Low - Just Like Christmas
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“Just Like Christmas” by Low // Christmas (1999)
And my other go-to holiday song. A little more upbeat, but still a little off. Actually, it’s perfect. I remember hearing this for the first time and wondering why Low didn’t pick up the tempo more often, and really, they didn’t so much until like six years later on “The Great Destroyer” but no matter, this track was the cat’s pajamas then and still is now. A perfect holiday song.
“Just Like Christmas” by David Bazan // Originally by Low
The AV Undercover series is back with it’s holiday selections and one of them happens to be David Bazan covering what is possibly my favorite (non-traditional) holiday song, Low’s “Just Like Christmas”. Bazan and his band do a solid job with the cover, actually bringing on more of a somber tone, which actually works. Good stuff.
THE SMITHS // COVERED
Here, you will find a collection of new and old covers spanning the last couple of decades. I was compelled to put this together as a challenge mostly because I have found it so difficult over the years to find covers of Smiths songs that held up to a mediocre at best standard. That being said, I’ve pieced together a 20 track compilation. It could have been slightly more, but I did my best to limit myself to zero duplicate songs (I caved on “Last Night I Dreamt…” and used two, sue me - the original is my favorite song of all time). Are there some covers that I missed - sure. Most of those were instances of choosing who I felt covered a particular track the best.
So without further ado, here are classic songs by The Smiths as re-interpreted by artists over the years.
Playlist (click the band name for more info on the band):
- stars - THIS CHARMING MAN
- spoon - PANIC
- the morning benders - I WON’T SHARE YOU
- doug martsch (of Built to Spill) - BIG MOUTH STRIKES AGAIN
- vanilla swingers - HAND IN GLOVE
- j. mascis - THE BOY WITH THE THORN IN HIS SIDE
- sharon van etten - LAST NIGHT I DREAMT THAT SOMEBODY LOVED ME
- cursive - FRANKLY, MR. SHANKLY
- supergrass - SOME GIRLS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS
- love spit love - HOW SOON IS NOW
- owen - GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA
- radiohead - THE HEADMASTER RITUAL
- dum dum girls - THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT
- at the drive-in - THE NIGHT HAS OPENED MY EYES
- colin meloy (of The Decemberists) - ASK
- the twilight sad - HALF A PERSON
- she & him - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME GET WHAT I WANT
- low - LAST NIGHT I DREAMT THAT SOMEBODY LOVED ME
- jeff buckley - I KNOW IT’S OVER
- xiu xiu - ASLEEP
(download) The Smiths // Covered ( MF | MU )
(stream) Entire Mix @ 8tracks
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Please support the artists that you find and enjoy. Buy their music, merchandise and tickets to see their shows. Supporting them is the only purpose in doing this blog. Contrary to the opinions of some, music blogs are a great way to discover new music, but there will only be so much new music to go around if these artists can’t afford to support themselves through their art and commerce. Only use these mixtapes as a guide to find something to throw your (financial and emotional) support behind.
(via atd-i)
“Africa” by Low // Originally by Toto // Recorded for The Onion’s AV Undercover Series
One of those guilty pleasure tracks from the height of smooth-rock cheeze gets the Low treatment at this week’s AV Undercover and it comes out less anthem-esque and more stripped bare and intimate. That catchy hook remains and that’s the big sell. I just kinda wish it were Alan Sparhawk handling the lead vocals and not Mimi Parker, but that’s a small gripe. I love both of their voices, I just prefer his on the Low stuff.
THE AFTERGLOW : EPISODE 38
Went with lots of new tracks (including new Okkervil River, Low, Glasvegas, Broken Bells, and more) from more known artists this week with a couple of old favorites (that Wire song just gets better every time i hear it) tossed in to flesh out the pack. Following this mixtape, I’ll get back to posting the genre mixtapes through the end of the month. As always, send suggestions if you feel i forgot something.
Once again - thank you for all the support, likes, and reblogs. As always, these Afterglow mixes are best heard at night. Make out, drive, study, sleep, or fuck to it. Do whatever you like, but please enjoy it.
