I love Wonderful Christmas Time and Happy Xmas (War Is Over), they're part of my Christmas season.

My favorite Christmas single this year though is I Wish It Was Christmas Today by Julian Casablancas.  It's a cover of the SNL track, and is just a great, poppy Christmas tune.  I was lucky to grab a copy of the UK 7" recently, so it will become a mainstay in my Christmas' to come.  His performance of it, along with the writers, last night on Late Night w/Jimmy Falon was pretty cool too.

Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Was Christmas Today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wS-k66MKgs

Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Was Christmas Today (Live on Late Night)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADqW68r44JU

I bet that was a great show, Paul seems have really kept his voice in great shape.  I need to check out that live album.

I've been listening to Wild Beasts latest album, Two Dancers lately, it's really a beautiful album.  Anyone who appreciates great vocals should give them a listen.  I'm thinking of seeing them in MI next Feb, four hour drive but worth it I think. 

I've been listening to The Drums lately, pretty good, not great, but pretty good.  I think given a couple more years they'll be a great band, possibly.  Certainly something to watch anyway.  I Felt Stupid is going to stay stuck in my head for awhile too, I think. 

Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young.  I expected worse when I got it, but I really enjoy Out Of The Blue, Left & Right In The Dark, 11th Dimension, and Glass.  The rest is a miss really, too busy.

Maybe you guys could use this thread to gauge interest in a Beatles/PM board, add a poll or something, and someone could be up to making a new board.  As it is now, I don't think I've seen a good Beatles/Beatles related board ever, which is pretty ironic.  I suppose some things are so good people don't feel the need to talk about it much?

No, but what a legend.

I think it's nice when Bob Dylan surprises us, and a small Christmas tour would be nice I think.  Yeah, it might be uncharacteristic of him, but he did release a Christmas album.  Now if only he would play some of it for us. 

Will this actually happen though?  I mean, really?  Brian seems content in what he's doing and doesn't seem too interested in revisiting his Beach Boys past.

It will happen - there's little else left to exploit release.

What about Dennis' material?  I'm sure they can still make some $$ off that.  I hope they don't actually exploit the material and Wilson's though (and remaining BB members of course).  I mean, is releasing it exploitation, or what?  I like to think that by being faithful to the material and Brian's wishes would not be exploitation.  I suppose Brian wants nothing to do with it so it is exploitation.  I'm confusing myself now.  Anyway, I suppose it's good that it will be released, but will it really be what people want/expect?  I fear the backlash.

Will this actually happen though?  I mean, really?  Brian seems content in what he's doing and doesn't seem too interested in revisiting his Beach Boys past.

I really love his new Christmas album, but I can see why people wouldn't like it.  I'm not really a big Dylan fan either, but I think he sounds pretty good on this release.  In fact, if I had to own a modern day Dylan record it would be this one.  Does anyone know if vinyl copies of this will be on sale at his current shows?  I'd rather pick up a copy for a bit cheaper and not worry about the post if I can.  Too bad he's not doing a Christmas tour really, I'd love to hear these songs live.

I'm not sure how well this works, but this is my best of 2009 comp. so far.  A few songs will likely be dropped when some better stuff turns up, but I still like all of these songs for various reasons.  I kept it down to a one track per artist minimum so I think it's pretty diverse.  I tried to make it random, but it goes in order of track name.  

1. Out Of The Blue - Julian Casablancas
2. Hymn - Brett Anderson
3. Vanity Kills - Ian Brown
4. Think I Need It Too - Echo & The Bunnymen
5. The Strangers - St. Vincent
6. Paper Scissors Stone - Portico Quartet
7. Shape Shifter - Systems Officer
8. Julie & The Moth Man - Kasabian
9. Riot On An Empty Street - Kings Of Convenience
10. Poisonous Intent - Bad Lieutenant
11. Papillon - Editors
12. One More Chance - Bloc Party
13. My Propellor - Arctic Monkeys
14. Mirror's Image - The Horrors
15. Look Into The Light - Graham Coxon
16. Kingdom Of Rust - Doves
17. Games For Days - Julian Plenti
18. Broken Love Song - Peter Doherty

