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Get yer Boxing Day on.   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

DAVID BOWIE: Rare footage of "The Jean Genie" from a 1973 performance on Top of the Pops.

BARTEES STRANGE, JASON ISBELL, BLEACHERS, ST VINCENT, and more play the Ally Coalition Talent Show.

THE 2023 FLUBLOG SURVEY, playlisted at Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube (abridged).

BILL'S INDIE BASEMENT's Top 40 Albums of 2023.

NICK LOWE & LOS STRAITJACKETS played "Winter Wonderland" on CBS Saturday.

WHAM!: "Last Christmas" finally became the UK's Christmas Number One, decades after "Christmas Is All Around."

NIRVANA: Spencer Elden, the baby on the cover art the ‘Nevermind’ album, has had his child pornography lawsuit against the band reinstated by a US Court of Appeals.

THE WORST MUSIC TRENDS of 2023, according to Stereogum.

SYDNEY SWEENEY addresses critics of her Rolling Stones video role.

LAURA LYNCH, a founder of the Dixie Chicks, tragically died in a head-on car crash on Friday afternoon. She was 64.

NICK CAVE's eulogy for SHANE MacGOWAN.

 

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Aquaman 2 tops the holiday chart with 40MM over 4 days, and yet it's still a sad end to this version of the DCEU.  Wonka places with a 4-day haul of 28MM.  Migration shows with 17.5MM.  The Christmas box office is down an estimated 7 percent from last year.

VIN DIESEL has been accused of sexually molesting a former assistant in 2010; he denies the allegations.

MICKEY & MINNIE MOUSE slip into the public domain, sort of.

HOW DENZEL's DEPARTURE changed Netflix's Leave the World Behind.

CHARLIE SHEEN was allegedly attacked by his neighbor.

JOHN SCHNEIDER, a former Duke of Hazzard, thinks the President should be hung.

THE TEN BEST FILMS of 2023, according to Sonny Bunch.

 

A MARMOT takes a shower.

CATS & DOGS, living together...

CATS, seeing snow for the first time.

422 Reads

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY STARTS HERE:

... with CHRIS ISAAK, live at Universal Studios. Your holiday-themed numbers include "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Hey, Santa," "Last Month of the Year," "Blue Christmas," and "Christmas on TV." Bonus: Dreidel banter!

THE CURRENT has a holiday-themed stream.

LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE, Vols. 1 & 2:  A Vintage Holiday Mixtape.

CHRISTMAS JAMBREE:  A Vintage Jamaican Yuletide Mixtape.

JAZZY CHRISTMAS, BABY: A playlist.

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS:  Mental Floss has "The Real Story Behind A Charlie Brown Christmas (and why it almost wasn't shown)." There's more reflection at Aquarium Drunkard. The WaPo has reflections from producer-director Lee Mendelson.  And Caitlin Flanagan asks what gives the special its power.

A BLUE CHRISTMAS song can be a comfort, when everyone else seems to feel joy

DARLENE LOVE & RONNIE SPECTOR duet on "Sleigh Ride" and "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree."

THE POGUES:  It's not Christmas Eve in the drunk tank (or even St. Patrick's Day) without a "Fairytale of New York."  From 2012, here's the backstory. And at The Week, Michael B. Dougherty argues that it's the greatest Christmas song of all time. NME has 25 Things you didn't know about the tale.

ANTON BARBEAU, an occasional collaborator of the late Scott Miller, crafted his own "Xmas Song."

THE 10 BEST PUNK CHRISTMAS SONGS, according to L.A. Weekly.

35 ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY SONGS, courtesy of NME.

"A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS" changed the way the holiday sounds.

THE BEST AND WORST CHRISTMAS COVERS of 2018, according to NME.

NORAD will be tracking Santa, per usual. CNET has a history and behind-the scenes story.

THE 50 BEST HOLIDAY SONGS, according to The Ringer.

THE 20 GREATEST CHRISTMAS ALBUMS, according to The Guardian.

THE 25 BEST CHRISTMAS ALBUMS, according to Complex. BONUS: The L.A. Times rounds up the Merry and the Meh, including the evolving Christmas Time Again, by The dB's and Friends.

THE TOP 10 ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS SONGS, according to The Mary Sue.

