I would be such a nerd without you

I must thank you, Julie, for turning me on to so many good bands, past and present, that I might never found myself.  I heard this on KXT, our public radio gem that I can't get enough of, and thought it was solo Neko Case (you burned me 2 of her CD's a couple of years back and I love her now).  But then looked it up on You Tube to find it was a band you turned me on to through one of our Girls Trips CD's, who Neko Case sings for sometimes.

Right now my boys think I am the coolest mom musically, ever.  I know that will change, but I will try to retain at least a tiny bit of my musical hipness as they (and I) get older.  Keep helping me, Julie!  I'll need you more than ever now!!!

Isn't this one of the coolest songs, ever?  Love the cello and the whistling.

Choosy kids pick Boogers!

And we are now HUGE Boogers fans.  Let me explain.

The Boogers are a kids rock/punk band.  They mix cool versions of classic kids' songs with originals.  We had never heard of them before we found out they were going to grace the stage of Levitt Pavilion in Arlington, our wonderful FREE outdoor music venue that's 10 minutes from our house.  The summer schedule lasts Memorial Day weekend through Fourth of July weekend.  The concerts are Wednesday through Sunday night, and they cover all types of music.  Wednesdays is kids music.  We had only been to one show two years ago (last summer was just too brutally hot) that showcased dancing dinosaurs.  The show wasn't that great, but Gabriel loved the dinos.

When I looked at this summer's schedule, I saw The Boogers were playing during the week I was already taking off from work.  It was fate!  Plus they were the one band I KNEW Gabriel would get into.  The others were sketchy.  Jav took off early, I packed up a huge picnic dinner, and off we went, despite some pretty threatening looking skies.  We found a good spot, laid out our dinner and got ready to jam.  Ten minutes before the show was supposed to start, the lightening started just to the northeast of the Pavilion.  A few people packed up and headed back to the car.  We put all of our food away, just in case, but decided to stick it out.  It never rained, the weather was wonderfully cool (at least to a Texan in the summertime), and the band was just awesome.

Here are my little rocker boys.  Gabriel begged to go down front where many of the kids were dancing, and finally Jav took him down there.  I was so proud of him for just letting go and having fun like that.  He said before the show that he wasn't sure if he'd dance.  He was afraid people would laugh at him.  I convinced him that it didn't matter - who needs them?  He doesn't even know these people and the important thing is to do what you feel like doing and HAVE FUN.  Boy did he ever!

Our awesome view of the stage.  There's not a bad seat in the house.  What a wonderful venue to have so close.  We should be ashamed of ourselves for not going more often.  It was so neat also to see grandparents, parents and kids all hanging out and having a wonderful time.    Plus have I mentioned The Boogers ROCKED!!!!!!   I just read up on them and discovered the lead singer and band starter, who goes by Krusty Booger, has a PhD in Developmental Psychology.  He finished school and decided to combine his love of punk music with his passion for children's language development.  

This is what the sky looked like about halfway through the show.  I didn't know Jav was going to sneak into the picture and end up looking like Moses.  Ha!

Towards the end of the show, Joel got tired of jumping and started falling down and just laying on the grass for awhile.  Which meant Gabriel could come tickle him.  But make no mistake, he had already out-jumped every single kid there.  If jumping up and down was an Olympic sport, Joel would win the gold medal!

The last number was a cover of Stepping Stone by the Monkees, which is right up my sixties music-loving, hipster-dancing alley.  How can you not absolutely love a band who plays that for their last song?  We had one of the most fun nights of our year so far.  Joel has been refusing to listen to anything but The Boogers in the car since we brought home a CD.  We've already decided to buy him the other one for his birthday.   And we are already ready for the next concert appearance by The Boogers!!!

If you want to listen to their greatness (a clip from Levitt a couple of years ago), click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYRD6-lwN7U

Another reason Sesame Street rocks!

I love this so much. I seem to be becoming quite the Elvis Costello fan in my middle age. He's moved to the top of my list of someone I'd like to see in concert. And Elmo, well, I've been a fan of his for awhile now. I've had a chance to get to know him much better as of late, and think he's just wonderful.

