Joe, that Janus tech (allowing you to play subscription tracks on your mp3 player) is gonna be a very big deal for the Windoze market. Look for it getting hype from services like Rhapsody (small, but growing and influential) and Napster as well as Micro$oft.

[Hell, everyone's getting into the market -- WalMart, of course, is already there, Virgin has a (buggy) digital music store, Fox will sell you your favorite show's theme as a polyphonic ringtone or an MP3 (including, yes, the Wonderfalls theme) at foxmusic.com, and MTV's announced a digital music service as well. [link]

Help! I need music that will jump-start my holiday spirit. The only holiday music I actually own is the Mediaeval Baebes Mistletoe & Wine, all of the Projekt Records gothy holiday cds, and the Rhino Records New Wave Xmas cd.

Suggestions? I'd like to start feeing holiday cheer sooner rather than later, and music is the fastest way I can think of to fix that.

Suggestions? I'd like to start feeing holiday cheer sooner rather than later, and music is the fastest way I can think of to fix that.

Well, I could send you something. I have several xmas mixes in the can. What do you want? Pretty? Traditional? Bouncy? Funny? Rocking?

Angus might be interested in this

Indeed he is! What I've heard of Cristina is fantastic; "Disco Clone" is one of the great meta-disco songs. Looking forward to hearing this.

Incidentally, I love Paris Hilton, so there.

I got a card in the post yesterday saying I have a package to pick up, so it looks like the CDs have arrived from msbelle, yay!

Well, I could send you something. I have several xmas mixes in the can. What do you want? Pretty? Traditional? Bouncy? Funny? Rocking?

Oh, you doll. Pretty, Traditional, and Bouncy would probably cover all the bases for me and my encroaching Grinchy-ness.

This is my favorite traditional (Victorian, british, instrumental) Christmas collection

Christmas albums are tricky things, because the artist is tackling a listener's past memories and emotions of Christmas. The most successful Christmas albums are those in which the artist does not tamper with the songs too much. On this album, Andy Mackay and his friends (known as the Players) present an album of traditional Christmas carols. Mackay does not deviate from the traditional arrangements with these songs, and he also has picked some classic songs that are not heard that often on Christmas albums ("While Shepherds Watched," "Past Three O'Clock," and "Once in David's City," to name three). This adds to the originality of the entire package. It is an instrumental album, which means this is the perfect CD to have in the background during Christmas festivities. Phil Manzanera basically acts as the executive producer, and thus does not play on the album. This is more or less a solo Andy Mackay album, and a good one. Fans of Christmas music will truly love this album. The combination of brass instruments and strings produces a beautiful sound. Fans of Mackay might be a bit surprised with this one but, again, it is a rewarding album. - AMG

Oh, you doll. Pretty, Traditional, and Bouncy would probably cover all the bases for me and my encroaching Grinchy-ness.

I've got several things to mail this week. I'll try to get yours in the to-go pile.

This is my favorite traditional (Victorian, british, instrumental) Christmas collection

Hmm. I'll look for that either at the stores or on iTunes. Thank you!

Here are links to three Xmas radio show archives, each w/ downloadable mp3s of every song. Mostly r&b and country. Also tends to the funny & the weird, but there are some straightahead numbers, too. Can't beat the price.

http://thehound.net/19901222/
http://thehound.net/19921219/
http://thehound.net/19931225/

Hmm. I'll look for that either at the stores or on iTunes. Thank you!

Turns up in the used bins pretty often. It's folky, but they use a lot of the droney/hurdy gurdy instruments I like. It feels very Dickens and Christmassy, but not overfamiliar and overdone.

My friend Jerry does a kickass Xmas compilation every year -- this year's liner notes are here.

I can probably send copies to folks who are desperately seeking Xmas music. You weirdos.