Holiday-themed compilations aren’t usually my thing, but add new original songs, covers, and unreleased recordings by the likes of Rachael Yamagata, Tegan and Sara, Regina Spektor, Everest, Devo, and the Flaming lips, not to mention a rare holiday track with Neil Young on vocals, to the lineup, and you’ve got my attention. Later this month, Gift Wrapped II: Snowed In, a 21-track LP featuring cuts by the aforementioned names and more, will hit online music outlets.
The album includes originals by Spektor (“December”), Yamagata (“Baby Come Find Me At Christmas”), Devo (“Merry Something To You”), covers by Everest (Marvin Gaye’s “Christmas in the City”), Tegan and Sara (“The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”), the Flaming Lips (“Little Drummer Boy”), and — most notably to me — the standard tune “Les Trois Cloches” (aka “Three Bells”) performed by the late Ben Keith with Neil and Pegi Young on vocals. Hear snippets of the songs over on iTunes now and check out the full tracklist below (alongside the Tegan and Sara recording that just popped up on YouTube):
Gift Wrapped II: Snowed In
01. Cavo – “Home For Christmas”
02. Ben Keith (feat. Neil Young and Pegi Young) – “Les Trois Cloches”
03. Oasis – “Merry Christmas Everybody”
04. American Bang – “Christmas Song”
05. Jason Reeves and Kara DioGuardi – “New York In Wintertime”
06. Tegan And Sara – “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”
07. Regina Spektor – “December”
08. Devo – “Merry Something To You”
09. David Foster – “Carol Of The Bells” (instrumental)
10. The Ready Set – “Wonderful Christmastime”
11. Foxy Shazam – “Heaven On Their Minds”
12. The Goo Goo Dolls – “Better Days” (acoustic)
13. Rachael Yamagata – “Baby Come Find Me At Christmas”
14. Everest – “Christmas In The City”
15. The Dirt Drifters – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
16. The Spill Canvas – “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”
17. Stardeath And The White Dwarfs – “Last Christmas”
18. House Of Heroes – “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
19. The Flaming Lips – “Little Drummer Boy” (live)
20. Franklin – “Hanukkah, Oh Channukah” (bonus track)
21. The Red Elephant – “Brooklyn Sleigh Ride” (bonus track)