Fuel/Friends Christmas Mix 2009
Well today is a snow day in my part of Colorado, bringing everything outside to a deadened, frozen, thickly-blanketed crawl. It’s gorgeous and quiet, and perfect weather for putting the finishing touches on my annual Christmas mix. I do love Christmas music, as you might remember from past years, but I also have a picky palate and am always amazed when I turn on the radio (as I did last night while we played cards) at how many many Christmas songs should have never been made. If I have to hear “Wonderful Christmastime” again, I might gouge out my eardrum with a candy cane to the beat of those synthesizers.
Even though there’s room on this mix I’ve made for the fun and light-hearted (I am in love with the opening remix track), I do tend to find myself drawn to the reflective and traditional songs at this time of year. Maybe it’s some slight seasonal affection disorder, or the natural rhythms of winter — or an internalization that this is a month of hope and light but that there is such need out there as well. I went to an ecumenical advent service this weekend at the old stone chapel on the college campus where I work, and one of the professors from the Classics department read a bit from the book of John about how the light shines into the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it. I found the simplicity of that inspiring in a way that surprised me. I sat there in the candlelight thinking about dichotomies of light and dark, hope and despair, kindness vs. letting ourselves be hard and stony.
Anyways, there’s a bit of reflection from me on how this season is wrapping itself into my thoughts, as I sit here beside this pretty twinkling Christmas tree, warm under a fuzzy blanket. I also delight in how all these music blogs have made such a rad collection of alternative holiday tunes available for the endless mixing.
Now I’m gonna go watch Elf.
…Oh! and we’ll hope Edward Hopper won’t mind the bastardization of his moody Nighthawks painting too much. It made me smile, and is exactly how I feel today.
FUEL/FRIENDS CHRISTMAS MIX 2009
White Christmas – Corporal Blossom (from the free Very Bootie Xmas comp)
O Christmas Tree – The Layaways (free track from their Christmas album)
Kamikaze Christmas Economy (I Owe) – Jeremy Fisher (free track from last year, great artist)
The Warmest Part of Winter – Voxtrot
River (Joni Mitchell cover) – Lex Land
Listen To The Choir Sing – Ian McGlynn
Murder by Mistletoe – Felice Brothers
First Christmas – Boyracer (from their Christmas EP)
Goodbye England (Covered In Snow) – Laura Marling
Winter Winds – Mumford & Sons
O Holy Night – Cary Brothers (from his Father Christmas EP)
I Know The Reason – Mindy Smith & Thad Cockrell
Grateful For Xmas – Hayes Carll
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Chad Johnston
Blue Christmas – Bright Eyes
Seasonal Persuasion – Caithlin de Marrais
Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees – Elvis Presley
I Wonder As I Wander – Woven Hand (from the free Familyre Christmas Vol. 1)
Christmas Eve Can Kill You – The Everly Brothers
It’s Almost Christmas – Chris Garneau
Snow Angels – Boca Chica (from the Indiecater Christmas 2009 album)
All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue – Over The Rhine
Winter (Curled Up Toes In Red Mary Janes) – Jenna Nicholls
O Little Town of Bethlehem – The Innocence Mission (from the free Familyre Christmas Vol. 2)
New Year’s Eve – Team Five
I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Amanda Rogers
Silent Night – Zach Gill (from last year’s This Warm December comp)
ZIP: FUEL/FRIENDS CHRISTMAS MIX 2009
HO-HO-HO-BONUS:
2007 Fuel/Friends Christmas Mixery
2008 (Naughty/Nice) Fuel/Friends Christmas Mix
Name: Heather Browne
Thanks so much HB! Its nice to get these presents early this year!
Esoth — December 8, 2009 @ 5:03 pm
Thank you so much. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
Roger — December 8, 2009 @ 5:18 pm
Yay! I love your mixes. And I’m excited that Mumford and Sons is on it. I just learned of them and badly want their album to come out here.
Claire — December 8, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
I stumbled across your site a few weeks back and am LOVING the music. thanks for sharing!
Beth — December 8, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
Thank you! I’ve been looking forward to this!
Travis — December 8, 2009 @ 5:41 pm
Thanks for the great music all year Heather!!
Merry Christmas.
Mark Bean — December 8, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
Would it take a Christmas miracle for you to refresh the 2007 and 2008 mixes also Heather?
Matt — December 8, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
I’m with Matt … can we get the older mixes re-upped?(I actually just want 2007. I got 08!)
Ralph — December 9, 2009 @ 12:03 am
Yey!
Thanks – going to download it.
