The Christmas
See CMJ's review of Vortex.
click
to see a review and a pic from a show from way back,
reprinted from an unearthed copy of Forced Exposure.
intro
The Christmas featured the beautiful vocal harmonies
of Michael Cudahy and Liz Cox (who have now moved onto Combustible
Edison, under the names of "the Millionaire" and "Miss
Lily Banquette," respectively.) The vocals were only part
of the rich blend of layers of complex melody under the guise
of catchy, often upbeat and pop-ish music. Though the lyrics have
been accused by some of being less than substancial, they came
up with some great word play. Other guitarists contributed to
the mix: first Dave Rick of Phantom Tollbooth and the second (Atlantic
Records) phase of King Missile, then Nicholas Cudahy, who is now
also in Combustible Edison, and on Vortex James McNew of
Yo La Tengo.
discography
to save time and effort, I recommend downloading each .wav to
your drive first.
In Excelsior Dayglo
1986, Big Time
( front cover , edge flap of cassette , inside cover , back cover )
- Big Plans
- Loved Ones
- Boys' Town Work Song
- True Soldier Of Love
- Tommy the True
- Girl Police
- Dig We Must
- Peewee
- Everything You Know Is Wrong
- Pumpkinhead
- A Pig Amongst Men
- The Hottest Sun
- Fish Eye Sandwich
- Junk
Ultraprophets of Thee Psykick Revolution
1989, IRS
( front cover , CD art , inside cover , back cover )
- Stupid Kids
- This Is Not a Test
- Richard Nixon
- Hot Dog
- Punch and Judy
- Great Wall of China
- Human Chain
- Warhog
- He Loves Them All Too Much
- Royal Klutch Tattoo
- My Operator
- Hymn
Vortex
1993, Matador
( front cover )
other appearances
 Lyrics
By Ernest Noyes Brookings
Shimmy Disc
- On this album, various artists paired their own melodies
with the poetry of Brookings. The Christmas does "Hot Dog."
  A
beautiful, long-haired Michael Cudahy also performs this song
in front of a refrigerator on two videos, Jim McKay's "Lighthearted
Nation," and the 1989 Shimmy-Disc compilation
Every Band Has A Shonen Knife Who Loves Them
1989, SST
- Ice
Cream City -- This is the Shonen Knife tribute album, and
it basically has it's ups and downs. This track's an up, as are
ones from Redd Kross, Sonic Youth, L7, and the Pussywillows.
The down side is a bunch of stuff that is represents that which
was musically bad about the era... whatever floats your boat.
XmaslinX
Cudahy's interview for ZineZone
Cudahy's own 'zine @ ZineZone
Trouser Press' little article talks about the
albums before Vortex.
AMG's reference
Daphne's Combustible
Edison page
back to H&N Music News
Thanks to Steven Polansky for album scans and additional
info.
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