Brian Wilson has his many devotees. I’m guessing Sufjan Stevens and the boys in NRBQ are among them.
There was a period in the late Sixties (before he cracked up) when Wilson really was a genius. His instrumentation and arrangements evoked classical American music forms, which means more than he used harmonicas and banjos. But he did.
And so does Sufjan Stevens. He’s been attracting a lot of attention for his project to produce an album for each of the 50 states and this year’s Illinois has rightfully been hailed as fan-fucking-tastic. He released three Christmas EPs and today I bring you a track from Vol. III Ding! Dong! Songs for Christmas.
NRBQ has been around for more than 20 years, playing a mix of country, pop, R&B, jazz, and whatever else they feel like. “Christmas Wish,” released as a single in 1980, sounds like a typical Brian Wilson production from 1967. In fact, it sounds authentic enough to be a missing track from this album. You can find more NRBQ Christmas songs on this collection.
Sufjan Stevens – Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!
NRBQ – Christmas Wish — BUY
6 Responses
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Spike Says:
My friend Jon Graboff put out an Xmas CD last year that contains an instrumental version of that NRBQ song that makes it even more “Pet Sounds-y”. Check it out.
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The Pop View Says:
While I don’t own that album, a friend of mine has it and it is indeed very good. You can listen to samples here. Also good is the related Christmas In Memphis by Husky Team, which sounds very “Booker T & The MGs-y.”
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Chris Says:
Loving the Christmas tunes! Thanks!
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Steve Says:
Just listening to Illinoise for the first time. Wow! this album really kicks ass. Thanks for the heads-up on info for an artist that I can really enjoy…
Your buddy… Steve
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Earfood Says:
We have made the Sufjan Stevens Christmas EPs Hark! Songs for Christmas available for download at Earfood. As long as the bandwidth can stand it they will be up for download at http://www.earfood.net/christmas
Also be sure to read Scott’s review of the EPs and Christmas in general at http://www.earfood.net.
Merry Christmas, enjoy the mp3s!!
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The Pop View Says:
The EPs can also be found here.