Alternate Advent - IT'S CHRISTMAS!

Or at least it shall be very soon, I'm not posting on Christmas itself, I'm not that much of a sadcase.

Of course, there can only be one Christmas song for anyone from the Midlands, and that's Slade. They're boys from the black country and we love em' Noddy is from Wolvo, and we're more proud of him than Robert Plant. Seriously. This song isn't classy, it isn't compelling. It's not about the subtlty of emotion it's about getting up and dancing in your living room and spending time with the people you love. Which I hope you're all doing.



It's Christmas, I 'ope yaw 'av a gudun ar kidda.

Alternate Advent Day 24

Christmas Eve song, and therefore runner up to the greatest Christmas song ever is......

The Pogues - Fairytale Of New York



A million people just got sad as it's the populous opinion that it's the best Christmas tune ever, but not for me chief.

The winner shalt be shown tomorrow!

It's so exciting!

!!!

Alternate Advent Day 23

Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo



Makes me feel like I felt about Christmas when I was 6, jumping around the lounge unable to sleep at night full on excitement.

Two days left...there are only two contenders left for the Christmas Day alternate Advent title...

Alternate Advent Days 20, 21 and 22.

I've been in London seeing Patrick Wolf, forgive the gap in days.

Day 20 - The Darkness - Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)



It's naughty, it's probably the only decent christmas song of recent memory.

Day 21 - Jona Lewie - Stop the Cavalry



Utterly awesome, if depressing when you listen to the words. Just go "dudda dudda dom dom dudda dudda dom dudda dom dom dudda dom dudda dudda dom" instead yeah?

Day 22 - Wizzard - I Wish it Could Be Christmas Everyday



Just a proper christmas song, the kind you can pogo to. Wonderous.

It's nearly christmas innnnnnat?

Alternate Advent Day 19

Shakin' Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone



Huzzah, it's a proper dancer, bop bop it's less than a week till Christmas!

Alternate Advent Days 17 and 18

Excuse my absence, much needed catching up.

Day 17 - Patrick Wolf - Teignmouth



Well this has been picked slightly because I'm going to see him on Thursday in London, slightly because my family comes from Teignmouth (I've never been but imagine this is what it's like) and slightly because it's beautiful, as of "so when the birds fly south, I reach up and hold their tails" it lifts you up totally.

And secondly....drum roll...the start of the christmas songs! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I'll start off with Lennon, cause apparently, War is over if you want it...flawed arguement, but nice all the same.

Alternate Advent Day 16

Anthony And The Johnsons - Hope There's Someone



He's just lovel, and just has a wonderful voice.

Alternate Advent Day 15

The Rolling Stones were like a sexy Beatles.



Nice songs though.

Alternate Advent Day 14

Impossible for anything to get you down, even men in suits shaking their money jar.



Dance like you're smiling.

Alernate Advent Day 13

Morrissey - Now My Heart Is Full



My love of the man is well documented.

Alternate Advent Day 12

Arcade Fire -Rebellion (lies)



This song literally changed the way I thought about music, and even now it still lifts me. It's a glorious song,

Utterly beautiful.

Alternate Advent Day 11

Well it's the eleventh day of advent, and as with the traditional form of advent this is where it's written in the bible, that there shall be "bestowed a mega mix to enlighten the soul". I'm not one to mess with God, so I'm going for a Maximo mega-mix, pretty much because it's too hard to narrow them down to one song.

OK, number one. Graffiti - It was the first song that got me into them, I remember seeing Maximo in the Academy 2 not knowing any songs but this and Apply Some Pressure and it still ranks of one of my favourite gigs ever (helps that The Blood Arm and Research supported). And hearing this song just makes me go mental. I take special pleasure in saying "THAT'S ENOUGH" in the best accent I can muster.



Second on the list would have to be Apply Some Pressure, purely for the hand signs possible during the dance, it's practically a work out. Push your hands out for apply, bring them back for lose. Plus it's just awesome, seriously, I could have a decent night out if I went to a club and they just played the 3 albums back to back.



And then of course, Our Velocity...it's the swirling guitars, it's the sing along nature, it's the "Speeeeeeeeeeed" it's the synth, it's the bridge, it's the everything. Wowtastic.



And Finally.... A Fortnight's Time. I love this song, because hearing it on the album it passed me by, but when you hear it live, like so many Maximo songs they just take off, and being in a crowd shouting "5 x 5 = 25" is amazing, and quite nerdy. It became out shout at Leeds festival, can't beat it.

Alternate Advent Day 10

The Beatles - Let It Be

An utterly beautiful song, one that Lennon didn't really like but Paul did, so much so that he had to beg to get it included on the album, which eventually became called Let It Be also, Lennon made up for the song by having one about a prostitute right after, he thought it was too religious. Mother Mary and all that, but Paul's mother was a Mary and had only recently died. So Paul won, and it remains a beautiful song, Harrisson's guitar work in the mid section is gutsy and Paul's venture into the organ pays off, with Ringo displaying subtlety on the drums he's not always given credit for, his fills are fantastic. Lennon provides bass on a de-tuned 6 string, and is notably distant throughout the performance, with the ghostly specter of Yoko leering over his shoulder.

Alternate Advent Day 9

It'll get played at my funeral, it's that simple. I could live in this song for a lifetime, which is a bit of a contradiction. Simply put, gorgeous.

Alternate Advent Days 7 & 8

Well I shan't be here on saturday, so days 7 & 8 in a little group!

Firstly, Billy Ocean - Love Really Hurts Without You



Get your groove on.

And secondly, The Smiths - This Charming Man



This song and band really need no more words spoken about it by me!

Alternate Advent Day 6

Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love?



Cause it's just awesome.

Alternate Advent Day 5

Avril Lavigne - Sk8er Boi!



She's constantly challenging the way we perceive music.

Also, Lavigne fact of the day - 'Girlfriend' was recorded in 7 different languages and has been number one in 17 different countries.

Amazing.

Alternate Advent Day 4!

Nightmare of You - My Name Is Trouble



One of the best bands I've ever had the fortune to stalk across 4 different venues.

Musical Advent Calendar Day 3

Ignore the fact that there haven't been a day one and two, for that reason I'll post three songs.

As I'm not eating chocolate, I'll provide a Christmas countdown with some songs which I adore, they'll gradually become christmassy I'm sure.

Song one.

The Beach Boys - God Only Knows



Simply lovely, and makes me feel nice even when I'm far away, I only got into it because of Love Actually (you wouldn't hear Pitchforkmedia say that) but I've since discovered that the rest of Pet Sounds is ace times.

Song Two

John Lennon - Jealous Guy



Because I am I guess. I'm stupidly jealous. And sometimes I have to listen to this to make myself be a normal rational person again.

Song Three

Regina Specktor - Samson



Because the first time it made me cry.