Not only is today Friday the 13th (woot woot!), but this weekend also marks the halfway point of December. (Meaning, if you observe the Christian-capitalist holiday and haven’t started listening to Christmas music yet, you’re very likely a cold-hearted GRINCH who needs to get with the cheerful program already!) Now that it’s peak-Christmas season, the time is now to catch up on all all your holiday errands, and start bumping Mariah Carey’s forever-iconic “All I Want for Christmas Is You” on loop, pushing your relatives to the edge of sanity. Alternately, check out these five Xmas releases from Portland-based artists that would make for fine additions to your Yuletide playlist.
Northwest Community Gospel Chorus, “Joy to the World” with Saeeda Wright and George Fridiric Handel
Upon listening to the the NW Community Gospel Chorus’ live rendition of “Joy to the World,” a Christmas gospel classic, I immediately noticed that it’s the same version that Whitney Houston sings as the choir director in The Preacher’s Wife (which is low-key a Christmas movie)! Portland vocalist Saeeda Wright, backed by the NW Community Gospel Chorus, knocks this solo out of the park. Gospel Christmas starts tonight at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, but if you can’t make it then their excellent live album from 2018 should suffice.
The Minders, “Christmas, Christmas”
On November 29, Portland-based indie-pop five-piece The Minders released a one-off holiday original with “Christmas, Christmas” on Space Cassette Records. Kicking off with the sound of jingle bells (because obvi), the song has a laid-back, Christmas-obsessed vibe that I can get down with: “Oh Christmas, Christmas there’s a tear in my eye/All year long been missing you/All through spring and summer biding my time/the seasons change to tame my blues.” There’s even a verse sang by a young, greedy child! Something to look forward to.
Theory Hazit, Is On Christmas Break
Last year, Portland-based producer/rapper Theory Hazit released his Christmas beat tape, Is On Christmas Break, just for the hell of it, and I couldn’t be more pleased to have found it. Theory samples familiar festive tunes like “Jingle Bells,” “Carol of the Bells,” and Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” suite throughout the project. Chopped vocals are present, but minimal, so this tape could be the answer to the people in your household who are sick of all this blasted, joyful singing. Speaking of which, on songs like opening track “Alone on Christmas,” Theory Hazit utilizes audio from the 2003 holiday classic Elf, in which Will Ferrell shout-sings in the department store.
Melville, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
A couple of years ago Portland rock band Melville released a cover of Hugh Martin and Ralph Blaine’s 1944 hit “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” I think I speak for all of us when I say I’ve heard A LOT of covers of this song, but Melville’s rock-tinged rendition led by the dynamic, spot-on vocals of Ryan T Jacobs. They don’t do too much with the simple song, but just enough to make their own version unique and worth a few spins.
Denim Wedding, “This Christmas”
No, Denim Wedding’s 2018 single “This Christmas” is a much different “This Christmas” from the popular hit Donny Hathaway recorded in 1970. Presented with lots of fuzz, the indie-rock trio’s “This Christmas” is a welcome ode to being far away from a loved one during the holidays, but begrudgingly getting into the spirit anyway: “Even though you’re far away this Christmas/I see presents all around /It’s a light in the ditch/Catch the spirit, ooh!”
Was actually looking forward to the end of this sentence, but the editor must’ve stepped out.
” I think I speak for all of us when I say I’ve heard A LOT of covers of this song, but Melville’s rock-tinged rendition led by the dynamic, spot-on vocals of Ryan T Jacobs. They don’t do too much with the simple song, but just enough to make their own version unique and worth a few spins.