15 BIZARRE CHRISTMAS ALBUMS, courtesy of Mental Floss.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY of Christmas Songs.

2021's BEST HOLIDAY MUSIC, according to The AV Club. ALSO: The Best and Worst, ranked by NME.

EIGHT HOURS of vintage department store holiday music.

BILLY MACK: Because "Christmas Is All Around."  ALSO: Is Love Actually is an awful movie? Or a rom-com masterpiece? PLUS: We now know for sure what happened to Harry and Karen. AND: Love, Actually, Finally.

THE FLAMING LIPS perform "White Christmas" as only they can.

WHITE CHRISTMAS: A Snapshot Of The Most Successful Song In Music History.

SUPER FURRY ANIMALS: "The Gift That Keeps Giving."  Not to be confused with "The Gift," which is not Christmasey at all.

THE COURTEENEERS drop a video for "Winter Wonderland" that's not that Winter Wonderland.

CALEXICO: Speaking of presents, here's their "Gift X-Change."

THE MUPPETS: "Ringing of the Bells." Not to be confused with Super Furry Animals.

MICHAEL CAINE looks back at The Muppet Christmas Carol, which has been restored at D+. ALSO: The Muppets look back on The Muppet Christmas Carol for its 30th anniversary. AND: A Muppet Family Christmas, in its original form with all its songs and characters, does not exist on any official streaming service or physical media.

EMMET OTTER's JUG BAND CHRISTMAS Soundtrack.

SONGS OF CHRISTMAS, MID-WINTER & NEW YEAR: From the Alan Lomax Collection.

AN XMAS FLASH MOB from the Berklee College of Music broke out into an impromptu performance of the classic Christmas carol “O Holy Night” at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.

GLAM XMAS:  I started the month with Wizzard's awesome "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" and Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody" (1973's UK Xmas No. 1). The circle is now complete. BONUS: Noddy Holder revealed the real inspiration behind Slade’s festive 1973 hit.

HALL & OATES: "Jingle Bell Rock," reduced to its molten kitchy essense.

CHRISTMAS SONGS: More secular than ever.

THE MOST COVERED CHRISTMAS SONGS, according to FiveThirtyEight.

16 WEIRD FACTS About Big Christmas Hits.

BRENDA LEE's “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” topped the Hot 100 for the first time, 65 years after its release.She was congratulated by Mariah Carey, who then retook the top spot.

HOW GENE AUTRY became the Christmas Cowboy with a musical trifecta.

WHY Are There No New Christmas Songs? WHAT Makes Christmas songs stick?

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, online. Also, a 5-year-old called 911 on the Grinch.

DAVID BOWIE & BING CROSBY'S cross-generational duet o­n "Little Drummer Boy." This historic event was recreated by Will Farrell and John C. Reilly. Plus, Jack Black and Jason Segel have done a cartoon cover

EVERY RANKIN-BASS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, ranked by New York magazine.

THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS:  Many people believe human activity is causing global warming.  I blame Snow Miser and Heat Miser.

INTO THE SANTA-VERSE: How Rankin and Bass teamed up with Japanese animators to define Christmas specials for generations.

CHICAGO CHRISTMAS MEMORIES:  If you grew up in Chicago (and I suspect other places), the season is not complete without watching the short cartoons of "Hardrock, Coco & Joe" (a story fantastic, a story so queer), "Suzy Snowflake" and the jazzy version of "Frosty the Snowman."

THE BEATLES fan club messages, complete.  And the strange story behind the bootleg albums.

A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU...FROM PHIL SPECTOR: Essayed by Aquarium Drunkard and NME.

CHRISTMASTIME FOR THE JEWS: An Oral History.

THE TOP 45 CHRISTMAS MOVIES, according to Varety.

THE 50 BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES, according to NME.

A CHRISTMAS STORY at 40: Includes Ralphie's opinion on Die Hard as a Christmas movie

THE TRON 1982 HOLIDAY SPECIAL, courtesy of Funny Or Die.

