12 Songs for Xmas - Twelve Day

"Emmylou" First Aid Kit

The album was released back in January and gradually seeped into my consciousness to the point where I realised I like nearly every song on it despite not actually owning a copy yet. I almost went for "Wolf" instead but the video for that is a bit ropey in places and reminds me a little too much of the pagan ritual at the end of the film Kill List that I've still not quite shaken out of my head.



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12 Songs for Xmas - Eleventh Day

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Inbetweens" Withered Hand

*whispers* Morning, how's your head? Thought I'd better quieten things down a bit today so here's something a little introspective from Withered Hand the nom-de-plume of Scottish musician Dan Willson.



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12 Songs for Xmas - Tenth Day

"Strange Baby" Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

You still with me? The JSBX have been around forever and you'll recognise some elements of their sound in other bands in this playlist. I've gotta admit this is the first tune they've released that has grabbed me for ages. Another band who played a cracking live session on 6music this tune being a highlight. Turn it up loud!



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12 Songs for Xmas - Ninth Day

"Ra Ra Girls" Wife vs Secretary

A band I know very little about but got to hear thanks (again) to a session on 6music for Marc Riley. I like the awkward angular guitar noise, the video is just plain disturbing though!



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12 Songs for Xmas - Eighth Day

"Maglite" by Wussy

Not technically released in 2012 but I'd not heard the band before 6music started playing the tune this year from the "Buckeye" compilation that brought together the best of their five studio albums and is their first release outside of the USA. The video is pretty cool as well recorded live in an old RV. Annoyingly I missed them play London (with support from Shonen Knife!) back in October but they'll be high on my list of bands to catch next year.



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12 Songs for Xmas - Seventh Day

"Where Da Money Go?" The Jim Jones Revue

One of my favourite bands right now and whilst the rest of the album introduced some new elements to their sound both singles off it proved they'd not lost the ability to rock the hell out of a tune. I love the bass and piano intro that maintains it's coda through out and lulls you into a false sense of security before Mr Jim Jones blows your head off with his mighty air-raid siren of a voice.



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12 Songs for Xmas - Sixth Day

"The Descent" by Bob Mould

A proper return to form. Perhaps that's harsh on whatever Bob's done since Sugar released "Copper Blue" in 1992 but I know this is the first time since then he's caught my ear.



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12 Songs for Xmas - Fifth Day

"Coastal Command" by Wild Billy Childish & The Spartan Dreggs

I really wanted to include "Punk Before Chips" a fine tune by the Dreggs that has been a fairly constant feature on Marc Riley's show this year but I couldn't find a copy on YouTube. Anyone familiar with Billy Childish's past form won't notice any radical change in style but I subscribe to the belief that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. This is the title track from one of three LPs the Spartan Dreggs released on the same day in November, nicely sticking two fingers up to record distribution tradition.



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12 Songs for Xmas - Fourth Day

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

"Dance At My Wedding" by The Cornshed Sisters

OK, so I intended to pick a new Christmas song to fill this gap but I couldn't find one I liked enough. I toyed with "Christmas Unicorn" by Sufjan Stevens but really it was 12 minutes of tweeness I couldn't cope with so instead here's the stand out track from The Cornshed Sister's debut LP.

"Tell Tales" was one of my favourite albums of the year (though one that didn't make any of my 2012 top fives) so the band were due a bit of recognition on here and this is a lovely tune. Hope you all have a marvellous Christmas Day.



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12 Songs for Xmas - Third Day

"The Waves" by Villagers

Were Villagers up for the Mercury prize last year? I can't remember but I did catch a bit of a vibe about them around that time that I didn't really buy into. This track, released in October of this year, caught me a little off guard after I heard it randomly on my way to work via the wireless. A really nice tune, though I recommend you don't spend too long staring at that video unless you want to have funny colours dancing in front of your eyes for the rest of the day.



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12 Songs for Xmas - Second Day

"Shut Eye" by Stealing Sheep

Stealing Sheep are a three piece band from Liverpool environs. I saw them support Field Music in February but was a little bit squiffy so don't remember a great deal about either bands. This was the lead single from their debut album and a favourite for me during the first half of the year.



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12 Songs for Xmas - First Day

I did this last year, kind of liked it so thought I'd do it again. Basically twelve tunes I've heard and enjoyed this year that I hope y'all will enjoy as well. This should take us up to my first top five of Twenty Thirteen which, assuming I've got my self sorted out, will be my Top Five Songs of 2012.

"Dark Star" by Poliça

A bit of a sleeper hit for me. I heard Poliça quite a bit in the early part of 2012 but they didn't do a lot for me until I saw them on Later with Jools Holland. Two drummers, two bass players and a singer with auto-tune. It shouldn't work but it does.



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