Reykjavík Grapevine - 03.12.2004, Síða 26

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Most Annoying
Christmas Song Of
The Month
Different from all of these is Jólaplata, a nice mixed bag of styles and
approaches, with original songs written just for this album, some traditional
Icelandic carols and modern takes on classic Christmas numbers. All this
with a cover which looks like a Kraftwerk Christmas album had there ever
been one.
Upon meeting Atli, the producer and promoter of this compilation album,
I get the impression that this is an ambitious chap, this being his fourth
released CD in recent years. He talks to me about the difficulties for bands
to release an entire album here in Iceland, and that there is no real market
for singles, leaving some bands finding it elusive to be released at all. And so
he came up with the idea of comprising a compilation of songs with some
favourite Icelandic bands, but also some relatively unknown ones.
But why Christmas songs?
‘There are a lot of typical bad Christmas albums out there and I simply
wanted to hear my favourite Icelandic bands play some modern, decent
Christmassy tunes’
Genres vary wildly on this album from electronic, lo-fi, pop, rock, Indie and
even some live recordings, so as an album it covers a lot of ground. It starts
with a track from Ókind, ‘Jólakötturinn’ which is reminiscent of modern
Japanese pop fused with a strong guitar riff. Tracks from more established
bands such as Lokbrá, and newcomers such as Doddi and Isidor will leave
you surprised at the departure from their usual style. From Isidor we hear a
rat pack style jazz number, with tinkly bells in the background instead of their
usual more rocky sound. This is complimented nicely by an equally 1960s
style jazz track from the Latino boys. An as yet unreleased band, Doddi’s
track is one of the strongest, an atmospheric lo-fi, electronic version of Bing
Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ with a crackly sample from the original leading
us into the track. Lokbrá provide the album with a traditional carol ‘Ó helga
nótt’ with gentle guitar rock and raspy vocals. Atli himself, the man behind
this project, has a song on this yuletide album, a gentle electronic version of
that old classic ‘Chestnuts Roasting on the Open Fire’ with a trumpet solo
depicting the familiar tune.
The original tracks written for the album come from the bands BoB ‘Clowns
in Christmas town’ a fine title for a holiday tune; an electro cut and paste style
with deep spoken lyrics. There are some pleasant Indie sounding versions
of traditional Icelandic Carols, with harmonised vocals, and Hermigervill’s
‘Jólasull’ uses the traditional tune of the ‘Little Drummer Boy’ refrain cleverly
against an originally composed backdrop of lo-fi gritty but gentle electronica.

The album will be released by the 3rd December in most record shops around
Reykjavik.
It is a slice of the current live music scene, and an interesting and creative take
on a classic genre. And with all money going to either Amnesty International
or the Homeless centres here in Iceland, it is both a credible and charitable
purchase.
Whatever good you can say about
Christmas, it seldom inspires
great songwriting. There might
be exceptions, but in general your
typical Christmas song is either
repetitive, hokey, or too much like
a commercial jingle. Somewhere
– we imagine it was in a dark and
windowless basement – someone
came up with the idea to combine all
three elements into this song.
“Eitt Lítið Jólalag” sounds like it
was cranked out in a very uninspired
twenty minutes. The only thing that
makes it sound remotely Christmas-
like is the ad nauseaum repetition
of the word “jól.” On top of it all,
it sounds like an advertisement
primarily because it is. The song
was written for Birgitta Haukdal
as a promotion for the then-newly
opened Smáralind Mall’s Christmas
season.
As if Christmas hasn’t become
commercialized enough. As if people
aren’t already running their credit
cards and overdrafted bank accounts
into ever-deepening holes each year.
As if just the mention of the word
“Christmas” doesn’t already inspire
a feeling close to a panic attack,
completely erasing the feelings of
joy and anticipation that it used to
make you feel as a kid. Do we really
need to go one great cynical leap
forward and add to radio playlists a
Christmas song invented for the sole
purpose of getting people to shop at
a new mall?
There may be more worse Christmas
songs out there, in the musical sense
anyway. But “Eitt lítið jólalag” tops
the list of annoying Christmas songs
for its unabashed commercialism
mixed with mindless repetition.
“Eitt Lítið Jólalag” (“One Little Christmas Song”)
- Birgitta Haukdal
LISTINGS : december 3 - january 13THEATRE:
THE NATIONAL THEATRE
OF ICELAND
Edith Piaf by Sigurður Pálsson,
20:00. 4/12, 11/12, 12/12, 29/12,
30/12, 2/1, 8/1, 9/1, 15/1.
