This coming Thursday, December 24, I’ll be playing a selection of Christmas/winter/holiday tunes on my show from 3 to 5 p.m. I won’t be playing the usual songs you’ve been hearing 24/7 on other radio stations for the past month, however. You’ll hear covers and original songs from the likes of Yo La Tengo, Daniel Johnston, and The Flaming Lips, as well as songs by local groups including Megafaun and Schooner. So, tune in this Thursday, Christmas Eve, from 3 to 5 p.m. for a set of Christmas tunes you aren’t tired of hearing

**As a side note, you can download a new cover of “I Saw Three Ships” from Megafaun for free over at the Hometapes website.

Check out the top 30 albums played during the past week, compiled by Daytime Music Director Jenna St. Pierre:

1. Temper Trap – Conditions
2. Headlights – Wildlife
3. Via Tania – Moon Sweet Moon
4. Big Pink – A Brief History Of Love
5. James Husband – A Parallex
6. Noah and the Whale – The First Days Of Spring
7.  Happy Hollows – Spells
8. Royal Bangs – Let It Beep
9. No Age – Losing Feeling [EP]
10. Depreciation Guild – In Her Gentle Jaws
11. Fool’s Gold – Fool’s Gold
12. Vivian Girls – Everything Goes Wrong
13. Brazos – Phosphorescent Blues
14. Flaming Lips – Embryonic
15. Port O’Brien – Threadbare
16. Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs
17. Lake – Let’s Build A Roof
18. Bear in Heaven –  Beast Rest Forth Mouth
19. Le Loup – Family
20. Kitty Daisy and Lewis – Kitty Daisy And Lewis
21. Sea Wolf – White Water, White Bloom
22. Sissy Wish – Beauties Never Die
23. The XX – The Xx
24. Gospel Gossip – Dreamland
25. Rubik – Dada Bandits
26. Why? – Eskimo Snow
27. Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy
28. Very Best – Warm Heart Of Africa
29. Lou Barlow – Goodnight Unknown
30. Soundtrack – Where The Wild Things Are

This Top 10 comes from Durham’s Red Collar.

Red Collar has had a fascinating year so far.  Its members decided to grasp their dreams by quitting  their great 9 to 5 jobs, cashing in retirement plans, holding yard sales and almost putting a home on the market in order to follow their dreams of touring. They document their journey on their blog.

Below are the lists of what each member is currently listening to. Red Collar said, “These lists of music reflect not only what we’re listening to now but bands we’ve played with over the past year.  There are local — now national — bands whose lead we admired and followed.  There are local — and soon to be national — bands who we love and trade war stories with.”

Beth: Bass/Vocals

1. Tom Waits – “Going Out West”
2. The Gaslight Anthem “The High and Lonesome Sound”
3. The Love Language – “Stars”
4. Des Ark - “Lord of the Rings and his Fascist Time Keepers”
5. Yo La Tengo – “I feel like going home”
6. Jawbox – “Savory”
7. K’Naan – “Dusty Foot Philosopher”
8. David Dondero – “the Real Tina Turner”
9. CCR – “Long as I Can See the Light”
10. Carole King “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”

Mike: Guitar/Vocals

1.  Megafaun – “Gather, Form and Fly”
2. Spoon – “Everything Hits at Once”
3. Joe Tex “Papa was Too”
4. Sonic Youth – “Teenage Riot”
5. Bon Iver – “Skinny Love”
6. American Aquarium – “Katherine Belle”
7. TV on the Radio – “Shout Me Out”
8. Spider Bags – “Teenage Eyes”
9. Hammer No More the Fingers – “Shutterbug”
10. Modest Mouse – “Broke”

Jason: Lead Vocals/Guitar

1. The Love Language – “Providence”
2. Hammer No More the Fingers – “Some Bad Ass New Song”
3. The Sandwiches -  “And Out Come the (Timber) Wolves”
4. American Aquarium – “Katherine Belle”
5. Dave Dondero – “The Real Tina Turner”
6. I Was Totally Destroying It – “Come Out, Come Out”
7. Look Mexico – “You’re Not Afraid of the Dark, Are You?”
8. Worn in Red – “When People Have Something to Say”
9. Tooth/Claw Split 10″
10. The Mountain Goats – “This Year”

Jon:Drums

1. The Pogues – “Bottle of Smoke”
2. Ben Nichols – “Last Pale Light in the West”
3. Guided By Voices – “A Good Flying Bird”
4. Modest Mouse – “Dashboard”
5. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – “Jack the Ripper”
6. Glenn Kotche – “Mobile, Pts. 1 & 2″
7. The Clash “Straight to Hell”
8. Townes Van Zandt – “Lungs”
9. Bela Fleck - “Matitu”
10. Wilco -”One Wing”

And also this video…

Tools, live at the Cats Cradle and the Duke Coffeehouse

Red Collar | MySpace Video[/myspace]

Check out the top 30 albums played during the past week, compiled by Daytime Music Director Jenna St. Pierre:

The Royal Bang

The Big Pink

Port O'Brien

1. Royal Bangs – Let It Beep
2. Big Pink – A Brief History Of Love

3. Port O’Brien – Threadbare
4. Depreciation Guild – In Her Gentle Jaws
5. Happy Hollows - Spells
6. Le Loup – Family
7. Fool’s Gold - Fool’s Gold
8. No Age – Losing Feeling [EP]
9. Vivian Girls – Everything Goes Wrong
10. Ettes - Do You Want Power
11. Polvo – In Prism
12. Fanfarlo – Reservoir
13. Still Life Still – Girls Come Too
14. Darlings – Yeah, I Know
15. Fresh and Onlys – Grey-Eyed Girls
16. Islands – Vapours
17. Various Artists – Hear Here: The Triangle
18. Raveonettes – In And Out Of Control
19. Very Best – Warm Heart Of Africa
20. Why? – Eskimo Snow
21. XX -  The Xx XL
22. Noah and the Whale – The First Days Of Spring
23. A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes
24. Mission of Burma – The Sound The Speed The Light
25. Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Higher Than The Stars [EP]
26. Kitty Daisy and Lewis – Kitty Daisy And Lewis
27. Yo La Tengo – Popular Songs
28. Lou Barlow – Goodnight Unknown
29. Slaraffenland – We’re On Your Side
30. Via Tania - Moon Sweet Moon

Albums added to our library this week:
1. Bear in Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth
2. Sissy Wish – Beauties Never Die

To the Condo Fucks. That’s right, one of indie rock’s oldest and most respected bands is now called the Condo Fucks. It’s hardly surprising from the band that called thier last album “I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass.” The change is not permanent, at least I hope not. Their forthcoming LP ‘Fuckbook’ will apparently consist mostly of covers.