Watch Elmo (or Melmo, as Joel has always called him), dancing in the background. Cracks me up every single time.

Wanna do the Pony, anyone?

I love Facebook for so many reasons. One is that I get to be Facebook friends with a girl I have never officially met who used to live in Texas but now lives in Pittsburgh. Her posts always seem to make my day, and I will be very happy if I ever get to meet her in person one day. This one defies explanation, but had me smiling all day today. Thanks Teri!

The Darkness - We knew them back when...

OK. had to post an addendum about the Superbowl commercials. Jav and I have loved the song below since it came out way back in mid-2000's. The video was done in 2008. We saw them perform on one of the late-night shows and were intrigued by the lead singers voice and eccentricity. He reminded us of Freddie Mercury. Those Brits love their flamboyant, androgynous, high-singing dudes. But you have to admit, this is a rockin' song.

I recently found a CD at Half Price Books that was a compilation of rocking bands, and we were pleasantly surprised and reminded of this song. Gabriel has fallen in love with it.

Well, our little British band must be making a comeback, and was featured in a Samsung ad during the Superbowl. And now everyone is talking about them. I'm feeling really hip right about now!!!

Annie Lennox - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

I absolutely love this. It's Pagan tradition meets Christian belief. The music, that drum, the mystery, and her voice make this something I want to hear again and again at Christmas time.

I

The problematic drum teacher

NOTE: I am posting this because my husband thought I was a bit hard on Mr. W. So I agreed to drop the picture and the first name in case any of the five people who read this blog or a random person flipping through blogs might happen to know Mr. W. I wouldn't want to be sued for slander or anything.

Mr. W., Gabriel's drum teacher for the past two and a half months, might be prototypical of what you would find a any given music/instrument store around the country. Burned out rocker who never made it big in ANY of the countless bands he has graced his presence with. Slightly chubby, mass of frizzed out hair sticking out from under his baseball cap, and dresses like he never quite matured past the age of fifteen. Mr. W., master of mediocrity with dozens of instruments, but claims his specialty is drums and especially guitar.

All of this I expected. I also expected, and was told, about the problems in teaching someone so young. The short attention span, the fact that some days will be good and some bad. That Gabriel won't retain much from the lesson and it's up to me to get him to practice the tiny pieces of infinite wisdom that Mr. W. has tried to relay in our 30 minutes.

So that is one problem, that the infinite wisdom doesn't seem all that great. He has Gabriel do alot of counting, and moving drumsticks from one drum to another. I'm sure all of that improves coordination. At first he had a music book that he was trying to get Gabriel to follow, but Gabriel didn't get it and now the book is gone. I can tell that Mr. W. is making this up as he goes along. He takes every opportunity to let me know how cool it is that we still have Gabriel in classes, because every other time he started teaching someone this young the parents yanked them back out after a month. He thinks Gabriel is progressing, albeit slowly.

My other problems with Mr. W. stem from his manic depressive behavior and totally inappropriate comments that he throws out here and there. He likes to brag about all of his years of martial arts, and how he sometimes used those skills when raising his stepsons ("I always ask them if they wondered how I could hit them in the face without it hurting - I was trying to teach them something, not hurt them.") He asked me last Monday if we had watched the Summer Slam the night before. And I said, "Isn't that a wrestling match? No, we don't really watch wrestling in our house." I think he only asked me so that he could tell me how important wrestling is in his house. And maybe argue with me about why people hate or don't understand wrestling. The worse thing that happened was when we were going through the week before we lost Molly, and I stupidly told Mr. W. that we were having a rough day at home because our dog was sick. He said, "Growing up in the country we had to learn how to shoot dogs at a young age." And started to tell me some stories on that subject. Luckily Gabriel was already piddling around on the drums so I don't think he heard anything. But the most awful part was that I didn't react to this, the awfulness of it and the total inappropriateness of it, until I was back home telling Jav about it.

