Thursday , March 28 2024

Season’s Greetings!

It’s that time of year again – herein are collected various posts on the holidays, including music, movies, gifts, TV, and whatnot. Ho Ho Ho.

Christmas Eve – Dinner of the Seven Fishes
It’s Christmas Eve night and after a hectic day of preparation for the Big Day tomorrow, I finally have a few minutes to relax. I’ll be making a turkey with traditional American-style side dishes and pumpkin pie tomorrow. But it…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 10:38 PM

The Night Before Christmas, by Clement Clarke Moore
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 09:39 PM

Ultimate Christmas
An excellent holiday collection leaning toward standards and the gospel-R&B end of the spectrum is Ultimate Christmas. Out of 17 songs only two really don’t work and unfortunately one of them leads off the disc: Boyz ll Men turn in…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 06:48 PM

I Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
My open source Christmas card written to everyone here at Blogcritics, everyone throughout the blogosphere and beyond.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 06:13 PM

Nightline Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
A look at three Christmas traditions, “The Nutcracker” ballet, Christmas lights, and that most feared gift, the fruitcake. Plus a history of the song “White Christmas” as the Christmas day eve show. Either show may be bumped if there is…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 05:17 PM

Christmas jury gives Malvo life sentence
“All of us believe that people are of goodwill and people want to be fair. And to the extent that Christmastime accentuates that, good.”
— Malvo’s lawyer
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 05:06 PM

Cookie Cutters? Uhhh…
Uhhhhh….Merry Christmas.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 01:28 PM

Christmas is expensive but I’m loving it
What Christmas really costs. And it’s gone up this year, even. In our house, the stockings aren’t hung by the chimney with care – they’re too full of stuff and it would interfere with my mother’s annual Christmas theme. Readers…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 12:01 PM

Operatica – Christmas Classics
I’m a sucker for lush electronica, reveling in waves and sweeps of organically inorganic sound, sonic colors alien but not unwelcome to nature. The operatic electronica of Operatica (get it?) offers a fascinating and generally satisfying backdrop for traditional Christmas…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 11:35 AM

The Christmas Secret
Well, it’s Christmas Eve. After the build-up and the shopping and the parties, we’re down to it. Tomorrow is the Big Day™. Of course, we still haven’t finished shopping (duh), but there’s no sense of urgency. The kids and I…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 09:48 AM

A Country Christmas CD Mix
“Nothing But a Child” may be the best song ever written about the birth of Jesus.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 04:09 AM

Isn’t There Anyone Who Knows What Christmas is All About?
Linus Said It Best Christmas is a magical time. Our little ones wait in anticipated excitement for the arrival of Santa. It is a time of family gatherings, twinkling colored lights that adorn our houses, sleigh rides, hot cocoa and…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 24, 2003 12:39 AM

Mark Mothersbaugh – Joyeux Mutato
My favorite current holiday record is Mark Mothersbaugh’s perversely beguiling Joyeux Mutato. It’s an electronic wonderland “for anyone who has ever been traumatized by the Christmas season and is intended to provide solace and shelter from the ensuing onslaught of…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 23, 2003 06:03 PM

Barbaric Christmas
Ok, I am now set for the holidays. I have all presents but one. I have wrapping paper. I have plans for Christmas Eve, Christmas day and the Saturday following Christmas. I have a cheesy tree in my living room…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 22, 2003 01:34 PM

The “Last Minute Christmas” DVD List
A little last-minute Christmas selection help for the DVD buff on the list. Yes, there’s still time left before Christmas!
Posted in Blogcritics on December 22, 2003 12:35 PM

Famous Christmas Phrases
The other night we were having a contest trying to remember some of the most memorable phrases from classic holiday films, like Scrooged and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. (Our taste runs to the irreverent.) Here are some of the…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 21, 2003 05:10 PM

Yule Rhymes With Fool
I’m not a Christian. You would perhaps find it odd then that the facets I’ve most enjoyed of the occasional Christmases past are Anglican midnight Masses. Even secularly, they are gorgeous spectacles. But I’m not a Christian. Not in the…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 21, 2003 03:50 PM

Santa can just get bent
Between Santa and Jesus, a fellow can’t even get privacy to play with his own ding-a-ling.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 20, 2003 06:41 AM

The Beatles Christmas records
The Beatles recorded seven special members-only singles at Christmas for their fan club members, from 1963 to 1969.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 20, 2003 05:41 AM

Top Ten Must Have Baby-New Parent Items
Of course we all know about diapers, onesies, receiving blankets and binkies – but there are some other essentials that first time parents should know about.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 19, 2003 07:00 PM

Your Family Christmas Letter Sucks
This is a call to all the people who insist on writing Christmas chronicles about what the family has been up to in the last year. Nobody cares. If you include a check, then people might feel like they should…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 19, 2003 04:30 PM

Favorite “Non-traditional” Christmas Records
“Hi-Fi Holiday Cheer From Santa’s Pad”
Posted in Blogcritics on December 19, 2003 09:49 AM

Christmas Cocktails
Tired of the same old Bing Crosby/Burl Ives Christmas carols for the holidays? The Ultra-Lounge series offers a shaker of Christmas Cocktails.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 18, 2003 09:45 PM

Surprising Christmas Records
Ho-Ho-Huh?
Posted in Blogcritics on December 18, 2003 02:15 PM

Michael Buble – Let It Snow (EP)
Pass the martini fixin’s.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 18, 2003 10:44 AM

“Help For Parents and/or Loved Ones”
The Downhill Battle org continues its amusing campaign against the RIAA record labels: Do you really want to deal with this? “I got that on the computer like two months ago” Kids today are so good at downloading music…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 18, 2003 10:28 AM

South Park’s timely seasonal season finale
What would be the greatest Christmas present Santa could bring the whole wide world this year? Hint: it comes on a stick.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 17, 2003 11:57 PM

Lo! How A Rose E’er Blooming
However, on the rare occation that I sing Christmas carols, be it at church or caroling or whathaveyou, my absolute favorite is the delightful tune, “Lo! How A Rose E’er Blooming”.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 17, 2003 07:54 PM

Print out your own holiday wrapping paper – for free – from the comfort and privacy of your own home.
How great is this? It’s Christmas eve, you’re all comfy in your pjs, and you run out of wrapping paper. What to do? Don’t go out: go here. Once upon a time it was “roll your own”; now it’s “print…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 17, 2003 05:19 PM

Favorite “Traditional” Christmas Records
Pass the eggnog.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 17, 2003 03:17 PM

Santa Gooood?
Lame Xmas covers considered. . .
Posted in Blogcritics on December 17, 2003 12:07 PM

The Yearly Christmas Record
I am ashamed to admit that I’ve never owned a copy of The Ventures’ Christmas Album…until just a couple of days ago. This past Saturday, in search of my yearly Christmas record, I wandered into Bull Moose Music in Portland,…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 16, 2003 02:40 PM

Holiday songs: The Chieftains, The Bells of Dublin
More holiday albums that don’t suck: an Irish Christmas album that is low on schmaltz and high on craic.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 16, 2003 12:41 PM

The Famous Pittsburgh Creche
Given the constant media refrain of “holy wars” in the Middle East beating in the background, we sometimes forget that elsewhere, in the most unremarkable places, religious “battles of pinciple” quietly rage.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 14, 2003 02:22 AM

Holiday songs: Boston Camerata, Sing We Noël
Holiday albums that don’t suck, Number 5: eight centuries of ringing, vibrant carols. And you thought Middle English was just for freshman lit.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 12, 2003 11:06 AM

Holiday Traditions
Holidays are a time for special tasty treats. We get to eat and drink things that aren’t even around the rest of the year. I know that I look forward to drinking eggnog out of a punchbowl. This is a…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 12, 2003 01:01 AM

Mainlines in Modest Spaces
Mainlines in Modest Spaces Iain Rice Atlantic Publishers 96pp It’s approaching Christmas; let’s review a model railroading book. This is the sequel to the same author’s earlier “Designs for Urban Layouts”, and covers the building of (British) main line railways….

Holiday songs: Duke Ellington’s Three Suites
More holiday albums that don’t suck: The Duke swings the Nutcracker Suite. Jump, jive, and dance with the sugar rum cherries.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 11, 2003 12:31 PM

Chessmaster 9000
The ultimate combat game
Posted in Blogcritics on December 10, 2003 02:03 PM

Holiday songs: A Dave Brubeck Christmas
This late-90s Brubeck recording recaptures the holiday family piano parlor tradition, helping you get out of the holiday bustle and into a meditative mood for the season.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 10, 2003 12:38 PM

Texas Music Christmas Surprise
For the independent Texas Music lover on your Christmas list, the good news is that there is a plethora (“would you say I have a plethora of them?”) of great choices out there. The one I’m going to pick out…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 10, 2003 11:09 AM

