X-ma-ass Music: 2021 Edition

Sounds Good!

Dec 23, 2021

Hi, and merry Xmas – happy Christmas eve! For nearly 10 years I wrote a daily blog for the Stuff website – about music. And so every Christmas I had to come up with some twist on the Christmas Music Topic. Least favourite, most favourite, underrated, overrated and bet you haven’t heard this…

It was a chore. A bore, and my heart was almost never in it.

So, when I started this Substack newsletter I knew I was off the hook with such things – besides I’m writing about more than music. But here I am, and Christmas Eve falls on the designated ‘music’ day. But I’m not going to bore you with big, long lists and such. I’ve always thought that the best Christmas music is whatever you feel like listening to on the day or in the build-up. If you like Christmas tunes then great, if you don’t – play something else. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll be with the ones you love – or some of them at least. And a bigger concern this year might be anti-vax sentiment dividing families, or inertia from previous travel restrictions and lockdowns.

My thoughts to all and a happiest Christmas. If you’re like me, and – well we all know that none of us want that, neither you nor me – you’ll just be hopeful for and happy about a break.

It’s been a big year for me. Not working, then working. Starting this here newsletter. Lots of things have happened in my life.

I’ve made big decisions around scaling down my record collection, and as a result I’m definitely listening to music differently. I still wrestle with my own screen-time and threaten to break up with the internet but know that I’m doomed there – but anyway, it’s been a pretty good year for me personally, all things considered – a lot of challenges and I’ve worried a lot for other that have had far tougher times. I’ve thought a lot about Auckland – given, like everyone else in this small country, I have friends and family that live there.

But we are very nearly at the end of 2021 – and fingers are crossed for next year.

I will continue to send out newsletters – but I won’t be working as much across summer. There will be posts on Off The Tracks, both the website and the Facebook page. But not as often as during the non-holiday time. And I won’t be doing podcasts – but I’m hoping to offer one up in mid-late January and to get going again from there with that project.

Now, to Christmas music.

My all-time favourite Christmas song is Paul Kelly’s How To Make Gravy.

My favourite Christmas album is A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector.

And Bob Dylan’s Christmas in The Heart – which I wrote about here. I sincerely love that record. I bought a new CD copy of it recently since it’s very hard to find on vinyl. And I think I’ve missed my window there.

I made you all a Christmas playlist to play tonight or tomorrow.

I hope you like it. It features about 50 songs and is a merciful 2-3 hour listen. You can shuffle it, repeat it or just re-gift it.

I also include here the playlist we made for roadtrippin’. We hit play on this and didn’t skip a thing. And you might find that to be the case too. (This is not Christmas music by the way).

And then of course – because I just said that Christmas music is whatever you want it to be – the regular A Little Something For The Weekend playlist is still regular, not a bonus Christmas edition, no tricks like that. Just 20 songs, randomly chosen in the hope they hang together.

Some music for you and yours as and while you hang together.

My very best to you – thanks for your subscription support, your reader support, your interest. Your commitment to Sounds Good!

Have a safe and happy holiday season. And by all means share your favourite Christmas playlists – Christmas music or non-Xmas – below. Then people can get a few extra options.