In 2022, the dreamy Philadelphia indie rockers Knifeplay, a former Band To Watch, launched For The Holidays, a Christmas music EP that was solely obtainable for a restricted time. The EP went up on the market through the Christmas season, and gross sales went to profit Broad Avenue Ministry, a charity that helps Philadelphians in want. The file 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 can come and go identical to the vacations themselves, however at all times with new songs and new views.” That’s what’s been occurring. Final yr, for example, Knifeplay made For The Holidays obtainable 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 tune “Previous Time Christmas” added on.
“Previous Time Christmas” is in that “I’ll Be Residence For Christmas” zone — the songs that basically 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 aircraft journey house that you may’t afford, falling asleep to the sound of gunshots. Nonetheless, it’s virtually unbearably fairly, and it jogs my memory of Low’s Christmas file. Hear under.
For The Holidays is out now at Bandcamp; get it when you can. Final month, Knifeplay shared their new 10-minute tune “Spirit Echo” and their cowl of Elvis Depressedly’s “Cry Infants,” however I don’t suppose that has something to do with Christmas.