Frosted Window Panes...

First off, major props to my brother Joel for the amazing job he's done on the covers for these albums! 

This next volume in our Christmas series is a collection mostly of originals along with a couple covers. When it comes to Christmas music, I'm not the biggest fan of originals (mainly because most are weak and don't come near the classics). However, over the past few years, some artists have been releasing and putting together some really great stuff. As timeless as the classics are, it is nice having some new songs. And even better... how great is it discovering new music? I hope these songs will keep you company this Christmas as you're baking cookies, hanging stockings, reminiscing through  'days of yore', and while creating new memories with friends and family. 

So, in the spirit of entering into new seasons, new chapters, new beginnings...

Happy Holidays...

-Frey

1.   The Christmas Waltz She & Him

2.   Christmas Don't Be Late Catwalk

3.   Christmas Isn't Christmas The Boy Least Likely To

4.   I Wish It Was Christmas Today Julian Casablancas

5.   Last Christmas Jimmy Eat World

6.   Silver Bells Bright Eyes

7.   In This Home On Ice Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

8.   Sleigh Ride The Late Greats

9.   Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) Slow Club

10. We Wish You A Merry Christmas Weezer

11.  Got Something For You Best Coast & Waves

12.  Frosty The Snowman Banjo or Freakout

13.  Get Down For the Holidays Jenny O.

14.  Christmas Tree Bewitched Hands

15.  Lo, How A Rose E're Blooming Feist

16.  The Christmas Song Owl City

17.  Christmas In The Room Sufjan Stevens

18.  Snow Sleeping At Last

19.  Mary And Joseph Dave Barnes

20. We Come Back Local Natives

21.  Blue Christmas First Aid Kit

22.  It's Christmas So We'll Stop Frightened Rabbit

23.  God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Bright Eyes

24.  Maybe Next Christmas Matthew Mayfield

25.  Christmas Lights Coldplay

26.  The First Song Band of Horses

27.  White Winter Hymnal Fleet Foxes

28.  Silent Night Meaghan Smith

29.  O Come O Come Emmanuel The Civil Wars

30. Angels We Have Heard On High Omaha Collective

31.  It's Christmas, I Love You Daniel Ellsworth with Alva Leigh

32.  My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year) Regina Spektor

|DOWNLOAD| (.zip)

[PS. This album is a bit bigger than the last... so you might want to have a fresh cup of hot chocolate or a pumpkin spice latte handy when downloading.]

All We Grow

I've been listening to this album almost non-stop since one of my buddies [David Andrew.. who also is an author/co-founder of this blog/musical genius] sent it my way a couple weeks back... and thank God he did. I can't believe it took as long as it did to get into my hands [it was released in Aug last year]. Most of us know Sean as the drummer and supporting vocalist from Bon Iver. This is his first solo venture and isn't your typical "album" - a couple great songs and a bunch of useless ones. Every song is dripping of brilliance. His voice possesses the power to quiet and still any storm that might be raging in you. You can hear that each song has been carefully crafted and that his blood, sweat, & tears coat each note, each layer of instrumentation, and have been woven into each harmony. Oh the harmonies... this is probably one of my favorite elements of this album. Its a lot like getting into a nice warm bath after a long and hard day... you slowly sink in and slide down, letting the water cover you from head to toe and swallow you whole. His melody and harmonies don't follow the norm of what we hear every day on the radio, but at the same time they aren't so 'out there' that they lose their relevancy. They are so smooth... so warm... seem so familiar, but at the same time are quite unfamiliar and create dissonance. Its the same kind of paradoxical familiarity that bewitches us when we first meet certain kinds of people. It doesn't happen often, but when it does... time seems to blur, your heart pounds, stomach drops... and even though you've just met her... she feels so familiar, so comfortable... like home. 

So... do yourself a favor and get this album right away [click here]... then make yourself a cup of coffee, put on an old sweater, find a rainy day, and press play. 


-Frey


   "Move"

  "In the Stream"

   "All We Grow"