Auld Lang Syne - as performed by Joel Rakes

'tis the time of year.
Joel Rakes bases himself out of Nashville, TN.  Originally from Delaware, then Philadelphia before Nashville, he's been writing, recording, & producing music for himself & for others.  Drawing influences from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Jon Foreman, & Derek Webb, he has thus far released 2 EP's, starting with "A Sudden Change in the Atmosphere"[ind.] in 2008, followed by "The Philadelphia Session"[ind.] two years later.  Alongside those, he's also released a handful of Christmas songs & compilations.
The song itself comes from a Scots poem, the first version written in 1788 by Robert Burns.  One of the first major versions that popularized the song in North America was of course Guy Lombardo's late 1920's version.
Rakes has released two versions of Auld Lang Syne for free (if you wish) for this New Years - the first aptly titled "Auld Lang Syne (Happy)" & the second - you guessed it - "Auld Lang Syne (Sad)".  Enjoy   :)
http://christmas.joelrakes.com/album/auld-lang-syne

(Happy new year!)

I Robot - by the Alan Parsons Project

From the band that brought you what came to be the Chicago Bulls' entrance music... (that is, "Sirius", from the album "Eye In the Sky"[Arista; 1982]
The Alan Parsons Project* was from the UK & consisted of engineer/producer/keyboardist Alan Parsons (b.1948) & writer/vocalist/producer/pianist Eric Woolfson (b.1945).  The two of them met in 1974 at Abbey Road Studios where Parsons already got experience in the music field working on such albums as The Beatle's "Let It Be"[EMI; 1970] & Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"[Harvest; 1973].
In 1975, after Woolfson approached 20th Century Records (whom Universal now owns the rights of) & they accepted his proposal to follow through with this 'Alan Parsons Project'**.  The pair of them subsequently released 10 studio albums into the late 80's with the help of a number of studio musicians & additional singers.  Parsons is still currently doing live shows, however, & sadly, Eric Woolfson passed away just two years ago, in December 2009, from cancer.  This song is from their sophomore album "I Robot" released in 1977 on Arista.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td56XAHxLpw

* - this links to the official fan website
If you wish to read a bit more concerning the name of the Alan Parsons Project & its importance, go here:
** - http://www.the-alan-parsons-project.com/whyapp.php

Falling In Love With Glaciers - by Listener

Been meaning to post this one for a while, so here it is.
Listener is based out of Atlanta, GA.  Dan Smith (from Deepspace 5) heads the project with Chris Nelson. They've been touring since 2002 (starting with more of a hip hop sound), & they've had 8 releases, starting with "Whipsermoon", released July 29th, 2003 on Mush Records.  The mentioned touring has been all around the world, including dates in Japan, England, Norway, & Canada, among the few; & appearing alongside the likes of mewithoutYou, The Myriad, Cool Hand Luke, Astronautalis, & more.  This song is from "Wooden Heart".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI7brs4yfJo

Also: you can download their "Wooden Heart Poems" album for FREE here, from their BandCamp page:
http://listener.bandcamp.com/album/wooden-heart-poems

Jesus Gave Us Christmas - by Emery

Another one of my absolute favourite Christmas songs.
& I guess, just as some FYI: Emery is based out of Seattle, WA.  They formed in 2001 in Rock Hill, SC before being signed to Tooth & Nail Records.  Most recently, they were officially 'moved' to T&N's 'daughter' company Solid State Records where they released their latest studio album "We Do What We Want" on March 29th, 2011.  This song was released on T&N's "Happy Christmas Vol. 5" compilation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuiTQPEO5ys

& at that:
Have a merry Christmas.

Beneath the Snow - by The Gentlemen with Philippa Hanna

The countdown's almost over (that is, if you're counting down until Christmas).
The Gentlemen are from Sheffield, England.  The band is made up of guitarist Sean Walsh, brothers Joel & Josh Cana who do drums & bass, respectively, & the "enigmatic wizard-like lead singer"* Nicholas Noble.  They've released 2 studio albums - "Smile Back At Me"[Authentic; 2007] & "A Candid History of Faith, Hope, Love"[The Stereo Tree; 2009] - since their inception about half a decade ago.  Most recently, they released this Christmas single [for FREE, too - link below...] earlier this month.
Philippa Hanna is also from Sheffield, England.  She changed some of her direction in 2005 & she started to appear on the bigger scene with her 2007 LP "Watching Me" when she was 23 years old.  She has also performed alongside the likes of Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Delirious?, & YFriday.  More plans her are also on the horizon for 2012.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlK94mBPZO4
(& here's the... erm... 'cute'... preview that came before the official release...  :P
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lUJuZ3-JkY

