Christmas releases due from Erasure, Bad Religion, "Mad Men"

Erasure have announced a new album, Snow Globe, due out Nov. 11.

It is a collection of original compositions and seasonal classics, and follows 2011’s Tomorrow’s World.

First single, “Gaudete,” is Erasure’s take on the traditional Latin carol, which will be recognizable by many after Steeleye Span’s version in the early 70’s.

Originally programmed by Vince Clarke with just a drum accompaniment, he ended up adding keyboard lines to complement the raw rhythmic surge. “I just love the song,” says singer Andy Bell.

“I haven’t actually heard him sing better,” says Vince of Andy stepping back into the booth. “I found my inner choirboy again,” says Andy. “I thought I’d lost him but he was there all along.”

Unlike the bells and whistles, glitter and tinsel sets that crowd the market come Christmas-time, Snow Globe is possessed of something more in the wistfully, strangely subdued celebratory mould of recent seasonal albums by Tracey Thorn and Kate Bush.

“We managed to strip everything back to bare essentials,” says Vince, approvingly of the more minimal approach Erasure followed for this project. “White Christmas” almost has a drone all the way through it. I love that.”

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Mad Men Christmas: Music from and Inspired by the Hit TV Series on AMC. Produced by Lionsgate Television, the multiple Emmy Award-winning drama Mad Men has depicted the world of Madison Avenue advertising in 1960s America since 2007. 

Concord Records, a division of Concord Music Group, has partnered with Lionsgate for the release on Oct. 15.

Featuring 12-tracks and available on CD exclusively at Target stores nationwide, it will feature several iconic 1960s Christmas tracks and one previously unreleased remix of the celebrated “Zou Bisou Bisou” as performed by character Megan Draper (played by Jessica Paré) in the season five premiere.

Mad Men Christmas opens with the familiar Mad Men theme song “A Beautiful Mine” by RJD2, which has accompanied the opening credits since the show’s beginning, followed by the sultry and hypnotic voice of Paré in an exclusive remix of the French pop tune “Zou Bisou Bisou (Scotch + Sofa remix)” by IAMX.

The album continues with many of the era’s best-loved Christmas songs by Dean Martin,  Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Otis Redding and more.

Track List:
 
1. “A Beautiful Mine” (The Mad Men Theme) – RJD2
2. “Zou Bisou Bisou” Remix (Scotch + Sofa Remix by IAMX) – Jessica Paré
3. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Darlene Love
4. “Baby It’s Cold Outside” – Dean Martin
5. “The Christmas Song” – Mel Tormé
6. “Christmas Waltz” – Nellie McKay
7. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Tony Bennett
8. “White Christmas” – Rosemary Clooney
9. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Johnny Mathis
10. “Merry Christmas Baby” [take 1]– Otis Redding
11. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” – Teresa Brewer
12. “Christmas Time Is Here” – Vince Guaraldi

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Bad Religion is set to release Christmas Songs on Oct. 29. From “White Christmas” with its nod to The Ramones, to the choirboy intro to “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” the songs are done in classic punk rock style.

Track List:

1. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
2. O Come All Ye Faithful
3. O Come, O Come Emmanuel
4. White Christmas
5. Little Drummer Boy
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
7. What Child Is This?
8. Angels We Have Heard On High
9. American Jesus (Andy Wallace Mix)