Guitarist Joey Burns once heard somebody say there are two kinds of holiday albums: ones that cover all the classic Christmas standards and others that are a little more experimental and creative.
Seasonal Shift, the first holiday record by Burns band Calexico (drummer John Convertino is the other primary member of the band), combines the two varieties. The album, which came out on December 4 on ANTI- Records, features Southwest-flavored renditions of Christmas All Over Again by Tom Petty and John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band s Happy Xmas (War is Over). Burns said when he heard the lyrics of the former Beatle s anthem, they felt just as appropriate for 2020 as they did when the song came out nearly 50 years ago.
The holiday season is typically a time to gather with family and friends to celebrate the year. But if 2020 has taught us anything, reasons to rejoice are scarce, and despite some hints of optimism on the horizon, we definitely shouldn t be gathering together.
Andrew Sievers, artistic director of cultural nonprofit Muse Phoenix, thought there had to be some way to unite people, so the musician and singer found a way for a worldwide audience to join together in song. A veteran of interfaith concerts, he decided to take the lyrics of Silent Night and rewrite them so everyone can enjoy the spirituality and comfort the song provides.