Here's one of my favorite Sufjan Christmas originals from his collection of Christmas albums. It starts out low-key but builds up to full holiday cheer. Christmas has me thinking about Kansas City and The Plaza lights. I'm not sure who painted the picture above, but it looks similar to a picture I have hanging on my wall here in Austin.
Santa was kind to my library this year. With so many new things to read, I had better finish Friday Night Lights soon. By the way, though you may have seen the movie or watch the television show, Friday Night Lights the book is worth your time. I think a book report is in order.
Each Christmas, instead of purchasing individual gifts, I take my family out to a fancy dinner on the Plaza in Kansas City. The tradition began nine years ago, during my freshman year of college, and has become one of my family's favorite evenings during the Christmas season. We are a family of six, and, while we have been blessed financially with more than enough to make for a good life, we rarely go out for fancy dinners; the tab has a tendency to quickly escalate with six mouths to feed. Beyond that, as we have grown older, family dinners with all six of us around the table are less frequent. Thus, dinners like these Christmas dinners are a rare gem each year. Yet, beyond the infrequency that makes these dinners special, I've found that, unlike most Christmas gifts, we actually remember them a year later. More than a steak or some potatoes, I'm able to give my family (and myself) a memory that endures throughout the years. Books are read and shelved; clothes go out of style; electronics break; gift cards are spent and discarded; but I can recall with pride the times we ate at Starker's, The Classic Cup, and Fogo de Chau. In a season where the fool's gold of materialism shines more brightly every year, it is not the things bought but the memories made with loved ones that truly satisfy.
Atlas Sound is Bradford Cox, the lead singer of the band Deerhunter. This is a Christmas song, kind of. It's more an Atlas Sound song that touches lyrically on Christmas. But I enjoy it. There is quite a bit of free music from both Atlas Sound and Deerhunter up on Bradford's blog, including four albums worth of demos. Merry Christmas.
My blogging has been noticeably absent in the past two weeks. I'm taking the LSAT on Saturday and most of my free time has been spent prepping. Tonight I took my 20th (yikes!!!) practice test. Needless to say, I haven't taken much time to blog. But I heard this Christmas album today and really enjoyed it. I think you will too - especially if you like Sufjan Stevens or Sondre Lerche. You can even download it for free at their bandcamp page. I especially like their rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".
Thanksgiving is great, but Christmas-time is where it's at! Many things make the season special for me: Christmas lights, traditions, taking my family out to a fancy dinner every year, celebrating Jesus, and Christmas movies (Home Alone!!!) to name a few. Yet, I think Christmas music is the thing I enjoy most about the season (other than Jesus). I'll be dropping a number of my favorite tunes here on the blog in the days to come. Here are a few different takes on "Last Christmas", including the original classic by Wham!.
I had a great time strolling through NorthPark Mall today. One highlight, besides hanging with my friend Cassie, was hearing the Badly Drawn Boy tune "Donna & Blitzen" for the first time. It's a fun indie holiday tune. Listen/download the track below.
12 Angry Men (1957). A classic example of what can happen when one person stands up for what is right. Not to mention an excellent study in personalities. One of my favorite classic films.
I heard the Celine Dion version of John Lennon's "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)" tonight on the radio. It reminded me of what a great song that is. I can't say that I track with everything that Lennon stood for, but I do believe that at the core of the Christmas season is the message of peace, that found in Jesus. So in that sense, war really is over. You can download Lennon's version of the song below.
Red River (1948). One of my favorite Western films. You can't beat a cattle drive from the plains of Texas to the fertile ground of Abilene, Kansas. Throw in a little father/step-son drama and it makes for one of the great films in the Western genre.
Island House, Vinalhaven, Maine, August 2009 © Allison V. Smith
What The Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell, a collection of pieces Gladwell wrote for The New Yorker. I'm also asking for a year-long subscription to The New Yorker. I put Gladwell and Chuck Klosterman on the top of my list of favorite modern non-fiction authors.
The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy by Bill Simmons. Read an excerpt in which Simmons discusses his theory for why Patrick Ewing is the 39th greatest NBA player ever.
It's Christmas time. Here for your listening/downloading pleasure are a few indie-types playing holiday songs both classic and original.
