A Christmas Yuleblog

With eight days left before Christmas, I wanted to spend today looking at several new Christmas albums on the shelves this season - perhaps a last minute gift guide for those who love Christmas music. This is the second review today and it's from the good people at Double Crown Records . From the end of my " Seasonal Favorites V2 " review last month: "Double Crown doesn't have a "Seasonal Favorites V3" for this Christmas (think 2009). However, a band on their label named King of Hawaii released a Christmas EP just in time for 2008. At $6, this might be the bargain of the season." Recorded at the House of Rock in October, 2006, this EP has five tracks which allows me to do... TRACK REVIEWS: 1.) Greensleeves Hawaiian surf flavored version of this traditional Christmas carol. Where's my sunblock? 2.) Feliz Navidad Surf guitarish with Latin flavor throughout... not bad from a group called "King of Hawaii"! 3.) Dance ...

All this week, I've been writing reviews for CDs that were sent to me at the P.O. Box. This one was sent last Christmas and I'm just finding time to write it up now. This is a crime because the good folks at Double Crown Records were kind enough to send me a copy of " Seasonal Favorites V1 " which I reviewed in January, 2007. What hurts even more is that both volumes are of choice (and I mean CHOICE) surf and garage Christmas tunes. I'm a sucker for surf guitar. Add Christmas and I could spontaneously combust. I have no explanation other than a brain tumor that made me pass on this CD for review. Time to make amends. TRACK REVIEWS: 1.) Pollo Del Mar - Carol Of The Bells The first half of this song is light rock then finishes fast with surf guitar... smooth intro into the CD. 2.) The Pete Curry Orchestra - Drums For Christmas Curry is the bassist for Los Straitjackets and his orchestra is just him playing all the instruments - virtuoso stuf...

This was the third Christmas CD sent to our P.O. Box by someone in the music industry. Sean of Double Crown Records contacted us here at the yuleblog on November 3rd in a comment page: "My label, Double Crown Records, has just reissued a Christmas CD that I put out 6 years ago. Do you ever do CD reviews? If so, I'd love to send a copy to you." He left a long description of the album and where to buy it at which I felt was using my site to help sell his album. I removed the comment from the yuleblog, e-mailed my reasons for doing so stating "that I would give a fair, objective review" upon receiving the CD. Sean agreed and sent the CD to us... It arrived and I promptly reviewed it at FaLaLaLaLa last year: "Back in 2000, Double Crown Records released this CD that featured sixteen Christmas songs done by various surf n’ garage bands. The CD proved so popular that it sold out its entire first pressing. Six years later, it’s back! The folks at Doub...