The Jingle Punx - It's What I Got In My Sack

This was the second Christmas CD sent to our P.O. Box by someone in the music industry.

The Jingle Punx started out as a joke between friends that quickly became a under the radar band that has released FIVE full Christmas punk albums.

This led to a cult following on the web via their own website and their MySpace site, having their music played on MTV's "Laguna Beach", FX's "Nip/Tuck", and a recent blast over the German TV airwaves!

I reviewed this CD over at FaLaLaLaLa last year and to quote:

"From the first notes of their bodyslamming version of "Joy To The World" to the gritty voice of Ana Isabel (of the band Goodbye Gadget) singing "Santa Baby" to a remarkable cover of Run DMC’s classic "Christmas In Hollis", the Punx never forget rule number one: have fun while rocking it out.

"That rule comes blaring across your speakers in full throttle!

"Every Christmas music collection should have at least one punk Christmas CD to shake things up now and then (or to purposely annoy that neighbor with the obnoxious Christmas display). You can’t go wrong with this album on that front."

Whenever I sit here to write a review - usually in the mornings as my three year old daughter sleeps in - I usually pop the CD into the computer and listen to it as I type. When the Punx CD went in, I had to lower the volume. I was not just afraid of awakening my daughter but the whole neighborhood in general!

I'm listening to the second song on their CD: a cover of the Beach Boys insipid Christmas song "The Man With All The Toys". In their hands, the Punx have created a version of the song not only that I actually like but plain kicks ass while doing it!

Found the title track on YouTube:



Thanks to Steve, Eric, Doug, D.K., and Rico for sending me a fun, fantastic, rockin' Christmas CD! I've already added your other four CDs to my Santa list!


UP NEXT: Double your pleasure, double your fun with Doublemint... no, Double Crown!


Capt

The Jingle Punx - It's What I Got In My Sack

This was the second Christmas CD sent to our P.O. Box by someone in the music industry.

The Jingle Punx started out as a joke between friends that quickly became a under the radar band that has released FIVE full Christmas punk albums.

This led to a cult following on the web via their own website and their MySpace site, having their music played on MTV's "Laguna Beach", FX's "Nip/Tuck", and a recent blast over the German TV airwaves!

I reviewed this CD over at FaLaLaLaLa last year and to quote:

"From the first notes of their bodyslamming version of "Joy To The World" to the gritty voice of Ana Isabel (of the band Goodbye Gadget) singing "Santa Baby" to a remarkable cover of Run DMC’s classic "Christmas In Hollis", the Punx never forget rule number one: have fun while rocking it out.

"That rule comes blaring across your speakers in full throttle!

"Every Christmas music collection should have at least one punk Christmas CD to shake things up now and then (or to purposely annoy that neighbor with the obnoxious Christmas display). You can’t go wrong with this album on that front."

Whenever I sit here to write a review - usually in the mornings as my three year old daughter sleeps in - I usually pop the CD into the computer and listen to it as I type. When the Punx CD went in, I had to lower the volume. I was not just afraid of awakening my daughter but the whole neighborhood in general!

I'm listening to the second song on their CD: a cover of the Beach Boys insipid Christmas song "The Man With All The Toys". In their hands, the Punx have created a version of the song not only that I actually like but plain kicks ass while doing it!

Found the title track on YouTube:



Thanks to Steve, Eric, Doug, D.K., and Rico for sending me a fun, fantastic, rockin' Christmas CD! I've already added your other four CDs to my Santa list!


UP NEXT: Double your pleasure, double your fun with Doublemint... no, Double Crown!


Capt

Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong

For the remainder of this holiday week, I will be featuring CDs that I received at my P.O. Box from professionals in the music industry. This was the very first to arrive - back in early November of last year.

A staff member (whose name I shall protect like Bob Woodward did for Deep Throat) for Filter Magazine decided to send me a promo copy of this CD - thank you for your generosity!

I had already purchased this CD when it arrived on shelves last October (my wife willingly gave me money to buy this one - WOW!). Upon seeing the second CD arrive in the mail, my wife claimed her very own copy.

This was also one of the CDs I had a chance to review over at FaLaLaLaLa a few weeks ago. To quote:

"She waited three years to record a new album. Thankfully for all of us, it was a Christmas album!

"The twelve Christmas songs get the full McLachlan / Pierre Marchand treatment - ambient echoes, soft distortion, folk & tribal elements, the piano and astounding voice of Sarah’s. McLachlan’s version of Joni Mitchell’s "River" might be the best version out there. And Vince Guaraldi’s "Christmas Time Is Here" with Diana Krall on piano is a must listen.

"My wife has played this one constantly since I purchased this in October. I keep hearing new elements and it gets better with every playing."