& as they have on the YouTube video, you can download the single for FREE from here:
http://www.4shared.com/audio/-xsbfTsc/Beneath_the_Snow_Mix_2.html

* - http://www.yourmusiczone.com/artists.php?area=details&code_artist=GENTLEMENT

His Favorite Christmas Story - by Capital Lights

One of my favourite Christmas story songs...
Capital Lights is based out of Tulsa, OK.  They started initially as a screamo band called afterEIGHT, but after a couple people left, bassist/vocalist Bryson Phillips rewrote some material & they became Capital Lights.  They signed with Tooth & Nail Records in 2007 & released their debut LP "This is an Outrage!" on July 8th, 2008.  As fate would have it, however, they broke up, announcing this in August 2009.  But don't be disappointed - they announced late last year that they plan to record a new album!  A couple of things have changed in their personal lives since, as guitarist Brett Admire got married & guitarist Jonathan Williams got engaged (& if either of you see this: Congrats to both of you!).  As such, they tweeted a tweet on Twitter just 2 days ago, stating: "Just got some mixes back for the new record!! Can't wait for you guys to hear them".  It's still going to be released on T&N, however, I do not believe they have released an official date.  This song was released in 2008 with T&N's Christmas compilation "X Christmas".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNgSMCaje4c
& here's a cool music video that someone did for their senior thesis at university:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU6Dtb5tcoI

11th & final...

Hey, The Gentlemen have posted their 11th & final mashup for 2011 - check it out! (features a number of... ummm... 'guests' from their previous videos, too!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVY-GwM4R18

Happy Christmas (War is Over) - as performed by Stacey Randol & Katelyn Epperly

Another single/version released only today.  Enjoy  :)
Stacey Randol is based out of Nashville, TN.  She attended Millikin University in Illinois where she studied songwriting, & public relations with a minor in business.  Afterwards, she found herself traveling the world before settling in Nashville; she released her debut album "Steady Rhythm" [ind.] on July 15th of this year.
Katelyn Epperly - the other half of this version - is also based out of Nashville, TN.  Her first major appearance on the music scene was in 2010, on the 9th season of American Idol, where she almost made it to finals.  Originally from Iowa, she was singing by age 2 & playing piano by 9, & has long since started writing her own songs.  She's released an EP ("From the Basement"[ind]) & there is currently a full-length slated for release on February 14th, 2012.
The song itself is of course the 1971 single from John Lennon (& Yoko Ono).
http://noisetrade.com/warisover  (<-- you can download it for FREE as well, if you wish)

Carol of the Bells - as performed by The Paper Melody

Hot off the press! (as in, just released today)
The Paper Melody is based out of Yuba City, CA.  The predecessor to TPM was a band called Brightest Light, formed with members Jill Sullivan (voc's/bass) & Dan Vallier (voc's/guitar).  Come 2008, guitar Anthony Reeder joined them & they officially formed The Paper Melody.  Drawing their influences from the likes of Tim Burton, Danny Elfman, & even Harry Potter to accompany their musical influences of Thrice, Muse, & The Receiving End of Sirens; they recorded their debut EP "Conducting the Motion" in Vallier's room & followed that with a couple small tours & a win at the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands.
Another EP has since arrived - "The Nightmare Academy" was released on March 11th, 2011.  Also: as a fun fact: Reeder also loved psychic Pokémon*.
This song is, of course, a cover of the early-early 1900's Ukranian Christmas carol composed by Mykola Leontovych.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y81F7gtLKnE

& you can download this song (& another) on TPM's PureVolume page:
http://www.purevolume.com/new/thepapermelody

* - http://getanearection.blogspot.com/2011/04/interview-paper-melody.html

White Christmas - as performed by Bing Crosby

A good ol' classic that I can really relate to right now... as it's supposed to get above 5ºC later this week (at least, where I am)...
"White Christmas" was written by Irving Berlin around 1940.  The first public performance of this song was on December 24th, 1941 - "unheralded & unrecorded"* on the Kraft Music Hall radio program - which aired on NBC from 1933 to 1971.  The Crosby version itself has reportedly sold over 50 million copies & is one of the most - if not the most - well known versions of White Christmas; it also spent 11 weeks at the top of one of Billboard's charts.  However, the recording that is most often heard is his 1947 recording.  Enjoy   :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJSUT8Inl14

* - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499404574561734246276554.html

Sleigh Ride - as performed by Jukebox Logic

Fun a cappella Christmas music.  :)
Jukebox Logic was based out of Harrisonburg, VA.  The 4-piece a cappella group "began as merely an experiment in arranging & recording back in late 2005"*.  They released their first album, a Christmas album, around that time, & followed it with a sophomore Christmas album in 2007.  This song is from that 2nd Christmas album called "Let It Snow".
http://noisetrade.com/jubkeboxlogic  (<-- it's the 2nd track, & the whole of "Let It Snow" can be downloaded for FREE [legally, of course] from NoiseTrade)

* - http://www.myspace.com/jblogic

O Come Emmanuel - by MidiVert

Awesome-ness.  Looking forward to seeing what more may come, too...
MidiVert is based out of Moncton, NB.  It is a side project consisting of The Silent's vocalist & bassist Marc Joliceour, & the Jeff Somers Band's lead man... Jeff Somers.  "Long time friends & collaborators [Jeff & Marc] have been scheming for the last 5 years how to make the kind of electronic music that doesn't fit in with their current projects or appearances. In 2006, they released a Christmas single called 'Bleak'"*.  Lo & behold, they released a new single a little over a month ago, called "Three Ships (In the Morning)", & on Nov. 29th, 2011, they released their "Jumpin' Jiminy Christmas" EP.  Currently, they have hopes to release their first "non-jingle-belly release"* - & also 'attempt' to play live - in 2012.  This song is from the "Jumpin' Jiminy Christmas" EP.
http://noisetrade.com/midivert  (<-- it's the 5th track once you hit the play button)
& at that: you can download the EP for FREE from the NoiseTrade link above...

* - https://www.facebook.com/MidiVert?sk=info

Direction - by High Flight Society

Ok, so I know it's not Christmas, but it's new & I'm excited to hear the rest of the EP.
High Flight Society is based in Atlanta, GA.  They formed in 2001 - 2 brothers Michael & John Packer (guitar & bass, respectively), John Wilkes, & Scotty Lockridge (vocals & drums, respectively), but didn't have their first release until their "From Far Above Somewhere EP"[Selectric Records] in 2006.  In the next year, however, they released their self-titled full-length with RKT Music (a short-lived imprint of Rocketown Records), produced by Tony Palacios (from the 90's hard rock band Guardian - who, as a side note, just recently released a new EP with plans for a new 2012 release).
In 2008, they introduced another member to the band - guitarist Jerad Griffin; & in spring of the following year, they were signed with Word/Warner Brothers.  However, as it would happen, their was a change in the label's employment, & HFS was dropped.  They still released their new EP "Par Avion " in 2009, but as an independent band.  Further disappointments arose, & Jerad Griffin parted ways to work on his own project, Rilian.  But, after "an amazing show"*, they stuck together, & they are now releasing their brand new EP "Lights Come Down" on Dec. 20th, 2011.  This song is from "Lights Come Down".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3MUg5yQfbs

Also: in December of 2010, they announced that they would make their "Par Avion" EP available for FREE.  You can get it from NoiseTrade.com
http://noisetrade.com/highflightsociety

* - https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=486773953005

Jingle Bells - by Brian Setzer Orchestra

Ok, now I'm starting to get into Christmas music! (& as I've an exam tomorrow, I'm gonna keep this short).
Brian Setzer was born in New York, in 1959.  Setzer picked up the guitar sometime in his younger years, & after performing locally at a number of shows, he, drummer Jim Phantom, & bassist Lee Rocker formed The Stray Cats in 1980.  Following their almost 15 year stint & break up, Setzer kept playing & he & his current band are currently scheduled for their 2012 'Rockabilly Riot' tour.  This particular live version of the 1850 classic is from the Brian Setzer Orchestra's "Christmas Extravaganza", released... for certain in 2008 with their "Ultimate Christmas Collection"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFhon5eo3Yc

some stuff:

2 things I want to show you:
1st: The Gentlemen have posted a preview video of their new Christmas single that will be available to download for free.  "Beneath the Snow" is what it is, & here's your preview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lUJuZ3-JkY
& here's last year's free Christmas song, "We Can Be Your Friends"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZ-b9J8a5RE

2nd: Falling Up put up a remix of their song "Blue Ghost" from their latest album "Your Sparkling Death Cometh" for download for FREE on NoiseTrade.  Check it out!
http://noisetrade.com/fallingup

