3rd Day of NFT Christmas

Day 3.

Music:

I LIKE TRAINS - The Christmas Tree Ship (2008) (re-released 2012)

I LIKE TRAINS (formerly iLiKETRiANS) re-released their 2008 instrumental concept album entitled, 'The Christmas Tree Ships' after the tragic November 23, 1912 sinking of the Rouse Simmons, a schooner that was nicknamed the Christmas Tree Ship since it carried Christmas trees. 

This time though, I LIKE TRAINS has decided to make it one continues stream of music rather than 5 different tracks. Usually I'm not a big fan of tracks from albums becoming one long piece for my convenience, but this is really much better as one entity. Plus, it's post rock. Post rock tracks are supposed to be long and contain all sorts of parts or "scenes" to give them that orchestral story-telling feel.

The Christmas Tree Ship's "scenes" include, the opening title track about the Rouse Simmons itself, the next three about the other ships that sank that night: "South Shore", "Two Brothers" and "Three Sisters", and the last track, "Friday, Everybody Goodbye" which is dedicated to the opening line of a message in a bottle thrown overboard by the captain. 

Also, if historic ship-sinkings and everyone dying doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, I LIKE TRAINS also have their rendition of "Last Christmas" which is still available here.

Official page

Bandcamp

Last.fm

MONDAY X(-Mas)IV Winter Edition

I really wanted to focus my attention on the Martin Smith memorial post last week therefore, I really did not get a chance to post anything Christmasy or wintery. So this one goes out to all the bad boys and girls out there. Merry Chrimbus!

La Dispute - Winter Tour Holiday CD-R (2008)

This little EP only features two songs but both are very much christmas type holiday songs. One is a very merry La Dispute version of Twas the Night Before Christmas and the other is a song listed as First Snow In Silent Grand Rapids. The tracks were included as part of a limited winter tour edition of Hear, Here II.

Last.fm


Mono - Hymn to the Immortal Wind (2009)

With tracks like Ashes In The Snow, Pure As Snow (Trails of the Winter Storm), Follow The Map and Everlasting Light, this album has become one of my favorites during the winter season. It's chill, soothing yet cold, and very much perfect for the slow and lazy sundays here in these few months of cold as balls time. Especially in Maine.

Every track has a little story that goes along with it and is included in the album itself as a short story. I have not read it, but rather, tried to develop my own little story behind the music and imagery for which I interpret and feel.

Last.fm
Official site


Men As Trees - Weltschmerz (2008)

Weltschmerz is very much a winter album. It features some pretty cold samples of mountain men, slow avalanches of building post rock and brutal season's beatings of aggression and passion. My favorite of the post-rock screamo blend bands and I mostly only listen to them during the winter season because it just clicks more... It makes sense. Go all Bon Iver and find yourself a cabin in Alaska but only listen to this. Bon Iver didn't do that. That would be cool though. Hah. Cool.

Men As Trees now go by Locktender, I believe.

Last.fm
Facebook

Also:

iLiKETRiANS have themselves a free Christmas cover. It's Last Christmas. From last Christmas.

Last.fm
Official Site


Fuck the Winterman.

iLiKETRAiNS

iLiKETRAiNS is a pretty silly name for a way too serious band. They rock on the post spectrum with a nice 6/8 feel (at least on Progress Reform). There is also singing. And what they sing about is usually history! That's right! A historic post rock band from Leeds, England that features prominent melancholy vocals and black ties. The whole thing may seem a little goofy but it's actually quite epic and moving.

iLiKETRiANS - Progress Reform (2006)

The only things that I would have to say that are negative towards this album, is the fact that every song kind of sounds the same (which can also be a good thing). It may also become a little cheesy after a good few listens. But other than that, Progress Reform is absolutely worth your time.

Some of the history that I'm aware of in this particular album includes a song for Bobby Fischer and the unfortunate Terra Nova expedition - which is actually a pretty wild story if you have ever heard about Robert Falcon Scott and how he led what he thought was the first expedition to the South Pole only to find out that he had been beaten out by a Norwegian expedition. Then, on the way back, everyone died. 

At least that's how I interpret the story as... 

One last thing. If you are totally not buying into the singing, I suggest you check out their purely instrumental post-rock album, The Christmas Tree Ship. 

How could I have led these men to their demise....

Last.fm

Official site