One of my new year's resolutions is to get better with the fact checking:

My wife pointed out to me that this is Sarah's first STUDIO album in three years. She's released two live albums - "Afterglow Live" (2004) and the recently released "Mirrorball - The Complete Concert" (2006) which also came from our secret friend from Filter (thanks again)! I still don't know what "Mirrorball" looks like but all the reports from my wife's place of business tell me it's good!

My wife also informs me that "Song For A Winter's Night" - Sarah's first holiday related song from 1994 - is on the album as well. If you're looking for her duet of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen + We Three Kings" with the Barenaked Ladies, it's not on this album (although Jim Creegan from BNL plays double bass throughout the album).

How can I close this out? Well, my wife is still listening to this one and I'm still not tired of it yet. Sarah has made a great Christmas album.


UP NEXT: Who invited these Punx over for Christmas?


Capt

Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong

For the remainder of this holiday week, I will be featuring CDs that I received at my P.O. Box from professionals in the music industry. This was the very first to arrive - back in early November of last year.

A staff member (whose name I shall protect like Bob Woodward did for Deep Throat) for Filter Magazine decided to send me a promo copy of this CD - thank you for your generosity!

I had already purchased this CD when it arrived on shelves last October (my wife willingly gave me money to buy this one - WOW!). Upon seeing the second CD arrive in the mail, my wife claimed her very own copy.

This was also one of the CDs I had a chance to review over at FaLaLaLaLa a few weeks ago. To quote:

"She waited three years to record a new album. Thankfully for all of us, it was a Christmas album!

"The twelve Christmas songs get the full McLachlan / Pierre Marchand treatment - ambient echoes, soft distortion, folk & tribal elements, the piano and astounding voice of Sarah’s. McLachlan’s version of Joni Mitchell’s "River" might be the best version out there. And Vince Guaraldi’s "Christmas Time Is Here" with Diana Krall on piano is a must listen.

"My wife has played this one constantly since I purchased this in October. I keep hearing new elements and it gets better with every playing."

One of my new year's resolutions is to get better with the fact checking:

My wife pointed out to me that this is Sarah's first STUDIO album in three years. She's released two live albums - "Afterglow Live" (2004) and the recently released "Mirrorball - The Complete Concert" (2006) which also came from our secret friend from Filter (thanks again)! I still don't know what "Mirrorball" looks like but all the reports from my wife's place of business tell me it's good!

My wife also informs me that "Song For A Winter's Night" - Sarah's first holiday related song from 1994 - is on the album as well. If you're looking for her duet of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen + We Three Kings" with the Barenaked Ladies, it's not on this album (although Jim Creegan from BNL plays double bass throughout the album).

How can I close this out? Well, my wife is still listening to this one and I'm still not tired of it yet. Sarah has made a great Christmas album.


UP NEXT: Who invited these Punx over for Christmas?


Capt

Welcome - Year Two!

Hello! Welcome to our second year here at the yuleblog! We hope you had a great holiday season!

I would like to point out a small addition to our side links. If you look at the right hand column, you'll see two new links I've added under the heading "Yuleblog Info".

The first link will take you back to our first entry that will give you a small history of why I created the yuleblog - helpful for first time visitors, for those who want a refresher, and for those who simply shake their head and wonder why.

The second link is for our P.O. Box - still open for business! I'm still getting letters and homemade Christmas compilations! Click on the link to see what else we're looking for.

That leads us into the first theme week of 2007 quite nicely: We received exactly four Christmas CDs via the P.O. Box that were sent by professionals in the music industry. We have only four days left in this holiday week so PRESTO = theme week #1!

To first time visitors - thanks for stopping by! To long time readers who'll admit to that - welcome back!


Capt

Welcome - Year Two!

Hello! Welcome to our second year here at the yuleblog! We hope you had a great holiday season!

I would like to point out a small addition to our side links. If you look at the right hand column, you'll see two new links I've added under the heading "Yuleblog Info".

The first link will take you back to our first entry that will give you a small history of why I created the yuleblog - helpful for first time visitors, for those who want a refresher, and for those who simply shake their head and wonder why.

The second link is for our P.O. Box - still open for business! I'm still getting letters and homemade Christmas compilations! Click on the link to see what else we're looking for.

That leads us into the first theme week of 2007 quite nicely: We received exactly four Christmas CDs via the P.O. Box that were sent by professionals in the music industry. We have only four days left in this holiday week so PRESTO = theme week #1!

To first time visitors - thanks for stopping by! To long time readers who'll admit to that - welcome back!


Capt

Happy New Year!

Remember, if you do this:

Don't do this:

Otherwise, you're going to look like this:
Or this:
Maybe even this:
Or even worse:

Have a better 2007 everyone!
Look for new reviews starting tomorrow!

Capt