I have vowed never to return to Mr. W. at least 4 times.

But the thing is, Gabriel loves his lessons. Mr. W. is a big kid. He makes Gabriel laugh all through the class. He repeats the same corny jokes every week. And Gabriel loves him. And after the music book disappeared, I have to give Mr. W. a little credit for figuring out exactly how to get Gabriel to focus during most of the lesson. Gabriel's reward if all goes well during the first 25 minutes of class is that he gets to jam with Mr. W. while he's playing his guitar for the last five minutes of class. I could try to find another place that gives lessons to a kid his age. I could try to find someonewho's had more experience with getting through to kids. But I wonder if Gabriel would have as much fun as he's having with Mr. W. He keeps wanting to go back for more.

How can anyone compete with a jam session at the end of each lesson?

Big Love, part two

I meant to post this with the last post. I've always loved her voice, and this cover is just beautiful. One of the things I also read about the ending of the show was a quote from Bill Paxton saying the show was never really about Bill, but about his wives. And isn't is only appropriate that this song was reworked by a woman?

Covers

Wednesday songs are Old School Country and Cowboy Songs. I was singing the song below to Joel (the original version) and remembered this really cool version by David Byrne that came out on an album called Red, Hot and Blue. The whole thing is great, with various artists (Thompson Twins, k.d. lang, Annie Lennox) covering Cole Porter songs, and back when it came out all the proceeds went towards AIDS research. This is the best song on the album, though. I love the drum beat!

Modern troubadour with an edge

I've only been a fan of Richard Thompson for about 5 years.  I had heard his classic "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" song on one of the radio stations periodically (probably KERA before they stopped playing music all day).  Then I heard him interviewed on Glenn Mitchell and heard both recorded and live songs in studio.  I thought he was brilliant on the guitar, and found his voice one of those I could listen to all day and never get tired of it.  Jav heard the same interview and thought he was talented too.  I went out and found a Greatest Hits CD.  I was shocked but pleased to hear some rocking songs, some alt country-sounding songs, some cajun, and some pop.  In other words, not just acoustic folk, and I fell in love even more and knew I had to see him live one day.

That day came last Tuesday at the Lakewood Theater in Dallas.  The man strolled out on stage at exactly 8 pm, just holding his guitar.   The only other things on stage were a stool holding a glass of water and I think a towel.  Talk about downsized!  But he proceeded to charm, dazzle, hypnotize at times, and totally entertain us for the next two hours.  It seemed at times like there had to be other instruments up there with him somewhere, but no.  It was just his amazing talent on that guitar.  And that voice!  How does it still sound so perfect after all these years?  It makes me think of sipping on some warmed whiskey with lemon and honey when you've had a sore throat - just so soothing.  I only knew 4 songs out of the 15 or so he sang, but it just didn't matter.  It left me wanting more than just a Greatest Hits CD!  And although I loved hearing the classic 1952 song, my favorite was one someone just shouted out from the audience when he asked for requests - Bees Wing, a song about fond memories and lost love, that just makes you want to cry it's so poignant and full of melancholy.  What a talent for telling a story through song this man has.

Thanks honey for the best Valentine's gift I could have asked for! 

Kid's music - not so bad after all

It took me a long time to decide to get some kid's music for Gabriel in the car.  I thought I'd get by just letting him listen to my music.  But the response from him once It's classic kid's songs rearranged and played by a guy named Jon Herchert and his band.  It took about 3 times through before Gabriel started to clap everytime the first song started.  Now he can sing along with most of the songs it, and it got us through some serious road trip boredom.  

Then I got a Sesame Street Classics CD, with favorites like Rubber Ducky and It's Not Easy Being Green. This one's cool because I listened to some of these songs when I loved Sesame Street as a kid.  But his favorite on this one is Elmo's Song.  He sings along with Elmo and Big Bird as they do their verses, then drops his voice down really low to sing with Snuffy.  It cracks me up every time.  

