I don't do a lot of Christmas music around these parts but I'm willing to make an exception for Swansea Sound. The super-group has released a Christmas album and the tunes within are sure to warm the heart of even the Scroogiest old fogey. And I'm happy to feature a track today.
"Not My Order" is a crunchy little gem about how this holiday that ostensibly is about giving, is also about turning us all into the very worst sort of consumers of the very worst sort of companies. The peppy number bobs along and the video is charming too. Swansea Sound -- Hue Williams (The Pooh Sticks), Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey (Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, The Catenary Wires), Bob Collins (The Dentists, The Treasures of Mexico), and Ian Button (Death in Vegas, Louis Philippe, Pete Astor, and Papernut Cambridge) -- remain one of those groups who, maybe because of the talent behind the tunes, imbue each new composition with a lot of heart and wit. "Not My Order" is seemingly simple, like a Ramones song, but just as smart.
That song is taken from the band's new Christmas album, All is Calm, up for order now. The collection of the group's holiday-themed numbers is full of stuff like this, and at least one reference to Slade. From charmers like "Santa Bail Me Out", a catchy rocker, to "Dreamland", a nice showcase for Amelia and Hue's shared lead vocals, there's a lot of great music on this new Swansea Sound LP. There's a listening party for the record on 15 December too. Details below.
"Not My Order" by Swansea Sound is out now. All is Calm is up for order via Skep Wax. Details below. The All is Calm listening party is on Monday, December 15, at 3 PM EST. Details on that here.
[Photos: Swansea Sound]