Carols

A collection of 23 posts

On Songs & Albums

The Complete 2014 Christmas Playlist

It started as a spur-of-the-moment experiment. I asked Joe Henry if he'd be willing to share his Christmas favorites playlist. I so admire his music, the projects that he chooses to produce, and the way that he listens. I wanted to hear what he hears at Christmas time.

On Songs & Albums

Nurse Claire Nieman's Christmas Playlist

It just made sense. Inviting people to share Christmas playlists, shouldn't I invite someone who spends her days welcoming newborn babies?

On Songs & Albums

The Overstreet Christmas Playlist

I couldn't have asked for a bigger Christmas surprise, or a more enjoyable Christmas blessing, than the personal, thoughtful, revealing Christmas playlists that so many friends have sent in over the past few weeks. Thank you, one and all. I sincerely hope to host Round Two next year.

On Songs & Albums

W. David O. Taylor and Phaedra Taylor's Christmas Playlist

W. David O. Taylor and Phaedra Taylor bring us one step closer to Christmas Eve with their own Christmas playlist.

On Songs & Albums

Andy Whitman's Christmas Playlist

Nobody I know writes about music with more passion, personality, and insight than Andy Whitman. And here he is with a Christmas playlist.

On Songs & Albums

Robert Deeble's Christmas Playlist

I first encountered Robert Deeble's music on Seattle alt-rock radio, and I was immediately taken with his hushed delivery, his haunting lyrics. Think Leonard Cohen meets Sparklehorse. Earthside Down was my first Deeble album. Then I saw him live — he opened for Over the Rhine at the Paradox

On Songs & Albums

Steve Taylor's Christmas Playlist

It is a thrill for me to share this Christmas playlist from one of my heroes for more than 30 years of artmaking.

On Songs & Albums

Author Robert Clark's Christmas Playlist

You may know the name Robert Clark because of his celebrated writing. Since I pay attention to his recommendations in almost everything, I knew that I wanted to include his Christmas playlist in this series.

On Songs & Albums

Poet Tania Runyan's Christmas Playlist

The author of How to Write a Poem shows us how to make a Christmas playlist.

On Songs & Albums

Christmas, Calling, Carols, and #Ferguson: Jeff Keuss Hosts a Conversation with Rev. Richard Dahlstrom, Dr. Brian Bantum, Anna Miller, and Myself (with Music from Eric Miller)

What can we learn from Mary, the mother of Christ, that can help us understand what is happening in Ferguson?

On Songs & Albums

Andy Crouch's Christmas Playlist

Our guest DJ for some Christmas music: The author of Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling and Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power.

On Songs & Albums

Author Shannon Huffman Polson's Christmas Playlist

A Christmas playlist from the author of North of Hope.

On Songs & Albums

The Bruised Hearts Revue's Christmas Playlist

One of the biggest musical surprises for me in 2014 was the discovery of a local Seattle band called The Bruised Hearts Revue. If you're a fan of Wilco, Over the Rhine, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, or Neko Case, you'll hear their influences here. I'

On Songs & Albums

Novelist A.S. Peterson's Christmas Playlist

A Christmas playlist from adventure novelist and Rabbit Room editor A. S. Peterson...

On Songs & Albums

Sarah Masen 's Christmas Playlist

I began listening to this post's guest DJ late, and by a rather circuitous route. First, I discovered the writing of David Dark, whose books are among some of my favorite cultural commentaries. Then I began hearing about his immensely talented "better half": Sarah Dark. Or,

On Songs & Albums

Chris Willman's Christmas Playlist

I was already a fan of Chris Willman's work in the early '90s when he singled out U2's greatly misunderstood, hastily dismissed album Pop as the #1 record of that year. I was glad to find somebody who was listening closely enough to appreciate the

On Songs & Albums

Agents of Future's Christmas Playlist

Ready for another Christmas playlist? This one's full of surprises.

On Songs & Albums

Over the Rhine's Christmas Playlist

Here now, is what Over the Rhine would play for you if you asked to hear something besides their own extraordinary Christmas recordings...

Interviews

Coyote Hunting at Christmas with Linford Detweiler

In this, my fourth Looking Closer conversation with Linford Detweiler of Over the Rhine, we talked about the stories behind the songs on the band's third "Reality Christmas" album, Blood Oranges in the Snow.

On Songs & Albums

Alissa Wilkinson's Christmas Playlist

When inquiring of my favorite writers and artists about the Christmas music that means the most to them, I turned habitually to someone I tend to ask for recommendations in almost everything.

On Songs & Albums

Sara Zarr's Christmas Playlist

2014 marked the tenth anniversary of my friendship with YA novelist Sara Zarr. In the decade since we happened to sit down at the same table for a fiction workshop led by author Erin McGraw, Sara has written five of the best-reviewed new YA novels. (She became a National Book

On Songs & Albums

Ashley Cleveland's Christmas Playlist

Our Christmas Playlist Party continues! Here's one of the most soulful musicians I've ever had the pleasure of seeing live: Grammy award-winning gospel singer Ashley Cleveland.

On Songs & Albums

Joe Henry's Christmas Playlist

Our first Christmas Playlist Party host? Please welcome Grammy award-winning producer, poet, and musician Joe Henry, whose new album "Invisible Hour" is, at this writing, my favorite record of 2014 and the one I have played most often.