Hark, the herald angels 'n' stuff

Here's a repost from 12/23/06, with some additions:

Here's some pre-Christmas music goodness from The Roches. In case anyone wasn't sure, Handel rocks:




Here's more Christmas goodies from the girls:




And the 2 best alternative Christmas albums ever? In my authoritative opinion:

The Roches: We Three Kings

Barenaked Ladies: Barenaked for the Holidays

Here's a sample of the Ladies' men:



Of course, YMMV. But I'm right, I'm just saying...

Do you hear what I hear?

I've had an ambivalent relationship with Christianity all my life. These days, I think it's a lovely idea which has been perverted to cause much anguish and hurt over the centuries. And the same can be said about most religions, frankly. With the possible exception of Buddhism.

That said, I have a great relationship with Christmas music, having loved & collected it all my life. I have no trouble singing "Christ the Saviour is born..." while not being sure that is actually what took place. The music, along with the ideas it represents, are wonderful.

I've praised these women for years, and I'm not going to stop now. The Roches, 3 sisters with serious vocal skills, did a Christmas album in 1990 that I still love, "We Three Kings". Comprising both traditional songs as well as a few lovely originals, it combines the best of the Christmas spirit with their populist folky vocal stylings. While not classically trained, the sisters represent to me the way singing must have been during the middle ages & the Renaissance, technically skillful yet not overly mannered.

Here they are live, singing a medley of several of their versions of traditional Christmas carold:



And if you have any doubts about their vocal skills, listen to them rock Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" live in '82:



Point is, you don't have to believe the mythology to love the music and the spirit of Christmas.

Joy to the world

With all the awfulness we have to face, who do I continue to blog about music? Well, if music doesn't make you feel better, you're probably beyond help.

The Roche sisters are an American treasure. Naive singers, yet gifted with a sense of pitch and vocal arrangement that simply cannot be taught, they make music that clears the mind, relieves the senses.

Their Christmas Album, recorded in 1990, is my absolute fav Christmas music. All the usual favorites, plus a couple of lovely originals, it makes my heart beat happily to hear such joyous interpretations of classic Christmas songs.

Here's a medley of the Roche's Christmas songs: