In 2022, the dreamy Philadelphia indie rockers Knifeplay, a former Band To Watch, launched For The Holidays, a Christmas music EP that was solely accessible for a restricted time. The EP went up on the market throughout the Christmas season, and gross sales went to learn Broad Avenue Ministry, a charity that helps Philadelphians in want. The document collected Christmas songs that Knifeplay launched over time. Now, they bring about it again every year and add new music to it.
When For The Holidays first got here out, Knifeplay’s TJ Strohmer mentioned, “I hope to construct this album yr after yr, it’ll come and go identical to the vacations themselves, however at all times with new songs and new views.” That’s what’s been taking place. Final yr, as an example, Knifeplay made For The Holidays accessible once more, they usually added a canopy of the Counting Crows basic “A Lengthy December.” Now, For The Holidays is again once more, with the brand new track “Previous Time Christmas” added on.
“Previous Time Christmas” is in that “I’ll Be House For Christmas” zone — the songs that actually faucet into the melancholy of the vacations. Over a minimal jingle-bell backbeat and sluggish, rising drones, Strohmer sings about lacking the sensation of previous Christmases that helped maintain a struggling household collectively. Slowly, the lyrics paint a heavy image: a departed grandma, a airplane journey residence which you can’t afford, falling asleep to the sound of gunshots. Nonetheless, it’s virtually unbearably fairly, and it jogs my memory of Low’s Christmas document. Hear under.
For The Holidays is out now at Bandcamp; get it when you can. Final month, Knifeplay shared their new 10-minute track “Spirit Echo” and their cowl of Elvis Depressedly’s “Cry Infants,” however I don’t assume that has something to do with Christmas.