Dýrin í Hálsaskógi by Thorbjörn
Egner, 14:00. 5/12, 12/12, 30/12,
9/1, 16/1 .
Þetta er allt að koma by Hall-
grímur Helgason, 20:00
3/12, 7/1, 14/1.
Öxin og jörðin by Ólafur Gun-
narsson, 20:00.
26/12 (premier), 28/12, 5/1, 6/1,
13/1
Böndin á milli okkar by Kristján
Þór Hrafnsson, 20:00
3/12
Nítjánhundruð by Alessandro
Baricco. 3/12 .
THE ICELANDIC OPREA
The Little Girl with the Matches
by H.C. Andersen, 14:00. 5/12,
12/12, 19/12, 26/12.
CITY THEATRE
Þú veist hverning þetta er
Kramhúsið , 20:30
11/12
Héri Hérason (Lapin Lapin) by
Coline Serraue, 20:00
4/12, 14/1.
Lína Langsokkur by Astrid Lind-
gren, 14:00
5/12, 2/1, 9/1,
Svik by Harold Pinter, 20:00
3/12, 4/12.
Ausa og Stólarnir - two shows in
one night, 20:00
30/12.
THE STUDENT THEATRE
Þú veist hverning þetta er,
Tónlistarþróunarmiðstöðinni
Hólmaslóð, 20:00.
18/12, 19/12.
MÖGULEIKHÚSIÐ
Smiður jólasveinanna.
5/12 14:00 & 16:00. 12/12 16:00
LOFTKASTALINN
Eldað með Elvis by Lee Hall,
20:00
12/12, 26/12.
IÐNÓ
Faðir vor by Hlín Agnarsdóttir,
20:00
3/12, 8/12.
Museums
ASÍ. Art Museum, Freyjugata 41, 511-5353
Árbæjarsafn Folk Museum, Kistuhylur 4, p: 557-1111
Ásmundarsafn, Sculpture museum, Sigtún, p: 553-2155
Culture House, Hverfisgata 15, p: 545-1400
Einar Jónsson, Sculpture museum, Einarsgata, p: 551-3797
Gerðarsafn, Kóparvogur Art Gallery, Hamraborg 4, p:551-3797
Hafnarborg Art Gallery, Srandgata 34 Hafnarfj, 555-0080
Hafnarhúsið, Reykjavík Art museum, Tryggvagata 17, p: 590-1200
Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Hlemmur 5, p:590-0500
Kjarvalsstaðir Art Museum, Flókagata, p: 517-1290
Museum of Medical History, Neströð 170, p: 561-1016
National Gallery of Iceland, Fríkirkjuvegur 7, p: 515-9600
Nordic House, Sturlugata 5, p: 551-7030
Reykjavík City Library, Tryggvagata 15, p: 563-1750
Reykjavík Elestrivity Museum, Rafstöðvarvegur, p: 567-9009
Reykjavík Museum of Photography, Tryggvagata 15, p: 563-1790
Reykjavík Zoo & Family Park, Engjavegur, p: 575-7800
Saga Museum, Perlan Öskjuhlíð, p: 511-1517
Sigurjón Ólafsson Sculpture Museum, Lauganestangi 70, p: 553-2906
Galleries
101 Gallery, Hverfisgata 18a
Gallery Kling og Bang, Laugavegi 23, p: 822-0402
Gallery Fold, Rauðarárstígur 14-16, p: 551-0400
Gallery Hnoss, Skólavörðustígur 16, p: 561-8485
Gallery i8, Klapparstígur 33, p: 551-3666
Gallery Meistari Jakob, Skólavörðustígur 5, p: 552-7161
Gallery Skuggi, Hverfistaga 39, p: 511-1139
Gallery Smíðar og skart, Skólavörðustíg 16a, p: 561-4090
Gallery Tukt, Pósthússtræti 3-5, p: 520-4600
Handverk og Hönnun, Aðalstræti 12, p: 551-7595
Kirsuberjatréð, Vesturgötu 4, p: 562-8990
Safn, Laugavegur 37, p: 561-8777
The Icelandic Printmakers Association, Tryggvagata 17, p: 588-7576
Other
Klink og Bank, Brautarholt, p: 822-0402
Salurinn Concert Hall, Hamraborg 6, p: 570-0400
Tónlistarþróunarmiðstöð (TÞM), Hólmaslóð 2, p: 824-3002
Theaters
