original Christmas song “The Eyes, The Beard, The Nose, The Stomach, The Lungs” by unsigned Transylvanian singer-songwriter, Indie Folker.

“The Eyes, The Beard, The Nose, The Stomach, The Lungs” is part of the “Monsters In The Christmas Album” by Indie Folker. A collection of original, genuine indie Christmas songs for the fans of alt-folk and indie!

From their bandcamp web page:
Continue reading Free Christmas music 4: Indie Folker – Monster in the Christmas album →

Country, folk, Free Music, Indie, Video

Free Christmas music 3: Over The Rhine – Snow Angels

Today we’ve found a real treat for you! One of my favourite Christmas albums , now completely free via Noisetrade. The southern Ohio-based husband-and-wife team of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Linford Detweiler and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Karin Bergquist, otherwise known as Over the Rhine, released this collection of wistful holiday music back in 2006.

Some info from Wikipedia:

Snow Angels is the ninth studio album, and second Christmas album, by Over the Rhine, released independently in 2006. The album was released by Great Speckled Dog on October 2, 2007.

Snow Angels was released ten years after the group’s first Christmas disc, 1996’s The Darkest Night of the Year. While Darkest Night was largely composed of interpretations of traditional Christmas songs, Snow Angels was almost entirely original material. The only non-original track in the album is a lounge-inspired take on “Jingle Bells” that debuted during the 2004 Christmas tour.

Over The Rhine – Snow Angels:

Here’s a nice  jazzy live version of North Pole Man:

Or you can stream it on Spotify:

– Hallgeir

Country, folk, Free Music

Free Christmas music 2: Andrew Ripp – Light of mine

Andrew Ripp is a singer-songwriter from Palatine, Illinois.

Ripp released his debut album, Fifty Miles to Chicago, in January 2008. Musicians Pete Maloney (Dishwalla, Tonic), keyboard player Will Hollis (Eagles), and steel guitar player Eric Heywood (Ray LaMontagne) were brought in to accompany Ripp’s vocals and guitar.

Ripp co-wrote and co-produced Fifty Miles to Chicago with songwriter, Randy Coleman and brought on Dan Lavery, former bass player of the rock band Tonic, as producer. Funded by Andrew himself, the majority of the album was recorded in Lavery’s back-house studio in Los Angeles

Here’s a cute photo from his official website:

In early 2008, Andrew was invited to attend the annual “Fool’s Banquet” songwriters gathering in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This event was hosted by the Hanson brothers. Also in attendance that year were Pat McGee, Keaton Simons, Jesse Laz-Hirsch, Kai Kennedy, Stephen Kellogg, Chris Sligh, and Jason Mraz.

Operating independently of a label, Ripp tours regularly and has shared the stage with Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Fiction Family (Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek) and Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, among others. In the spring of 2009, Ripp and his band toured Europe and the Middle East to play for the U.S. troops stationed abroad in a tour sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment.

Andrew’s highly acclaimed second album, She Remains the Same was released in September 2010. The album was produced by Dave Barnes, with whom Andrew toured in the fall of 2010.

On November 22, 2011, Ripp released the Christmas EP Light of Mine.

Andrew Ripp – Light of Mine (EP)

Great voice!

– Hallgeir

(source: Wikipedia and Andrew Ripp’s official web site)

Indie, pop

Free Christmas Music 1: Rosie Thomas A VERY ROSIE CHRISTMAS SAMPLER

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Rosie Thomas pulls out all the stops for this teaser to her spectacular holiday collection “A Very Rosie Christmas”. Included is the bonus track “Friendship Sleigh Ride”, which appears in the promotional videos for Sufjan Stevens’ holiday tour.

Listen here (or give your e-mail  for a free download):

From the nice people over at Noisetrade:

“One night in suburban Detroit, a twelve-year-old Rosie Thomas lay sleepless in her bed, obsessively dwelling on what she perceived to be her lack of life purpose. Then, well after 2 AM, it suddenly hit her. She sprung out of bed and raced down the hall. “Daddy, Daddy, I know what my mission in life is,” Rosie exclaimed, poking her father. “I just want to entertain people.”

After 3 albums on Sub Pop, These Friends of Mine was release through her own lable, Sing-A-Long Records. The album includes appearances by friends Sufjan Stevens, Damien Jurado, David Bazan (Pedro the Lion), and Denison Witmer.

Rosie Thomas pulls out all the stops for this teaser to her spectacular holiday collection “A Very Rosie Christmas”. Included is the bonus track “Friendship Sleigh Ride”, which appears in the promotional videos for Sufjan Stevens’ holiday tour.”

Enjoy!

– Hallgeir

Indie, pop, Video

Video premiere: Silver and Gold by Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens has already released one video from his forthcoming seasonal box Silver & Gold: Songs For Christmas: The funny claymation video “Mr. Frosty Man.”

Now, we get another one (via Paste), and it’s safe to say that it is something different. The Title track of the compilation is a cover of an old Johnny Marks Christmas song, it is a nostalgic 8mm home movie style film with footage of Sufjan’s nephew Gavin running on a beach, playing with a kite. It’s a lovely video. The lyrics are in stark contrast to the pictures.

Great song!

The vinyl edition is now sold out, but you can still get it on glorious compact disc or digital download!

– Hallgeir