Then I got my personal favorite (I think from a recommendation from another parent, although I don't remember who), They Might Be Giants, Here Come the 1,2,3's (which according to the website has been nominated for a Grammy - yay!)  I absolutely love almost every song on this CD.  Some of them not even as kid's music, just as great songs.  I liked them ok in the 90's, but now am really curious to hear more from them.  There's also an A,B,C disc that I'm sure we'll get eventually.   I think this one's really for older kids than Gabriel, but he seems to be getting the concept of all the numbers, and REALLY gets into the music.  I've got him playing the drums on his bigger books right along with the songs, and he really knows when to come in and play faster or slower.  I know it helps that I really like the songs and get into them, even though now that he is two he gets angry with me for singing sometimes.  

For Christmas Gabriel got a Laurie Berkner Band CD.  He would see her on Noggin and seemed to really like the songs every time.  And they are also really good, memorable and melodic songs.  He's slowly warming up to this one, but I'm sure he'll grow to love it as much as the others after a few weeks of hearing it.  I find myself humming the few songs we've already checked out all throughout the day. 

So I guess I was completely wrong about my theory.  Kid music rocks! 

Our little musical prodigy

I have to post something a little more uplifting today.  I've already talked about Gabriel and his love for music.  Well, he has been blowing us away the past few weeks as we watch him.  He has a CD player in his room, and for awhile I was switching out some of our more mellow CDs to try out on him to see if they caught on.  But he never really seemed into them so I stopped.  The CD that was left in the player is a homemade one with all sorts of songs that I used to play right before we put him to bed when he was smaller.  

Well, one day recently he decided to start listening to it.  We noticed that after dinner he'd go into his room and turn it on, and listen to each song as long as it was just instruments playing.  As soon as the singer or singers started in he'd fast forward to the next song.  Then he started listening to each song a little longer, but we still didn't notice how intently he was listening.  One day Jav noticed that during a Guess Who song he would step off of his puzzle box (which he stands on to reach the controls on the CD player), and walk over to his diaper pail to play the drums at certain times in the song.  Well, this little drum break happens about 4 times in the song, and each time he walks over to the diaper pail and plays along.  We realized the kid is REALLY listening to these songs, and started paying more attention.

He plays imaginary piano along with with Eagles (the slow chords that open up The Sad Cafe), and Van Morrison (the trilly part that opens Caravan) on top of his bookcase.  He sings the word "Love" with Bonnie Raitt every time she sings it in one of her very early songs, Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind.  We haven't showed him or pointed out to him any of this, he figured it out all on his own.  He picks out these teeny parts of a song, decided he likes it and listens to it over and over.   

He had always strummed on my guitar on its stand in the living room when he walked by, but now he is playing loud and then soft, faster and slower, and singing along with his playing.  Luis on Sesame Street was playing guitar and singing the other day, and he ran over to it and started playing and humming with the TV.  I know I am being an annoying, gushing parent, but I just wonder if many two-year-olds are paying this much attention to music. 

When I told my Mom all of this, and mentioned that maybe we need to get him into a music class, she showed her true Mom wisdom and said he probably wouldn't like that much structure, and we just need to keep surrounding him with music like we've been doing from day one.    So I changed the CD in his room, and am trying to just let him discover this new one like he did the first one.  We also have Jav's parents searching for his sister's toy piano that they have in their attic.  We'll just give it to him for Christmas and see what he comes up with.   I'm sure it will be something that dazzles us!

The yin and yang of musical tastes

I've been really enjoying listening to classical music all of sudden. I go through waves like this on and off, where that's almost all I'll listen to for awhile. I wonder if it's because something's going on that is stressing me out, and this music has a calming effect on me. I especially like listening while we're eating dinner and while I'm doing the dishes afterwards each evening. The program on at that time is Exploring Music, a syndicated show that takes a weekly topic and delves into it really deeply. I've heard some rare pieces from some of my favorite composers, and I've also liked things by composers I never had any interest in before. Last week all shows were devoted to Stravinsky. Listening made me want to go see a ballet. I like the show also because of all the history the host delves into in between the musical selections.