Icelandic Dance Company, Listabraut 4, p: 588-0900
National Theatre of Iceland, Hverfisgata 19, p: 551-1200
Reykjavík City Theatre, Listabraut 3, p: 568-5500
The Icelandic Opera, Ingólfsstræti, p: 511-6400
Loftkastalinn, Seljavegi 2, p: 552-3000
Iðnó, Vonarstræti 3, p: 562-9700
Möguleikhúsið, Laugavegur 105, p: 562-2669
Restaurants
3 Frakkar, Baldursgata 14, p: 552-3939
Café Opera, Lækjargata 2, p: 552-9499
Hornið, Hafnarstræti 15, p: 551-3340
Jómfrúin, Lækjargata 4, p: 551-0100
Maru, Aðalstræti 12, p: 511-4440
Pasta Basta, Klapparstígur 38, p: 511-2238
Sjávarkjallarinn, Aðalstræti 2, p: 511-1212
Tapas, Vesturgata 3b, p: 551-2344
Tjarnarbakkinn, Vonarstræti 2, p: 562-9700
Tveir Fiskar, Geirsgata 9, p: 511-3474
Við Tjörnina, Templarasund 3, p: 551-8666
Vox Nordica Hotel, Suðurlandsbraut 2, p: 444-5050
Cafés
Bleika Dúfan, Laugavegur 21, p: 517-1980
Café Paris, Austurstræti 14, p: 551-1020
Café Roma, Laugavegi 118, p: 562-0020
Feng Shui, Laugavegur 42b, p: 551-8686
Grái Kötturinn, Hverfisgata 16a, p: 551-1544
Kaffivagninn, Grandagarður 10, p: 551-5932
Kaffitár, Bankastræti 8, p: 588-0440
Mokka, Skólavörðustígur 3a, p: 552-1174
Ráðhúskaffi, City Hall, p: 563-2169
Segafredo by Lækjartorg main square.
Te og Kaffi, Laugavegur 27, p: 533-6262
Café, Bar and Bistro
Ari í Ögri, Ingólfsstræti 3, p: 551-9660
Bar 11, Laugavegur 11, p: 511-1180
Café 22, Laugavegur 22, p: 511-5522
Café List, Laugavegur 20a, p: 511-1420
Café Victor, Hafnarstræti 1-3, p: 561-9555
Dillon, Laugavegur 30, p: 511-2400
Dubliner, Hafnarstræti 4,p: 511-3233
Gaukur á Stöng, Tryggvagata 22, p: 551-1556
Glaumbar, Tryggvagata 20, p: 552-6868
Grand Rokk, Smiðjustígur 6, p: 551-5522
Hressingarskálinn, Austurstræti 20, p: 561-2240
Hverfisbar, Hverfisgata 20, p: 511-6700
Jón Forseti, Aðalstræti 10, p: 551-0962
Kaffi Kúltur, Hverfisgötu 18, p: 530-9314
Kaffibarinn, Bergstaðastræti 1, p: 551-1588
Kaffibrennslan, Pósthússtræti 9, p: 561-3600
Leikhúskjallarinn, Hverfisgata 19, p: 551-6010
Nasa, by Austurvöllur, p: 511-1313
Nelly’s, Þingholtsstræti 2, p: 551-2477
Mojito, Austurstræti 16, p: 575-7905
Prikið, Bankastræti 12, p: 551-3366
Póstbarinn, Pósthússtræti 13, 562-7830
Rósenberg, Lækjargötu 2, p: 551-8008
Sirkus, Klapparstígur 30
Sólon, Bankastræti 7a, p: 562-3232
Thorvaldsen bar, Austurstræti 8, p: 511-1413
Vegamót, Vegamótastígur 4, p: 511-3040
Fastfood
Bæjarins bestu, Tryggvagata, p: 894-4515
Bernhöftsbakarí, Bergstaðastæti 13, p: 551-3083
Eldsmiðjan, Bragagata 38a, p: 562-3838
First Vegetarian (Á næstu grösum), Laugavegur 20b, p: 552-8410
Hlölli, Ingólfstorgi, p: 511-3500
Mama Taco’s, Lækjargata 8, 551-5513
Nonnabiti, Hafnarstræti 11, p: 551-2312
Pizza 67, Tryggvagata 26, p: 561-9900
Pizza Pronto, Vallarstræti 4, p: 517-5445
Reykjavík Bagel Company, Laugavegur 81, p: 511-4500
Vitabar, Bergþórugata 21, p: 551-7200
ADDRESS BOOK
26