Whenever I listen to the songs Bruce wrote for Sunflower/Surf's Up I really don't think they are as schmaltzy as the other soft hits of that period.  Later, Bruce became extremely schmaltzy, but I always felt those early 70s songs had beautiful melodies and artistic depth alongside the sweetness.  I can't explain the connection I feel from those songs Bruce wrote.  Disney Girls has to be the one of the most beautiful songs, it gets me every time.  Maybe you have to have felt some sort of regret or nostalgia in your life and have accepted that before you can appreciate some of Bruce's work.  I think I'm just a strange Beach Boys fan (that's new) among strange Beach Boys fans.  I even like Student Demonstration Time, I think it has a GREAT backing track and vocal from Mike.  Regardless, I don't think Sunflower can really be changed.  I've always felt songs like San Miguel, Celebrate The News, and Loop de Loop (to name a few) were all weaker than what was released on Sunflower.  The only song I've really wished had been record properly and released is I'm Going Your Way (as long as they changed the guitar solo..). 

Bruce may not be the most artistic Beach Boy to ever grace us, but his songs on Sunflower and Surf's Up are beautiful.  I don't understand how some people talk so highly about albums like Today and Pet sounds, which have happy and sad themes but can't accept the sad themes (by Bruce) on Sunflower.  I would go far enough to say that's Bruce's songs on Sunflower are hopeful and optimistic, and show the power of pain and growing from it.  I can understand people having different tastes musically; I'll admit there isn't much about Bruce's music output that I like post-1971, but I think he was perfectly insynch with the Beach Boys at that time.  To answer your original question, I'm not sure how to re-sequence Sunflower without Bruce's songs, but you could always add songs like Lady Love and/or Soulful Ol' Man Sunshine.  You lose that emotional balance I spoke of, but for me those are two of the strongest songs from around that time.  

Now if only 12 Bar Blues had John Lennon lyrics/vocals... hmm.

I'm pretty sure Michael Jackson owned the rights to most of The Beatles catalog and he was responsible for their use in commercials...

Besides, what Ringo did had nothing to do with The Beatles.  Ringo hasn't exactly had much solo success in the last twenty years, so any marketing is good marketing for him and I say go Ringo.

Does this mean that maybe a wave of "new" releases are in our future? 

Every time I've tried to get into this album I've failed, it's probably my least favorite pre-1990s BB's album.  Am I wrong?  I agree that some Dennis' songs would have made it better, but not by much.  The BB had a lot of talent, but for a long time I've felt that they should have become a vehicle for Dennis Wilson after Sunflower like they were for Brian for most of the 60s. 

Also, I would have thought that a collaboration between Carl Wilson and Randy Bachman would have been produced better material, but they were getting old by then in popular music terms.  Goin' On sounds like a good tune, but one tune does not make an album worthwhile.

Thanks I appreciate it!  I used to live about 4 hours from Norfolk, Virginia but now I live in Ohio so this song is actually really touching.  Thanks again Rocker. 

I like it, thanks for sharing! 

Well, isn't it always the case that our favorite tracks are rarely played live?  I think that's curse of being a hardcore fan.  Maybe someone could make a list of Sunflower tracks played live so that people know, or maybe what gigs have recordings from that era.

Accidental, sorry about that!  Incidentally, I do love comics and Lex Luthor, but I wouldn't call you Luthor over Luther!  Haha. 

Ah, good point, thanks Luther.  You guys are very informative here.  It would be easier for me to just wait for them to tour again closer to me or something like that.  This fall seems to be full of good shows and it's like "I don't have money for that, can't some of your tour in the winter too?!", you know?  I am looking forward to Julian Casablancas solo album though, I hope it's better than the last Strokes album.

Interesting, I'd definitely like to see them now if I got the chance.  It sounds like they put on a really great show.  I know it doesn't sound like it, but I'm pretty selective with who I see live.  Poor college student, etc, etc, so I don't have a lot of time or money.  I could probably catch them in Pittsburgh in a couple weeks though, hmm.

I haven't listened to them much, but now that you mention they're new one does sound good.  Thanks again Luther, I'll check them out.  Maybe I should try to catch them live sometime too.

Oh yes, good point.  I've only met Keith from We Are Scientists back in 2006 and that was cool.  I've never been starstruck, I just like chatting, asking about equipment, records- just silly things like that.  I suppose I could add We Are Scientists to that list, but they only really made one decent album.