Holiday songs: James Brown’s Christmas Collection
A fabulous collection of original and funky Christmas tunes from the Godfather of Soul, the Hardest Working Man at the North Pole, James Brown! (God gawd, y’all.)
Posted in Blogcritics on December 9, 2003 12:37 PM

Nat King Cole – The Christmas Song
For as long as I can remember, Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” has been a part of my holiday season.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 9, 2003 09:13 AM

Eric Reed – Merry Magic
Every year during the holiday season, I look for new music to add to my holiday music collection. We only get to enjoy this music for a short time and then it is time to put it away until the…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 9, 2003 09:02 AM

Dedications from Home
A heart-felt service for those who serve.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 9, 2003 07:54 AM

Holiday songs: Low’s Christmas EP
Christmas albums that don’t suck, Part 1: Slowcore Christmas joy from Low.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 8, 2003 02:47 PM

Billy Bob Thornton in Terry Zwigoff’s Bad Santa: Irony for Christmas
A defense of irony at the height of the Christmas shopping season–an oasis of insanity at the mall.
Posted in Blogcritics on December 8, 2003 07:30 AM

‘Tis the Season
Though she is a pretty volatile little thing anyway, our 4 year-old has been stressed about the new baby (due two days ago, not here yet) and prone to freaking out at the drop of a … well, at…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 7, 2003 06:15 PM

Christmas presents from Rickie Lee Jones
Rickie Lee Jones has just put up three new Christmas recordings for free download from her website. Oh Holy Night Have a Merry Little Christmas God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (You know the drill: Right click, save as…) They all…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 7, 2003 04:02 AM

Penny Arcade’s toy cascade
Wow! The guys at Penny Arcade have so far rustled up $30,000 worth of toys to be donated to the Seattle Children’s Hospital for Christmas. Outside of Amazon’s warehouses, this must be the largest accumulation of Amazon boxes ever. If…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 5, 2003 10:54 AM

Such a deal!
In the Christmas spirit, here are secret discount codes for some major merchants’ websites that will save you serious money. This is from Michelle Higgins’ excellent piece in today’s Wall St. Journal. Here you go, gang, but don’t dally too…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 3, 2003 06:53 PM

American Idol: Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum
Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum…… By: The Raging Critic Direct from The North Pole On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me……… Twelve Tamyra’s Tweaking; Eleven Olivares’ Oinking; Ten DeMato’s Dramatizing; Nine Nicki’s…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 3, 2003 04:13 PM

Bad Santa
:: I saw Bad Santa this afternoon, and the movie really didn’t work for me. The film is directed by Terry Zwigoff, who previously directed Crumb, and the brilliant Ghost World. Billy Bob Thornton is a small-time criminal named Willie,…
Posted in Blogcritics on December 2, 2003 12:44 AM

Santa Claus and His Old Lady Commune
It just isn’t Christmas without “Feliz Navidad.”
Posted in Blogcritics on December 1, 2003 01:21 PM

Holiday TV Schedule
Print it out. This should be of help to all you family types and those who just love holiday specials. As long as I see Charlie Brown, Rudolph, the Grinch and some of a Rankin Bass marathon, I’ll be happy….
Posted in Blogcritics on November 30, 2003 03:57 PM

Elf & The Station Agent: An Elf & a Dwarf
Will Ferrell and Peter Dinklage, both actors too big for their roles.
Posted in Blogcritics on November 26, 2003 07:21 AM

The Perfect Christmas Gift…
…for the cell phone hater.
Posted in Blogcritics on November 21, 2003 09:31 AM

A New Poll Is Up….
my butt. Just kidding. Seriously, how are you spending your holidays?
Posted in Blogcritics on November 11, 2003 02:25 PM

About Eric Olsen

Career media professional and serial entrepreneur Eric Olsen flung himself into the paranormal world in 2012, creating the America's Most Haunted brand and co-authoring the award-winning America's Most Haunted book, published by Berkley/Penguin in Sept, 2014. Olsen is co-host of the nationally syndicated broadcast and Internet radio talk show After Hours AM; his entertaining and informative America's Most Haunted website and social media outlets are must-reads: Twitter@amhaunted, Facebook.com/amhaunted, Pinterest America's Most Haunted. Olsen is also guitarist/singer for popular and wildly eclectic Cleveland cover band The Props.

Check Also

Are You a Blogcritic?

The "sinister cabal" is always looking for fine new contributors.