Oh my God I'm getting so old.

To counter this problem, I'm going a totally different direction in the car. I have Jav's Foo Fighters (the new one), that I love so much but it makes me want to drive fast. I have to make sure I exercise self control when Gabriel's in the car. And I also dug up an old cassette tape I haven't listened to in years - Utopia. Todd Rundgren is the only name I know, and I don't think the band lasted very long. But those of you of the same age group as me - remember the hysterically silly video for Feet Don't Fail Me Now, which I think was their only big hit? What a great song. I was singing at the top of my lungs and trying to dance and drive this morning, with Gabriel in the car. He had a genuine look of concern on his face.

I hope he's not really listening to the words

I have become a big fan of Amy Winehouse (her music, not her unfortunate lifestyle choices). The other day I thought it would be fun to play "Rehab" and try to get Gabriel to dance around the living room with me. He has never seemed too interested in dancing, but has decided that spinning in a circle is the funnest thing ever. After he spun on his own for awhile, I picked him up and was spinning around with him, and everytime we got to the "No, no, no" part I would stop and wag my finger back and forth. We had a great time.

It turns out he was paying attention, because everytime I tell him "no" now, he wags his finger back and forth at me, and grins real big.

A couple of music notes

Jav and I are addicted to America's Next Greatest Band on Fox. It's a guilty pleasure, of course, but we've been surprised just how good the bands that have been competing are. Jav's favorite is a really good Eagles-type rock/country band called Sixwire, made up of 40-ish good looking guys (which is not the reason Jav likes them). My original favorite was a band of gangly 20-somethings whose specialty was Beatles-type British pop called Tres Bien. They were eliminated two weeks ago, so I had to choose a new favorite. I am now pulling for The Clark Brothers, three actual brothers who grew up on the road along with their 8 other siblings while their evangelical preacher father moved from revival tent to revival tent. I guess their main label would be bluegrassy gospel, but they play and sing with such fire and such soul that you really can't help but feel something rise up within you when they play. Both bands have made it to the finals, which are next Friday night, along with another really good HUGE big band, with horns and everything, called Denver and the Mile High Orchestra. I really hope they do well after this contest is over, because they seem like such nice guys, and because they played a smokin' version of September by Earth Wind and Fire last night, which just happens to be Jav's and my song. But my money and my heart go with The Clark Brothers.

Another show I've been DVR-ing is Crossroads on Country Music Television. This is a show where two artists, usually from different genres and always fans of each others' music pair up for an hour of talking and performing. It's always a good show, but last night we finally watched the best one we've seen yet - Bonnie Raitt and Lyle Lovett. It was true magic. The stories behind their songs were very poignant. Lyle Lovett seems like such a nice guy, and there's something so real about his music and his voice. And Bonnie Raitt's voice just gets more syrupy and perfect with age. Her guitar playing isn't too shabby either. I'll always regret that I missed her show at Bass Hall, but maybe someday she'll come back. I hope to be there if she does.

Songs

Gabriel has become accustomed to my singing, and especially to me singing certain songs. It's weird how fast certain songs fell into my repertoire and never left. Some songs have alot of historical value to me, and some just sort of happened.

I sing to him when he wakes up (Good Morning from Singin' in the Rain, Oh What A Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma, Zip A Dee Doo Dah, or It's A Jolly Holiday from Mary Poppins).

I sing to him before naps (I'm Only Sleeping by the Beatles, On the Good Ship Lollipop (which I remember my grandparents singing to me every time I spent the night at their house), The Candy Man, and Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head while it was raining every day) For some reason, nap songs have to have some bounce to them. He goes right to sleep with a little bounce.

I sing to him in the car - whatever is in the CD player or comes up on the IPOD.