T. REXMAS is available for download.

THE SEX PISTOLS & THIN LIZZY played "A Merry Jingle" for Top of the Pops.  BONUS: The Pistols' final UK show was a Christmas benefit.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: Pate even had a song titled "Rope Around The Moon." BONUS: Vintage Bailey backlash from warped, frustrated old people at FEE, the New York Times and Portfolio. DOUBLE-BONUS: 22 TV variations on It's A Wonderful Life. AND: There Is No "Mary Problem" in the movie.

RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER:  Pull up an ice block and lend an ear!  Herbie wanted to be a dentistNTTAWWT.  BONUS:  The Rankin-Bass classic continues to inspire ads like 2009's Verizon ad, following 2008's Apple ad, even more so 2007's AFLAC commercial, and AT & T bringing in Rudolph, Bumble, and Santa for 2015.BONUS: NPR has a piece on the original manuscript.  DOUBLE BONUS: Don't Subject Your Kids to Rudolph.

FESTIVUS:  For the rest of us.  Technically already started, so I can be one of your grievances.

SCARY GHOST STORIES: I overheard Andy Williams crooning "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" in a store a few years back, and the lyric about "scary ghost stories" never really struck me before.  Took me a second, but I supposed he was referring to Dickens.  It turns out -- as noted by a coworker -- that this was a thing in Victorian England...  and the modern day. BONUS: Krampus, which has now inspired a major motion picture, and a Nativity set. DOUBLE BONUS: NME rounds up 10 Deliciously Scary Christmas Movies. TRIPLE BONUS: 18 Killer Santas From Film and TV. QUAD BONUS: The scary story tradition is one explained in this book.

LIAM NEESON auditions as a mall Santa.

TEN UNFORGETTABLE Musical Christmas Moments On Film.

THE 30 BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES, according to Empire magazine.

WHAT YOUR FAVE CHRISTMAS MOVIE Says About You.

FIVE REASONS Why Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

VIDEODROME: Metropolitan and Less Than Zero are Christmas movies?

HOME ALONE: Did Kevin McCallister grow up to become the Jigsaw Killer?

THE ICE HARVEST is a Christmas movie?

DRECK THE HALLS: A Holiday TV Specials Retrospective.

23 TV EPISODES based on "A Christmas Carol."

NAT KING COLE:  His chestnuts are roasting.

MAYMO THE BEAGLE gets 210 bottles for Christmas.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, as told by cats.

17 WEINER DOGS make the perfect Christmas photo.

THE DOGGO who stole Christmas.

A SHETLAND PONY in a Christmas foursie.

A REINDEER prances through the snow.

CHRISTMAS ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND involves millions of crabs.

AN AUSTRALIAN FAMILY shot into the Guinness Book of Records in 2011 after decorating their home with an astonishing 331038 Christmas lights. If the video at the link doesn't work, try this one.

505 Reads

Probably the last regular day before the holiday special.   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Tuesday, December 19, 2023 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

THE MONKEES sing a Christmas medley at MTV, circa 1986. Even Mike Nesmith turned up.

THE CHURCH plays KEXP.

SLOW PULP plays KEXP.

SHANE MacGOWAN's widow shared plans to one day release a book of “unpublished” songs by the late Pogues musician.

NODDY HOLDER revealed the real inspiration behind Slade’s festive 1973 hit ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’.

BROOKLYN VEGAN's Top 55 Albums of 2023.

AMP FIDDLER, the Detroit funk futurist whose work spans many generations, has died at 65.

THE NUMBER ONES looks at "Part Of Me," the breakup song that Katy Perry released just as her marriage was ending.

 

JONATHAN MAJORS is out at Marvel Studios after a Manhattan jury found Majors guilty of reckless assault in the third degree and guilty of harassment.

MICHAEL MANN, on Ferrari, Heat 2,and his future plans.

ALEC BALDWIN, heckled by pro-Hamas protesters on the streets on NYC.

THE X-FILES is reportedly making a comeback after its recent lackluster revival, in a "new version" from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler.

HUGH GRANT, on "Wonka," and what his five children (ages 5 through 12) really think of “Paddington 2.”

ROBERT PATTINSON & SUKI WATERHOUSE look engaged.

KENDALL JENNER & BAD BUNNY look dunzo.

MADONNA paid tribute to the friend who “saved her life” earlier this year.

PEAKY BLINDERS is reportedly getting not one, but two upcoming spinoffs.

