The Jessica Simpson Conundrum

Here's the thing; I don't like Jessica Simpson. Her music is ridiculous. Her voice is so airy, it makes it difficult to listen to her for more than fifteen seconds at a time. And things rapidly go downhill from there if I have to see her AND listen to her talk and/or sing. All that said, I love both of her Christmas albums ("Jessica Simpson has two Christmas albums!?" I know, right?) The first one was released in 2004 and is called Rejoyce: The Christmas Album and the second was just released this November and is titled Happy Christmas, as seen above. I don't understand how it is possible for me to detest any and all things having to do with her non-Christmas activities, yet become overwhelmed with joy at the thought of popping in Rejoyce on a long winter's drive. I got so excited when I heard she was releasing a new Christmas album that I actually wrote it on my Black Friday shopping list, an act commonly reserved for items of the utmost importance. This led to the temporary belief that my love for her Christmas albums was actually just an excuse to listen to her and that maybe I actually like her other music too. So, I decided to venture into the barren, treacherous land I like to call "Jessica Simpson's Career." I didn't like it there. I had to listen to hours of Nina Simone to cleanse my mind after that. I think it would be accurate to say I still don't like Jessica Simpson. But, I love her Christmas music. I'm gonna chalk this up to a Christmas miracle.

Tis the season!
-J

J's Album Pick of the Week

Earlier this week I mentioned to Mad Dog that Wilson Phillips put out a Christmas cd this year and I wanted to blog about it. Her response? "What?! My sister and I used to be nuts for Wilson Phillips!" Turns out this is another thing we have in common. Remember their song Hold On? Yeah. I went through a phase after I discovered a tape of their debut album in the third grade where I wouldn't leave the house for any reason unless my mom had given me ample time to wander around belting that song at the top of lungs. Not a pretty picture for anyone involved. But, that's not the point. The point is, I was ridiculously excited to buy this cd yesterday and I can't say I've been disappointed. As I said in an earlier post, I LOVE Christmas music so it's hard to actually disappoint me in this regard. Nevertheless, I think if you share even a fraction of my appreciation for Christmas music, you would do well to pick up Christmas In Harmony.

Fave Tracks: The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day, and Christmastime

-J

Current Obsession: First Aid KIt

The tag current obsession may only mildly describe how much I have been listening to the music of First Aid Kit. A Swedish duo of sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, hailing from Enskede, a southern suburb of Stockholm, the siblings began composing songs in 2007. Another fun fact about these ladies is their youth; Johanna is 20, and Klara is 17 years of age.The sisters are signed with the label Rabid Records, owned by the Swedish electronic duo The Knife, whom I also have a little obsession for.
Their debut album "The Big Black & The Blue" is folksy in all the right ways and was released almost one year ago, on January 25th, 2010, but you can also find some musical gems on their previously released EP "Drunken Trees". I truly believe it would be worth your while to listen to both records start to finish, but if you have places to go, people to see, or just find yourself busy in general, might I suggest starting with these tracks;



The Big Black & The Blue:

I Met Up With The King
Ghost Town
Hard Believer
Winter Is All Over You
Josefin

 Enjoy them. Love them.

-Mad Dog

J's Album Pick of the Week

Gift Wrapped II: Snowed In is Warner Bros. follow up to last year's extremely successful Gift Wrapped: 20 Songs That Keep on Giving. I know it's only December 1st and some of you are already annoyed by the onslaught of holiday music, but I am one of those crazies who secretly (not anymore) listens to Christmas music all year round. I LOVE it! So...........I will be bringing you a lot of Xmas music news in the coming weeks. And you will like it! (And even if you don't, I'll try to mix in non-holiday related topics as well). This collection is not bad as far as Christmas collections go. It boasts an impressive track list and has one obvious highlight, Tegan and Sara's take on The Chipmunk Song, and some nice surprises as well. I'm a big fan of holiday music collections seeing as how I get bored very easily and need a lot of variety. This collection certainly delivers in that respect. So, if you're like me and you already have all of the Now! That's What I Call Christmas collections and you're still searching for something more, this would be a good buy.

Fave Tracks: Home For Christmas by Cavo, December by Regina Spektor, Merry Christmas Everybody by Oasis, Merry Something To You by Devo, Baby Come Find Me At Christmas by Rachael Yamagata, and of course The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) by T&S

-J

The Killers Do Christmas

Head over to Stereogum to check out the Killers new Christmas song and video for Boots.