In 2009, Hometapes aptly demonstrated that they are a force to be reckoned with and a label to keep an eye on. They packed the year with great releases, some of which are likely to appear on my best of 2009 list, slated to go live late next week. To celebrate the holidays, they’ve done two things worth noting. First is Eight Days Of Christmas, which features Christmas tunes from eight Hometapes bands. Second is a Holiday sampler, which arrived in the form of a cassette via mail on Friday.

The latter first: it’s the first cassette I’ve received since starting FensePost, and because of it’s (now) nontraditional format, there’s cause for celebration. Check out my feature of this release over at Cover Art next week.

Now for the good stuff: Eight Days of Hometapes in its entirety. Click the song headlines to visit Hometapes and read more about the bands that participated, including photos, lists and other joyful items…

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Day 1. “Little Drummer Boy” by Slaraffenland

Slaraffenland is one of the better groups to fit the highly niche experimental orchestral-pop genre. With what seems like endless instruments, a collection of vocal harmonies, and a knack for creating entirely original pieces of work, this is a one-of-a-kind band. Not surprising, their version of “Little Drummer Boy” is a one-of-a-kind Christmas song. Absolutely wonderful.

Slaraffenland: Little Drummer Boy [mp3]

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Day 2. “I’ll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams)” by Shannon Fields of Stars Like Fleas

Somewhat minimal, packed with unique orchestration, and including oft erratic vocals, “I’ll Be Home For Christmas (If Only In My Dreams)” by Stars Like Fleas’ Shannon Fields is very easily one of the odder Christmas songs you’ll hear this year (and any year at that). Still, as the vocals drop out and what sounds like a theremin takes over the melody, cohesiveness is achieved.

Shannon Fields: I’ll Be Home For Christmas [mp3]

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Day 3. “O Holy Night” by Pattern Is Movement

Minimal instrumentation and harmony male vocals filled with verbose vibrato is a Pattern Is Movement trait and they adjust the sounds of “O Holy Night” appropriately to give it their signature ring. Unique, yes. Beautiful, quite.

Pattern Is Movement: O Holy Night [mp3]

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Day 4. “It’s Christmas (But I Don’t Care)” by Brad Laner

Brad Laner is a new face for me, and a new sound. It’s electro-pop, but it’s not your typical version of the subgenre. It blends in an almost 90s R&B-ish sound. Bizarre, but not half bad… definitely worth checking out. Keep an eye out for his new record, Natural Selections, out on Hometapes in 2010.

Brad Laner: It’s Christmas (But I Don’t Care) [mp3]

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Day 5. “Christmastime Is Here” by The Caribbean

The Caribbean has always created music on the dire edge of sanity. It’s pop, but it’s out-there pop. “Christmastime Is Here” is no exception. Still, they manage to produce a version of the song that is beautiful and pleasant. You can almost feel the warmth from the fireplace at your parent’s house.

The Caribbean: Christmastime Is Here [mp3]

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Day 6. “Kites” by All Tiny Creatures (feat. Truman Capote’s story A Christmas Memory)

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more mesmerizing Christmas story than that called A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote. Place behind it the hypnotic tune “Kites” by All Tiny Creatures, and dub in vocals sung selectively behind certain passages, and the result is, quite literally, breathtaking.

All Tiny Creatures: Kites (feat. Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory) [mp3]

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Day 7. “I Saw Three Ships” by Megafaun

“I Saw Three Ships” begins in a classic Megafaun way – a cappella. With a light banjo, harmonica, and hints of an acoustic guitar, Megafaun does what they do best, which is to say they create an outstanding folk tune. This one just happens to be Christmas related. I doubt you’ll hear a better version of “I Saw Three Ships” anywhere, from any land, or on any body of water.

Megafaun: I Saw Three Ships [mp3]

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Day 8. “Wonderful Christmastime” by Adam And Sara

For Day 8, Adam And Sara created an instrumental version of that song that drives you nuts by the end of the holiday season. “Wonderful Christmastime” is capable of burning itself into your mind and staying there for the duration of the holidays. At first you love it, then it gets old, then it gets really old. But with this somewhat minimal key-heavy instrumental, the song finally reaches a point where it works. FensePost approves.

Adam And Sara: Wonderful Christmastime [mp3]

Written by Fense

It’s the end of the year and I’m rapidly trying to catch up on and wrap up all loose ends. My promo rack is still out of control, as is my inbox. And my 2009 resolution will be the same as 2008: keep up with the inbox and promo rack. Hopefully I’ll be able to stick with it this time around. As I hastily try to pare these two things down, I keep stumbling across new items that slipped by unnoticed, like Stars Like Fleas (MySpace). The album, of course, is The Ken Burns Effect.

At the base level, it’s folk. But there’s much more going on, like a multi-instrumental orgy of experimental folk noise. With clear and distinct vocals, Stars Like Fleas broadens horizons with accessible music that’s just a little outside the norm. I’m guessing The Ken Burns Effect is going to be one of those albums I’ll kick myself for not including in my end of year list because, as the year wraps up, all I’ve heard is the brilliant “I Was Only Dancing”.

The Ken Burns Effect, then, is the first album of many to go on my 2008 Christmas list. It can be found on Hometapes.

Stars Like Fleas: I Was Only Dancing [mp3]