I sing to him at night, if Jav doesn't get him right to sleep (humming my favorite Nocturne by Chopin that makes a great lullaby, Stay Awake from Mary Poppins, Walking After Midnight by Patsy Cline, and Till There Was You by the Beatles, and an old lullaby my Mom used to sing to my brother and me, All Through The Night)

When he was three months old, it was just before Christmas, so I would sing every Christmas carol I know to him. My favorites were Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (LOVE that song) and Everybody's Waitin' For The Man With The Bag (very good and bouncy for naps). I can't believe it's almost time to sing those again.

Because I sing the same songs at the same time every day, it puts him in "the zone" to sleep. Lately I've tried to throw some new ones in (Sweet Baby James by James Taylor and a couple of others) and they don't put him in the zone. Maybe I need to add them in heavier rotation until they catch on. I wonder if he will remember any of these, or if he hears one later on in life, I wonder if something about it will make him nostalgic without really knowing why.

I guess the only reason for this posting is so that I will remember. Since Jav took over giving Gabriel his last bottle and putting him to bed about 3 months ago, I had already forgotten about the Chopin lullaby until I listened to my Chopin CD the other day and started bawling. Things change mighty fast these days.

Songs that transport me

The reason I started thinking about this has to do with my previous post about quitting my job. I was about to leave the house to drive to work and do this very profound thing, and I wanted to listen to some music so I wouldn't be so nervous. For some reason, I remembered what CD I was listening to the day I had my interview 10 years ago (Eric Johnson - Venus Isle), so I thought it would be fitting to listen to the same thing as I drove over to end my time there. It really had an effect on me to realize how much my life has changed in the past 10 years. But I also realized that music is my catalyst for memories. Some people remember what they were wearing at key moments in their lives; I remember what was on the radio.

I think I drive people crazy when we go to restaurants because I can't tune out the piped in mix of music in the background. I always stop in the middle of someone's conversation and say, "good song!" I actually wondered at one point if there was some type of career in making mixes for different restaurants to set the mood. I think I would be REALLY good at this, but I have yet to find out how to get into this very small niche.

I guess I just think music is very important, and can trigger so many different emotional responses. When I have been going through very tough times, I have a tendency to stop listening to music because it makes me very emotional. I remember when our dog Spencer finally succumbed to cancer, there was a Phil Collins song from the Disney Tarzan movie that was playing alot, and I couldn't listen to that song without thinking about Spencer and tearing up. In fact, I still can't.

When I discovered the Buena Vista Social Club outstanding CD of traditional Cuban music, I remember listening to it all the way through for the first time with my Mom driving down to Fredericksburg. We both realized how much my grandfather would have loved the music. Now I can't listen to it without thinking of him and imagining him humming along, or without thinking about that trip with my Mom and how much fun we always have on our road trips.

I won't ever be able to listen to a Carole King song again without thinking of Mom's surprise (sort of) birthday trip and seeing her live. Every time I listen to my Bread CD I think of my Dad, the smell of coffee and lazy Sunday mornings.

When I hear old-school country, especially Buck Owens, I think of Saturday nights at Nana and Papa's house. He would let me ride on his shins like a horse while he watched Hee Haw and Porter Waggoner.

And now, when I dance around the room with Gabriel (something I've discovered puts him to sleep faster and better than any other tactic), I realize I'm combining old memories of much beloved songs with making brand new ones. And even though none of his great grandparents ever got to hold him, they're smiling at the part they're getting to play in his life.

Silence! The Great and Powerful Oz has Conducted!

Is it just me or does Arturo Toscanini look like the Wizard of Oz on the the cover of this CD? I found this reissue of 1950 recordings of Toscanini leading the NBC orchestra after attending the Fort Worth Symphony's production of Brahms Symphony Number 4. I think what we have here is a clear case of someone who thought they were a might bit more important than they actually were.

Great movie, great music

While doing some last minute shopping at Target on Christmas Eve, I suddenly found the soundtrack from Garden State in my buggy. That Santa - he really knows his stuff. I had wanted that CD for months! The entire CD is very cool, very mellow songs. Perfect for driving, or for background music if a few friends are over for dinner. If you haven't seen the movie yet, you need to. My favorite scene is the party scene - which happens to correspond with my favorite song on the CD (In the Waiting Line by Zero 7). I'm not sure if the song makes the scene great or vice versa, but it really doesn't matter. Hollywood needs more of what Zach Braff has to offer.

