Un-weird Fact #1: the album surpasses my wildest hopes for the band. I feared the sophomore jinx, and that didn't happen here. TSC have really done an awesome job on this. There are minor quibbles I have with it, like the mixing — I think it sounds kind of muddy and low, but I've been playing it on a damn PC or a stock truck CD player AND I've been listening to it with some abused 43 year old ears. But, the bottom line here is that they've captured the essence of not just their sound, but their Texas roots, most importantly their West Texas roots. Colt's pickin' and Amanda's fiddlin' are just plain soulful — it's great late-night, driving-down-a-dark-highway, blanket-of-stars, coyote-howlin', Marfa-lights spooky country rock — does that make sense to anyone? If it does, then you know what I mean.
So, anyway — go get the CD. It's available at the utterly invaluable LoneStarMusic.com, and they have samples of all the songs on the album for that doofy Windows Media Player. They also carry TSC's first album, so get that, too, if you ain't got it already.
To entice you even further, provided you've read this far, I'm hosting a full MP3 version of one of the songs off the CD, "Pictures", over at the Tiny Bidness website (no one wants to go camping in December, so I've got oodles of bandwidth to burn.) I'll leave it up for a while, as long as the traffic doesn't burn down the server. And I got full permission from the band to put this up, too, so don't be busting my chops. Just get the album, babies. Of course, no album can compare with seeing these yootful Texicans live (not IMnotsoHO). They really rock it all out live. So get out there and go see them — you won't regret it. You'll be knocked out, I promise. And you'll be supporting independent music, something you want to do anyway, right?
For those in the Dallas area, they're playing Dec. 19th at the All-Good Cafe, down in that Deep Ellum. I imagine that I shall make that show. Say the secret word (crawdad), and I'll stand ye to a Shiner (Bock, not Light).
Article comments
1 - Salvador
Hello Music Lovers!
I am searching for a copy of a bilingual Christmas called "Canciones de Navidad" by Irma Garza, a Texan, I believe. My family enjoyed her music during the 70's, but have lost the album and would love to share it with a new generation of kids. Any ideas?
Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Salvador Benavides, Los Angeles, CA
[Deleted. Sorry, no personal contact info please. Comments Editor]
2 - Mary Ann W.
To: Salvador searching for a Christmas album titled Canciones de Navidad by Irma Garza. I, too am looking for this album. I, like you, enjoyed this music as a kid. We still have the album (I think my mom does) but it is so old and scratched, I would love to find another copy. Did you have any luck? Please post answer.
3 - Mildred Parra
Hi MY Aunt Brought me the Album by Irma Garza Christmas songs. She wanted me to make the record into a cd for her. I did and it came out pretty good! Tita
4 - SANDRA
I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR YEARS!! IT WAS A FAVORITE GROWING UP. IT WAS ON THE FALCON RECORD LABEL AND MY FOLKS GOT IT FRONM A TIA IN TEXAS AND PLAYED IT EACH YEAR TIL IT GOT LEFT AT A CHRISTMAS PARTY AND WAS NEVER EVER SEEN AGAIN! I'D LOVE A COPY OF THIS.
5 - K. Decaroli
Is there any way I can get a CD copy of Canciones de Navidad by Irma Garza? I am willing to pay for the CD and postage. Please let me know as soon as possible. I know a family in El Paso that has been looking for this for years, ever since their parents sold their record player along with all the family albums.
Thanks, Kathy
6 - Marta
I am not sure if this is the album I am looking for could you tell me the songs on it. My family had an album with Mamacita donde esta Santa Claus, and I Dreamed I was Santa Claus. I can not remember all of them. Thank you.
7 - Mark Reyes
I would love a copy of the CD of the Irma Garza LP please please tell me how much I grew up with this album and would like to carry on the tradtion please tell me how to contact you
8 - Terrie Krause
wondered if anyone found a cd of "canciones de Navidad" by Irma Garza. I have a tape casstte recording of it but would like a cd. Our family had a vinyl copy of this too from the early 60's but it was lost when casstte recording was made.
9 - Mercedes
Does anyone know where I can get a cd of the "canciones de Navidad" I grew up with Pancho Claus and would love to share it with another generation. Please contact me [personal contact info deleted] if you know where I can purchase this CD. Thanks
10 - Gloria
My sisters and I have also been looking for a copy of the album hoping to eventually find a cd copy for all of the sisters. I would be willing to pay for a copy of the cd or album. I know it was recorded under the Bronco lable which was a division of Falcon Record Co. out of McAllen. A picture of the album shows the album name as "Regalos Navidenos."
11 - Sandra
Hi, has anyone had any luck with the Irma Garza Christmas album? Would LOVE to get a copy if you have. So many childhood memories.
12 - Julia Hernandez Lynch
Greetings...we grew up listening to Irma Garza and would decorate our house while we sang all her Christmas songs...we lost the album, but her songs linger in our minds every Christmas...I miss her songs so much..You made my day and year...remembering our Dear Irma Garza...she has left such am impact on us...she is part of our Christmas Traditions...WE LOVE YOU IRMA GARZA!!!!
FROM "THE HERNANDEZ FAMILY IN DONNA,TEXAS"
13 - Belinda
I grew up with the Irma Garza album too and I would love for my kids to listen to it. I can't find it and I've googled alot. Does anyone know where it's available???