So Alex just posted this song as a “unreleased free download” on The Damnwells facebook page. I may just be a Damnwells freak, but I’m 99.99% sure “Xmas Eve” actually has been released before, but regardless… I’m never one to turn down some holiday cheer.
Listen below. Like most Damnwells tunes, it’s elegantly understated and beautiful.
Listen: The Damnwells – Xmas Eve
So it appears that Jack Johnson’s new album, “Sleep Through The Static
Jack has said of the album:
“Some of the songs on this album are about making babies. Some of the songs are about raising them. Some of the songs are about the world that these children will grow up in; a world of war and love, and hate, and time and space. Some of the songs are about saying goodbye to people I love and will miss.”
Jack’s had an amazing couple of years. From Brushfire Fairytales
The population is becoming harder to please, and the problem with gaining popularity is that – even for a surfer/singer/songwriter like Jack Johnson – a certain amount of innocence is lost. I’m hoping for a feeling like the one I had when I first heard “Flake”. That innocent joy that ran through you. Time will tell.
In the meantime, Jack has released two of the singles from the forthcoming album on his myspace page. Here is the title track, “Sleep through the Static“, below (again, for new visitors, just click on the “play” icon to listen).
Listen: Jack Johnson – Sleep Through the Static
And, continuing on from our Christmas Cover love, Jack Johnson has also released a cover of a Stevie Wonder song, “Someday at Christmas“, on his website. As Jack says:
Here is a home recording i did of a Stevie Wonder song. My parents used to play this song at our house when we were kids.
Pray for peace.
Please visit The Peace Alliance at thepeacealliance.org.
Sentiments after our own heart.
Listen. Love. Support.
Listen: Jack Johnson – Someday at Christmas (Stevie Wonder cover)
In preparation for the Yuletide season, Coldplay is streaming a cover version of the Pretenders song, “2000 miles” on their website, along with the above note.
While Chris Martin might not be as attractive as Chrissie Hynde, they do a great version. Normally, I’m not a fan of Christmas songs (apart from exceptions such as The Pogues “Fairytale of New York”, and possibly the Killers “A Big Sled”) but when you have Pretenders material to work with, you already have a great start.
Listen: Coldplay – 2000 miles (Pretenders cover)
Website: http://www.coldplay.com
Speaking of The Pogues, in case you can’t read ol’ Chris’s writing up there, it says:
“Dec, 2003 – Christmas cover of 2000 miles by The Pretenders (wonderful band with fringes/bangs)
We love Christmas songs, but everytime we try and write one it’s awful. So we often cover them, well once or twice actually.
In fact, the song I would most like to have written is “Fairytale of New York” by de bloody Pogues of Ireland.”
Aah, The Pogues. I reckon almost everyone wishes they could have written that song Chris. Voted “Best Christmas Song Ever” in a VH1 poll, I don’t think it will ever be topped.
A song of youthful hopes and dreams, crushed over the span of successive Christmas Eve’s…
I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can’t make it all alone
I’ve built my dreams around you
Cheers, Shane and Kirsty.
Listen: The Pogues – Fairytale of New York
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