Favorite Christmas Music

Because of the fact that we all start hearing Christmas music just after Halloween the last couple of years, I have a tendency to shy away from anything even resembling a Fa La La La La until the week before Christmas. Then I listen to my favorites non-stop for a week. It's just so much more special to only hear it for that one week. I hate the fact that I'm burned out on hearing Bing Crosby's White Christmas, but I am. So here's my list of favorite CD's/tapes that provide hours of enjoyment while last-minute errand-running, wrapping, cooking, or passing out on the couch from holiday exhaustion.

The Brothers Four Christmas Album
Ok-yes it's folk music and very A Mighty Wind-ish, but I grew up hearing this record every Christmas at my grandparents. When I found it online a few years ago, I snatched it up and now listen with nostalgic enjoyment. It takes me back to being a little kid - my brother and I pinching packages under the tree, the smell of our traditional German Christmas dinner of potatoes and chopped bacon wafting through their house, my grandmother panicking because she forgot to put tags on about half the gifts. I still have their Christmas tree with the homemade ornaments my grandfather made - which completes my sensory journey back in time. It makes me remember how blessed I was growing up, and how blessed I still am today.

Alternative Rock Christmas Compilation
This was a CD put together by my friend Brian. He gave it to me about 5 Christmases ago, and it's become one I can't live without. Many gems on here, including the Hoodoo Gurus surfer-music version of Little Drummer Boy and Happy Christmas (War is Over) by the Alarm . But my favorite is The First Noel by Crash Test Dummies, which I think is one of the most beautiful arrangements of a Christmas carol that I have heard. I don't see Brian much anymore, but I very much appreciate this gift he gave me years ago, and wish him well every time I listen.

A Charlie Brown Christmas - The Vince Guaradi Trio
I originally bought this one for the nostalgic factor, but the mellow jazz that accompanies the best cartoon special of the Christmas season just can't be beat. I've played it in the background at my own home and at work Christmas parties, and someone always comments on how cool it is.

There's a tie for my favorite:
-IT'S CHRISTMAS MAN! - BRAVE COMBO
-CHRISTMAS AT CARNEGIE HALL FEATURING KATHLEEN BATTLE, FREDERICA VON STADE and THE WYNTON MARSALIS SEPTET
There probably couldn't be two more varied Christmas albums on the planet than these two.

The first is from our treasured local (Denton) nuclear-polka band. They also dabble in Ska, Salsa, Blues, Cha-Cha-Cha, and anything else you can think of. And they do it all very well. They offer Little Drummer Boy in Ska (very cool), It's Santa's Polka - their original composition (very fun), and even a version of Ave Maria (very beautiful). I have this as a bootleg tape, and every Christmas I tell myself I need to order the CD. It's so different from ANYTHING you'll hear on the radio or in the malls. It always brings a smile to my face.

The Carnegie Hall recording was from a KERA special that aired on Christmas Eve about 10 years ago. This one is so personal for me. Not only was it the first time I remember hearing jazz and liking it, but it actually had alot to do with deciding that I was absolutely miserable at that time of my life and needed to make some drastic changes. I was spending another Christmas trying to be cheery, stuck in a marriage with someone who just wanted to drink his way through the holidays and who didn't like to be around family. As I watched this visually beautiful special around midnight, with The American Boychoir, full orchestra and adult chorus, I started to want something more out of my life - something with more joy and less misery. The music lifted me up to heights I had forgotten existed in life. My two favorite songs are the septet performing We Three Kings, and the two featured sopranos performing Gesu Bambino. It still lifts me up, and proves that music can be a very powerful force in your life.

Every year I try to purchase a new holiday music CD. This year it was music from The Nutcracker. I encourage everyone to break out of the Jingle Bell Rock rut and find something that warms your heart and brightens your outlook this Christmas season.