It's 'GOOD WEATHER FOR IMMACULATE CONCEPTION' on ALANIS MORISSETTE'S first Christmas album

Morissette Christmas...

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

And isn't it time for a Christmas album. Don't you think? Canadian-American singer/songwriter rock megastar Alanis Morissette already gave us one of the best and biggest selling albums of all time in 1995. 'Jagged Little Pill' moved worldwide units to the tune of 33 million records. Inspiring everything from discussions regarding her greatest hit on 'Lois & Clark'  ('The New Adventures Of Superman') to the name of R&B albums (Jagged Edge's 'Jagged Little Thrill'). The 'Queen of Alt-Rock Angst' has every right to give us an album for the holidays. And her first Christmas album, not to mention her first record since 'The Storm Before The Calm' of 2022, is not for a second ironic. It's warm and inviting as the Grammy winner covers Christmas classics and offers outstanding originals to bring the festive feeling to these troubled times.

Hark the heralded alt-angel sings in the advent of this November. Bringing new life and signature styles to 'O Holy Night', 'Little Drummer Boy' and even the translation of international classic standards like 'Ave Maria'. Morrissette gifts us with 'Good Weather For Immaculate Conception' (amazing title) as the snow falls on her hood and spectacles. Merry loves company, too, and there are plenty of special guests on Alanis' Christmas card list. Julian Coryell's guitar backs the religious question of 'What Child Is This?' And Amythyst Kiah amazes on the originally sang 'Momma Mary'. The Trans Voices bring even more to 'O Tannenbaum' as Christmas across culture and continents is continued to be celebrated. All as Joy Oladokun brings their first name to the always beautiful 'Silent Night'. There's even room for podcasters in this building. As fellow Canadian Martin Short wishes us a 'Merry Christmas' too, in a classic collaboration. All as fellow 'Only Murders In The Building' Martin, Steve Martin brings backing banjo, with superstar Brandi Carlile, to a 'Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem'.

Modern Christmas numbers are also dialled up for your Christmas jukebox. Whether it be Alanis giving her heart to Wham's 'Last Christmas', for the late, great George Michael. Or her single cover of John Lennon's 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', with her home for the holiday's music video, complete with family, once again offering bed peace to a world at war. If you want it. Yet, "It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees/They're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace/Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on". And when this Demi Moore lookalike covers Joni Mitchell's 'River' with real substance, that's when you realize you've been listening to that very cover for the last hour and nary another decoration has graced the tree you just put up. The high notes of  "I would teach my feet to fly" for your best baby? Now, that's a conception that is immaculate.

Add the 'Christmas On The Dancefloor' cheesy, but classy, feel-good tune and the dedication 'To An Empath At Christmas Time'. "These holiday melodies/With presents all around/It’s not that I’m ungrateful/It’s just these blue chords in the sound/The depth of your perception/You’ve had it your whole life/This time of year is rugged/With all this pressure to be nice," she sings in solidarity. Adding "You don’t have to perform peace for us/Or belt out old lang syne/You are a miracle who feels deeply and is kind/Your tender perceptivity picks up signals far, wide/I see your wet eyes when you tell us you’re fine/To an empath at Christmas time" under the tree of life. This wonderful ode, and its beautiful music video, in addition to all the classics made an abode, make this the best thing the great Alanis Morissette has done since her surprise performance of 'Ironic' on Netflix's 'Everybody's Live With John Mulaney' in LA. Not to mention the best Christmas album since Norah dreamed of it like the Jolly Jones she is. Good weather indeed.

Present Picks: 'To An Empath At Christmas Time', 'River', 'Merry Christmas (Feat. Martin Short)'.

Spin This: Norah Jones - 'I Dream Of Christmas'.

'O MY BELOVED', new KINGS OF LEON album

Beloved One...

By TIM DAVID HARVEY

The 'Sex On Fire' crowd, that left the morning after the 'Only By The Night' monster hit, should have never skipped on the Kings Of Leon like they shouldn't an appointment with their urologist. Can you believe that album, following the big-three and hair beginnings of 'Youth & Young Manhood', 'Aha Shake Heartbreak' and the number one 'Because Of The Times', came almost twenty years ago? Those problems feel old yet? Since then, the Mount Juliet, Tennessee rockers have been crafting subtler, but sublime rock affairs. 'Come Around Sundown', 'Mechanical Bull', 'Walls'. All whilst the Followill brothers (Caleb, Jared, Nathan and Matthew) all became family men. After that, there was a brief break of five years before the post-pandemic 'When You See Yourself'. But it's only been two years since the Kid Harpoon produced 'Can We Please Have Fun', yes.

The music is much more meaningful and beautiful now for a band that find themselves somewhere between the constant playing Black Keys and the 'Perfecth' Queens Of The Stone Age'. Touring the modern Americana, they helped hone, these Kings have also managed to make a new album for their muses, their queens, with the dutiful dedication of 'O My Beloved' on a cloud pastel artwork of beautiful blue beneath the sea, adrift in memory bliss. This tenth, and top album from Leon, on Virgin records and their own LoveTap label is the perfect record for a nuanced November with the one you hold closest and dearest. Shot to the heart with the singles of the things that matter the most. 'My Whole World'. And the family amusement park video of 'KOYSAR'. An acronym urging you to "kick off your shoes and run" as Caleb breaks the fourth wall, waiting in line for a ride with his family.

They've found their sweet spot. Stripped-back and melancholic. It's a self-produced changing weather that you can see in the visualizer videos. Not to mention the second single, 'Cold Blue Dawn' that partners with The Weather Channel to offer a lyric video utilizing satellite imagery from NASA. A favour returned after TWC used the KOL's 'Pyro' track to help map a viral video of weather formations. And after all, in these stormy times, we know love and life forecasts the same. Yet from the harmonious 'Intro' to the 'Get You Down' lucky thirteenth track that puts this all down, the Kings of still have a hold. Still laying where you're lying. 'The Hand' offering "Talk the talk and make a bet/Make a wish you won't regret/Tells you after we grow old/We'll meet again on streets of gold", like Sting fields. Remember me?

A 'Rose' is also offered before 'Make It Count' strums electric like acoustic. You can really 'Feel The Love', even if it is somewhat lost between lines like, "Condensation on your limbs/I can hear the angels playing violins/Look at this weather, I checked it twice/You swore the storms had all but passed us by." 'Blue Jeans and Diamonds', meanwhile, is an American anthem. Whilst, 'Warm Company' helps while away the Autumn nights with your summer love. But don't fear that winter is coming in this game. This love, music and band of brothers are a 'Forever Endeavor'. "Spray the kids with the hose/Little things light them up/They're lost in the moment", word is bond. Weathered together. It's not a futile fight, for family, or the legacy of these Kings. It's theirs now, once masters and eras are owned, like another megastar of America, no stranger to Tennessee. On 'Pretty Thing' beloved ones are told, "You're such a pretty thing/Out there dancing 'round/Making a mess of me/In your evening gown." O my!

Playlist Picks: 'My Whole World', 'Rose', 'Forever Endeavor'.

Spin This: Kings Of Leon - 'Can We Please Have Fun'