 

A YOUNG ELEPHANT hears his name and crashes an interview.

A CAT scritches itself with a lizard.

ANOTHER CAT is not dashing through the snow.

A DOGGO assists its pregnant owner.

454 Reads

Sleigh Queen.   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Monday, December 18, 2023 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

EURYTHMICS' Dave Stewart declares "Christmas is For Lovers".

HOLIDAY SEASON: No new releases or indie basement this week.

YO LA TENGO wrapped up Hanukkah by reuiniting the Aisler Set and brining the Bangles' Vicki Petersen for Herma's Hermits' “I’m Into Something Good.”

U2 plays "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" live for the time in 36 years.

PR0NO FOR PYROS shares a holiday song, "Pete's Dad."

CHER: Not a fan of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

JENNY LEWIS Talks Mr. Belvedere, Rilo Kiley, & Greening Out On Office Hours.

MAGNET's Top 25 Albums of 2023.

AC/DC's original drummer, Colin Burgess, has died at 77.

 

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE: Wonka tops the chart with 39MM while exceeding projections overseas. Songbirds & Snakes places with 5.8MM on a leggy 38 percent drop.  Boy and the Heron shows with 5.1MM on a 60 percent drop, which is disappointing but probably not shocking.

MATTHEW PERRY died from “the acute effects of ketamine,” according to the toxicology report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. Perry had taken ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety a week-and-a-half before his death. The ketamine in his system at the time of his death, however, “could not be from that infusion therapy, since ketamine’s half-life is 3 to 4 hours, or less.”

A CHRISTMAS STORY at 40: Includes Ralphie's opinion on Die Hard as a Christmas movie.

GARY OLDMAN says he was saved by the Harry Potter and Batman franchises.

MIYAM BIALIK will not be hosting Jeopardy!

KANYE WEST goes on an unhinged, 10minute, antisemitic rant.

DEMI LOVATO and musician Jordan ‘Jutes’ Lutes have announced that they are engaged.

ROSARIO DAWSON is going to be a grandma.

VARIETY's Worst Movies of 2023 somehow includes Asteroid City.

WHIT STILLMAN, on Metropolitan as a Christmas movieand the evolution of the indie biz.

 

THE GODZILLA of seals.

WHAT KIND OF BIRD is this?

A BORDER COLLIE, herding ducklings to water.

439 Reads

It's a Ready Steady Go reference.   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Friday, December 15, 2023 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

THE WEEKEND STARTS HERE:

...with ELTON JOHN! Half of a live show captured by the OGWT on Christmas Eve, 1974.  Your setlist includes: "Grimsby" (incomplete), "Rocket Man," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Daniel," Grey Seal,"  "Bennie And The Jets," "I Saw Her Standing There," "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," "Honky Cat," "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting," "Crocodile Rock," "The B^tch Is Back," "Your Song," and "White Christmas."

YO LA TENGO welcomed DAMON & NAOMI for covers of the Beastie Boys and Simon & Garfunkel on night seven of their Hannukah run.

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER plays World Cafe.

SLEATER-KINNEY ( and FRED ARMISEN) play "Say It Like You Mean It" on Kimmel.

JOHN OATES, a/k/a the Anteater, on the possibility of working with Daryl Hall again.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND has finished a fifth LP.

THE 50 TOP SONGS of 2023, according to Clash.

THE 50 BEST ALBUMS of 2023, according to Consequence.

 

BEVERLY HILLS COP 4 has a trailer online.

IF, with Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Steve Carell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Matt Damon, Alan S Kim and Emily Blunt, has a trailer online.

ANDRE BRAUGHER, essayed by Alan Sepinwall.

JONATHAN MAJORS' disturbing text messages and an audio recording were made public by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.

OLIVIA RODRIGO & LOUIS PARTRIDGE: Caught canoodling.

TARA REID, on Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, 90s nostalgia, Tom Brady, and more.

ZAC EFRON wrestles with his legacy.

ADAM DRIVER, on what was supposed to happen to Kylo Ren.

 

A BULL ON THE TRACKS caused delays between Newark Penn Station and NY Penn Station.

BONITA leaves the shelter after 500 days.

A THANKFUL ELEPHANT, pulled out of a ditch.

454 Reads

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