PLAYLIST: (individual tracks have links, full mixtape link at bottom)
- wire - OUTDOOR MINER
- the national - THINK YOU CAN WAIT
- crystal stilts - SILVER SUN
- windsor for the derby - THE CUTTER
- broken bells - HEARTLESS EMPIRE
- tune-yards - WOLLY WOLLY GOING
- cults - YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
- korallreven - HONEY MINE (Memoryhouse Remix)
- teen daze - LE ETALEE, NOUVAUTE GLORIEUSE
- jamie woon - STREET
- sun glitters - TOO MUCH TO LOSE
- craft spells - THE FOG ROSE HIGH
- okkervil river - WEAVE ROOM BLUES
- low - $20
- epic45 - GHOSTS I HAVE KNOWN
- glasvegas - WHATEVER HURTS YOU THROUGH THE NIGHT
- thurston moore (feat. beck) - BENEDICTION
- clor - GOODBYE
- the album leaf - ESSEX
- explosions in the sky - LAST KNOWN SURROUNDINGS
(download) The Afterglow : Episode 38
Please support the artists that you like and reblog to share with friends.
Check out the previous Afterglow Episodes.
Low - Try To Sleep
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low - TRY TO SLEEP
Oh, this is a pleasant surprise. Low returns with a new song that sounds like it could have belonged on “The Great Destroyer” (one of the best albums of the 00’s, in my opinion). It’s twinkling vibraphone and big crashing drums with Alan Sparhawk singing his heart out. I much prefer this version of Low to the uber slowcore material that made up their early career. I think i might be in the minority though. In any case, enjoy this pretty little track from the forthcoming album, “C’mon”.
(link from sonicitch) (download track from p4k)
Low - Just Like Christmas
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low - JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS
Track 8 from The Holiday Mixtape Series: Volume One.
Some might say that it’s a bit early to be posting Holiday mixes (i would be one of them) but i did start posting the Halloween Mixtapes 8 weeks before Halloween, so this isn’t too far off. Also, it’s never too early to post great songs and this track by Low is one of my all time favorite holiday songs, and it’s also very uncharacteristic of the band’s usual slowcore, ear rattling gems.
THE HOLIDAY MIXTAPE SERIES: VOLUME ONE
For the first of six Holiday Mixtapes, I decided to stick with my personal favorites, which also tend to veer closer to the new side of Holiday music. So with the kickoff mixtape expect it to be fairly indie friendly.
These tracks in particular are almost all holiday related and not just wintery tracks. The winter mixtape will be mixed in with the next few weeks. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the the first of six, which definitely contains some of my absolute favorite holiday songs of all time (i’m looking at you Low, Raveonettes, Badly Drawn Boy, Pogues, Vince Guaraldi Trio and Freedy Johnston).
As always, download individual tracks by clicking title, or get the whole shebang at the bottom. Enjoy!
- the raveonettes - THE CHRISTMAS SONG
- best coast & waves - GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU
- death cab for cutie - CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME)
- badly drawn boy - DONNA & BLITZEN
- julian casablancas - I WISH IT WAS CHRISTMAS TODAY
- fucked up (feat. tegan & sara, david cross, ezra koenig, yo la tengo, bob mould, kyp malone, andrew wk) - DO THEY KNOW IT’S CHRISTMAS
- asobi seksu - MERRY CHRISTMAS (I DON’T WANNA FIGHT)
- low - JUST LIKE CHRISTMAS
- eisley - THE WINTER SONG
- my morning jacket - CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE AGAIN
- frightened rabbit - IT’S CHRISTMAS SO WE’LL STOP
- sufjan stevens - GET BEHIND ME, SANTA
- erasure - CHRISTMAS (SHE WON’T BE HOME)
- vince guaraldi trio - CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE (VOCAL)
- xtc - THANKS FOR CHRISTMAS
- her space holiday - LET IT SNOW
- clearlake - WONDER IF THE SNOW WILL SETTLE
- freedy johnston - HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
- jimmy eat world - 12/23/95
- the pogues - FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK
- bright eyes - SILENT NIGHT
- ricky gervais - DON’T CRY (IT’S CHRISTMAS)
(download) The Holiday Mixtape Series: Volume One
Low - On The Edge Of
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low - ON THE EDGE OF
Track 14 from the Catching Up With Shoegaze mix.