...to tell EP announcement

Hey, so I didn't get to post a song tonight, but while I sit here & wait for a project to print (& re-print 'cause I just screwed up the order), I figured I should tell you about To Tell's announcement.
It was announced just earlier today that they are going to be releasing over the next bit of time a few new tour dates in support of their new & upcoming EP "Away from Everything" which was recorded & produced by Joel Bruyere (bassist for Thousand Foot Krutch; also has done his own awesome side project, the drawing room).
The first date they announced is the CD release party, which will be held January 27th, 2012 in their hometown at London Music Hall.  Check it out if you're around.
(& here's the video announcement itself)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJmOjwzRsyY

Lose Yourself - by IAMMEDIC

I have a craving for this, apparently.  (& I was considering trying to make a pun about needing a cure & them being the medicine/'medic', but I thought I'd leave that for today.  ;)
IAMMEDIC is based out of Los Angeles, CA.  The project came about in 2010 - vocalist & writer Enik Lin (who started classic piano at age 2-3, violin when he was 5, & then guitar, drums, & vocals in the years to come), came from the recently disbanded Burning Tree Project, started IAMMEDIC & enlisted keys player & former fellow BTP member Andre 'Dre' Harris (who started rapping at age 11) & bg vocalist Danny Park.  Shortly after their formation, Authentik Artists found them & signed them on, releasing their debut EP "The Tale of Abigale Withers" in October of the same year.
Following that release, they've certainly kept themselves busy - the release of an EP that preludes their full length "Perfect"[ind.]; followed by the actual release in June 2011.  Touring has been going on, a music video release for their single "Spaceship", &, as of right now, they are working on a new album entitled "Monster Monster".
This song is from "The Tale of Abigale Withers".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct9DQJOKgqw

& you can download 5 of the tracks from "Perfect", plus a single from the upcoming album for FREE from their BandCamp page:
http://Iammedic.bandcamp.com/

I'm On My Way - by The Proclaimers

For some reason, this song popped into my head the other day... So here: let it invade yours, too! (not that it's a bad thing by any means; I do love this song)...
The Proclaimers are from Leith, Scotland.  Twin brothers Craig & Charlie Reid were born in Leith in 1962 & grew up in a variety of places around the UK listening to the classic rock 'n' roll & country of such acts as Jerry Lee Lewis & Merle Haggard.  While in high school, they played in punk rock bands & it was in 1983 that they formed The Proclaimers.
They gathered a following around Scotland, & in 1987, they released their debut album "This is the Story" [Chrysalis], & while their first release was very much acoustic, their sophomore, "Sunshine on Leith" [Chrysalis; 1988], took on the likes of their country & rock 'n' roll influences.  This album brought forth their ever-popular "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" & "I'm On My Way", the former peaking at #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 after appearing in the '93 movie 'Benny & Joon' featuring Johnny Depp.  In between those years, they continued to grow & build up more & more of their fanbase in Europe with their "King of the Road" [Chrysalis; 1990] EP.
They released 6 more albums, & had a number of other songs appear on soundtracks, including this song for the first installment in the Shrek series.  As of right now, there are plans for a new & 9th album to be released in spring 2012.  This song is from "Sunshine on Leith".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1yYDuSf3C4&ob=av2n

Nice Guy - by Starflyer 59

You'll have to excuse my writing style for now as I remember how to write again & also kinda fight to stay awake at the moment...  But nonetheless: enjoy.
Starflyer 59 is from Riverside, CA.  Band leader Jason Martin is the only original member left, but currently on their roster you'll (at the least) find bassist Steven Dail (Project 86; Crash Rickshaw), & drummer Trey Many (Velour 100; His Name is Alive).  They've had over 2 dozen releases since SF59's formation in 1993, including EP's & 2 re-releases & [at least] 1 live release.  Aside from music (& actually as his main line of work right now), he co-owns with his brother, Ronnie Martin, a trucking company inherited from their father.  This song is from their album "My Island", released in 2006 on Tooth & Nail Records (where all of their releases thus far have been released from).
http://sf59fans.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61:my-island&catid=17:post-cloud-epoch&Itemid=144 (<-- you'll have to use the Amazon player to get a sample; it's track 2)

& for kicks, here's a band that I stumbled across on YouTube while looking for "Nice Guy".  They're called Legally Paranoid & they were apparently practicing this song back in 2009:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wn47XcUPT0

(& here's the iTunes link if you really wanted; also with a sample)
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/my-island/id189216060