I Hate Christmas by Three Litre - Record of the Week!

It's that time of year again... the week when we can have more than one record of the week! And, where we can indulge ourselves and pick tunes and songs chosen previously. So, to kick it all off we bring you an Indie classic that should have been a smash back in 2002.

Now, don't be fooled by the title, it's not quite as throwaway as it at first appears to be given the title...

But I won't spoil it too much for you; you have a listen and see what you think for yourselves.

This is one of my all time festive favourites. It combines melancholy, humbug, longing, hopes, dreams, a wry smile here and there along with all the trimmings of sleigh-bells, church-bells and a choir. Yet it starts so simply with that acoustic intro that gets stung by that chiming electric guitar after the first line.

Very merry stuff. And don't you get me started on New Year!

You can buy this on CD at amazon...
Or on eBay...

Find out more about Three Litre...
Drowned in Sound review of this single...
A Guardian (yes, the Guardian) review of the single...
Track featured in this Christmas Mixcloud mix...

Festive Record of the Week

I Hate Christmas
Three Litre





OK. Yes... I DID choose this last year as well. Probably will again next year too. But its one of my festive faves, hasn't been heard enough and is very worthy of a place on the nations's endless Christmas playlist we get assaulted with from the end of October each year in the shops...

Anyway...

Don't be fooled by the title, it's not quite as throwaway as it at first appears to be...

But I won't spoil it too much for you; you have a listen and see what you think for yourselves.

This is one of my all time festive favourites. It combines melancholy, humbug, longing, hopes, dreams, a wry smile here and there along with all the trimmings of sleigh-bells, church-bells and a choir. Yet it starts so simply with that acoustic intro that gets stung by that chiming electric guitar after the first line.

Very merry stuff. And don't you get me started on New Year!

You can buy this on CD at amazon...
Or on eBay...

Find out more about Three Litre...
Drowned in Sound review of this single...
A review of their gig with The Darkness...
Velocity Recordings Three Litre page...

A Christmas Present...

As a little extra, special Christmas treat we present Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show Christmas Special. I can't see it listed on Radio 4 Extra for broadcast over the holiday, so... here it is (in two parts): something to craftily listen to when you get a spare 30mins.





Utterly brilliant, wonderfully humorous. There are some festive gems in here. I am a big fan of this act anyway so maybe a bit biased, but its well worth a listen along with all the usual 'Christmas Specials' that'll get rolled out once again.

For more info, look at:
Count Arthur Strong's Infernet Site...
Count Arthur Strong's Radio Show Wikidpedia page...

Record of the Week!

Silent Night
Bill Nelson



There's nothing like twangy guitars for taking a Christmas carol just... somewhere else.

Making his second appearance with a Rock n Rail 'Single of the Week', Bill Nelson gives us all a marvellous gift with this festive and seasonal delight. As is typical from this artist, the whole production is from his own hand: all music, all video (filmed in York), and this adds to the personal touch. Hope you enjoy it.

For good measure and your festive delight, check out his Christmas offerings from previous years...
Bill Nelson Christmas 2011...
Bill Nelson Christmas 2008...
Bill Nelson Christmas 2007...

A very merry Christmas from everyone at Rock n Rail.

Record of the Week

I Hate Christmas
Three Litre

I Hate Christmas



Don't be fooled by the title, it's not quite as throwaway as it at first appears to be...

But I won't spoil it too much for you; you have a listen and see what you think for yourselves.

This is one of my all time festive favourites. It combines melancholy, humbug, longing, hopes, dreams, a wry smile here and there along with all the trimmings of sleigh-bells, church-bells and a choir. Yet it starts so simply with that acoustic intro that gets stung by that chiming electric guitar after the first line.

Very merry stuff. And don't you get me started on New Year!

You can buy this on CD at amazon...
Or on eBay...

Find out more about Three Litre...
Drowned in Sound review of this single...
A review of their gig with The Darkness...
Velocity Recordings Three Litre page...

Record of the Week

December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)
George Michael



Its December so I can choose Christmas 'singles'! Stop groaning over there... not everything is Mariah Carey or Chris de Burgh, you know.

This one isn't a classic, as far as the wider world is concerned and not seen as being in the same league as his earlier festive offering, 'Last Christmas'.

But I love this song. Well written and beautifully created. George's un-mistakeable voice delivers the melancholic lines with pure class and craft to conjure a picture many may well feel an affinity with.

There is a tinge sadness here yet there is a glimmer of more than just the warmth of a winter's fire. The Christmas message of hope, peace and light is delivered in a lovely song rather than Santa's sleigh.

Wonderful stuff. Buy it or download it and make it a classic...

You can buy this on CD at amazon...
Its also available on iTunes...