Though we’re not celebrating christmas here, I’m happy to soak the vibe from other people
Yair
Yair Yoan — December 9, 2009 @ 12:26 am
Yay! I wanna go there. I love Christmas with snow. I haven’t experience it.
dves — December 9, 2009 @ 1:10 am
Nice!! Thanks for posting Boca Chica- they are an awesome band
Cindy — December 9, 2009 @ 5:42 am
Niiiice. I look forward to this every year. And I can’t wait to see the older mixes. I misplaced them
stynxno@gmail.com — December 9, 2009 @ 9:31 am
Hey thanks – my office needs some fresh music, and here I am, nice mix.
S.
Smansmith — December 9, 2009 @ 10:55 am
Thanks for sharing! Last year’s mix was outstanding (and in regular rotation since Thanksgiving). Looking forward to this.
K — December 9, 2009 @ 1:35 pm
Thanks Heather! This is my third Christmas mix I’ve downloaded here and they are by far the best. I’ve never been much for Christmas music, so these mixes are a saving grace. Merry Christmas!
Carter — December 9, 2009 @ 5:39 pm
I just downloaded the mix and can’t wait to listen to it. Thanks for keeping me in new music. Happy Holidays!
Aaron — December 9, 2009 @ 6:28 pm
lovin it !
domingo — December 9, 2009 @ 9:51 pm
Thank you for good music for Holiday
Teresita — December 9, 2009 @ 10:08 pm
Hi.
Can I ask where you found the santa nighthawk pic?
Brian — December 10, 2009 @ 7:19 am
i think i snagged it from the excellent http://therealbigrockcandymountain.blogspot.com/
browneheather — December 10, 2009 @ 7:25 am
I LOVE the Mumford & Sons track! I had to search your archives for more about them immediately &was not disappointed, so thanks for those songs, too. Any chance we’ll be hearing more about them from you? (=
Faith — December 10, 2009 @ 11:01 am
Can’t wait to play this on Christmas. Thank you, Heather!
Matt — December 10, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVHKmuccOzI an early candidate for next years mix?
Matt — December 10, 2009 @ 3:55 pm
Great selection of songs, Thanks! and Merry Christmas to you!
tyler — December 10, 2009 @ 6:30 pm
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by bethaf: @AmeliaRana – click this link and download your Christmas mix… http://is.gd/5gnZi…
uberVU - social comments — December 11, 2009 @ 8:49 am
Fantastic mix – my favorite yet! Thank you! This is just what I needed to get into the Christmas spirit.
Linnea — December 11, 2009 @ 8:54 am
thanks alot!!!!!
last years was great, sure this one will follow suite. i love xmas music///////
if you got $10 bucks pick up billy idols xmas album, i am serious its a real treat!
ps – i am not billy idol (but i am a fan)
have a nice holiday + vest in 2010 and keep up the good work that you do here!
bort — December 11, 2009 @ 3:23 pm
AWESOME AWESOME PLAYLIST THANKS SO MUCH MAN!:)
Serge — December 11, 2009 @ 9:56 pm
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LiveThread Digest – week of 2009-12-11 | DenverThread — December 11, 2009 @ 10:55 pm
this mix makes me want to hurt myself
I was happy til I heard this — December 13, 2009 @ 8:55 am
Hey joe, don’t do that….
browneheather — December 14, 2009 @ 11:41 am
I won’t gouge out my eardrum with a candy cane or anything drastic like that, but really this is a downer.
I was happy til I heard this — December 14, 2009 @ 5:33 pm
well luckily there’s plenty of sleigh ride jingle jangle on the radio as the antidote? and 2007′s mix was more upbeat, if you are looking for that specifically.
browneheather — December 14, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
Excellent, Excellent, EXcellent! My new favorite Christmas album.
Michael — December 15, 2009 @ 11:20 am
ABsolutely great choices! tracks #1 -5 and #12-13 are priceless.
DarkoV — December 16, 2009 @ 9:59 am
Thank you and happy holidays
Amanda — December 17, 2009 @ 10:13 am
Anything from Rosie Thomas’ ‘A Very Rosie Christmas’ gets my vote for next year’s mix. I heard that Mumford & Sons actually did some Christmas traditionals last year – that would be sweet to get our hands upon!
Bart Wang — December 21, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Thanks Heather. Now I have music for the trip to the inlaws tomorrow. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Kev-in-STL
Kevin — December 24, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
Thanks for fantastic music….enjoy.
Urban music — January 8, 2010 @ 4:40 am
[...] va bien avec. Tu lis les archives une après-midi pluvieuse, une tasse de thé à la main et une playlist trouvée quelque part en fond, parce que c’est aussi bien qu’un bon livre, presque [...]
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