Hello fellow disgruntled carolers,
Welcome to The Deviant Dispatch. I’m Mo, your guide to the underground world of Brooklyn and beyond. On Wednesday I write about events for free. On Friday I write about gossip for money (paying members only). There will be snark, and sometimes typos.
This week, I’m skipping events entirely due to the unfortunate fact that Christmas is coming. As a somewhat snooty music fan, this means the same doomed songs playing everywhere. Even worse, every year I somehow still want to listen to them.
Since this is the first Christmas we’re spending together readers, I’m here to offer some alternatives for Holiday tunes.
Enjoy
xoxo
Mo
Pop Caroler’s Songbook - PC Music
The PC Music / Hyperpop gang got together to make a Christmas album. There are predictably lots of festive arpeggios and synthetic sleigh bell sounds. Many songs have an element of silliness to them. Caroline Polacheck coos “I’m a good girl Santa” on her parody “So Cold You’re Hurting My Feelings” and Himera, Petal Supply, and GUPI team up for a disjointed cover of “All I Wan’t For Christmas is You.”
On the serious side, a rework of Banoffee’s “fuckwit” is tender enough to get me entirely in my feelings. “Wishlist (ft Baby Izzo)” by Aaron Cartier is a straight ahead bop that furthers the case that he’s the most-overlooked Hyperpop star. Overall it’s a good mix of holiday sounds for the fans of Hyperpop.
Simply Having a Wonderful Compilation - Various Artists
The best indie music label Father Daughter Records put out a Christmas compilation of covers and original songs. Highlights include a fuzzy cover of “Last Christmas” by Pom Pom Squad, the wistful “Happy Holiday” by Diet Cig, and the triumphant “This Will Be Our Year” by Bacchae. Proceeds from the compilation go towards the nonprofit Feeding America.
Have Faith With Kate Nash This Christmas- Kate Nash
Older alt-pop fans will remember when Kate Nash was the next big thing. Her song “Foundations” was number 2 in the UK and the number 1 angsty song in 2007 for indie girls. She never quite hit those chart highs again, but she’s put out plenty of good music since then, including a Christmas EP titled Have Faith With Kate Nash This Christmas. There’s a plaintive “Silent Night” cover sure, but the real winner here is “I Hate You This Christmas.” It’s a breakup song in the same vein of “Foundations” with enough bitter energy to give the Grinch a run for his money. My fave line is when she complains “even goths are feeling goodwill.”
It’s Christmas and I Fucking Miss You - Charly Bliss x Pup
The song of the season!!!!! PUP and Charly Bliss unite to make a song about all the people who aren’t seeing their loved ones this season. It’s got chugging guitars and big sing-a-long choruses. What more could you want (aside from the pandemic to be over)?
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