The Church - Xmas
Nick Lowe - I Was Born in Bethlehem
The Primitives - You Trashed My Christmas
Oldfolks Home - Christmas at the Oldfolks Home
Cocteau Twins - Frosty the Snowman
JP Hoe - HOE HOE HOE HOLIDAY SONGS
Sky Ferreira - Omanko
Kate Bush - December Will Be Magic Again
Rusty and Savanna - Stocking Stuffers
XTC - Thanks for Christmas
Payola$ - Christmas is Coming
Frank Turner and Butch Walker - Merry Christmas You XXXX
Manitoba Christmas songs from Rusty and Savannah, Oldfolks Home, and JP Hoe, a strong Cover of the Pogues' Fairytale of New York, a new Christmas song from Mark Kozelek from an album that isn't even released until November NEXT YEAR, Bad Religion throwing a curveball, and a few more.
Cheap Trick's Come On Christmas is one of my favourite Christmas songs ever, even if they did just change the words to one of their own songs.
Indicator Indicator have just released a video for This Place is a Factory. Blood, wine, rips, a balaclava, an excellent mustache,and above all a beautiful ballad, understated, elegant and non-cheesy.
Here's a bonus curling video we have not shared with you yet, featuring a cameo from JP Hoe!
Winnipeg's JP Hoe has a released an amazing Wwinnipeg/prairie-themed video for Nothing's Gonna Harm You. Keep your fine holiday glow with this one, or start one if you didn't have one already. Hoe is rapidly becoming some kind of cultural ambassador for our parts - have you seen any of his Canada Day shorts? Check out a few below. He also successfully completed not one, not two, but three nights of his Hoe Hoe Hoe holiday shows at The Park Theatre, with special guests like the folks from Imaginary Cities (pic below).
Winnipeg's JP Hoe is a hard-workin' fella, and his labours have produced another new platter, this one called Mannequin - the title can't be a reference to Hoe himself, because he's anything but static and boring. Haven't heard the whole thing yet, but from what I hear Hoe has continued his deft ways with melodies and lyrics. For me so far a highlight is Conversation, a tune that moves into grandiose/epic territory, which makes sense, because he's been stretching his wings in the last couple of years. I can't keep up with the guy, actually. As far as I can tell, he's done a song for Travel Manitoba, performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and did something called the Heart of the Arctic Adventure Cruise, which started in Greenland and explored the southern coast of Baffin Island. How many artists can say they hit that tour route?
You can get the new album on iTunes or a physical cd from Outside (or you can get your friendly local music store to order it if they don't happen to have it already).
Upcoming Tour Dates:
June 4 Thunder Bay, ON The Apollo
June 6 Toronto, ON The Cameron House
June 7 Wakefield, QC The Blacksheep Inn
June 8 Montreal, QC Citizen Vintage
June 9 Montreal, QC Grumpy's
June 10 Halifax, NS The Carlton
June 11 Charlottetown, PE Baba's
June 14 Peterborough, ON The Montreal House
June 16 Toronto, ON C'est What
Shout Out Louds continue to send sublime pop from Sweden. The Cure meets Billy Joel maybe? I haven't found a lot to get excited about lately, but I wouldn't mind if this band became as a popular as ABBA.
The Shins would like to give you their cover of Squeeze's Goodbye Girl, and it's good good good. Go here.
The Shins aren't doing much lately, but mainman James Mercer is doing all right with Broken Bells.
The Hold Steady do The Sweet Part of the City, which seems like a southern rock ballad to me...and I like it.
Winnipeg's Scott Hinkson has decided to hand over the digital keys for his entire album The Torrent Sessions, at least for a short period of time. Go here to grab it before it's gone.
Nada Surf, you gotta love 'em, here's their cover of Electrocution followed by the original.
Bill Fox - Electrocution
The original, record label-approved video for Jason & the Scorchers's White Lies is a prime example of why the 80s are called cheesy, go here if you want to see it. This Chinatown-White Lies mash-up is more interesting, but it's really the song I adore. Recently the genius at Music Ruined My Life posted some cool live Scorchers you can grab, and the band's brilliance is lighting up my days once more.
Jason & the Scorchers - White Lies
One of my favourite tunes by Peg City's JP Hoe. Featuring the nimble Rob Pachol (with last post's Telepathic Butterflies and Sanfordand songs, that makes 3 plugs for Satch in a week - does he have to be so ubiquitous? When's the solo record arriving?). Hoe is working on his new album, which I gather will come out with a live album he recently recorded.
I missed the Hank III show the other night, sold out before I snagged a ticket. But I do think he's one of the most intriguing characters out there, pure country one sec, balls-out metal the next, or raging punk. Can anyone else do that? Anyone want to?
I think my next post will be my 100th. Any ideas about how I might commemorate/celebrate/desecrate that Scruffy the Yak birthday? Please leave a comment below.
I haven't written about JP Hoe since chartattack.com was my main thing, but he's only gotten better with time, like fine wine. If are in Manitoba, you may be able to get a view of him on MTS tv (Video on demand) starting October 1st. Bonus appearance by agile stringbender Rob "Satch" Pachol.
Of course, you'll also be able to see other Manitobans like Telepathic Butterflies (with Satch again!), Bryce Pallister, Cat Jahnke, Daniel Roa, and Dr. Rage & the Uppercuts. MTS video on demand will also be making available the aforementioned doc on the Albert (see previous post). I am overjoyed - no sarcasm.
mp3s will be posted for a limited time and are for promotional purposes only. If you like it, buy the albums, go to the shows, buy the t-shirts - support the artist so they can keep on keepin' on. Artists - if you would like an mp3 or video removed, please contact me directly at chrisyakchart@hotmail.com.
If you've got something Scruffy should hear, same email. Snail mail is cool too.
Scruffy the Yak 34 Allenby Cres Winnipeg Mb R2C 3J4
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