I used to dread the arrival of the Christmas song. In the past, around this time of year, my desk would be awash with saccharine and sentimental songs, the inbox inundated with singalongs, jingling bells, false cheer, and forced jollity. But this year, something is different. With about half a dozen songs already penned and posted, there would appear to be a fundamental change afoot. The one thing that defines the Christmas song of 2024 is honesty. Ever More Nest latest release, Merry Little Thing, is part of that newfound approach with a triptych of meaningful and marvelous acoustic roots-pop.
“Back in the Doghouse on Christmas” puts a new spin on the old country trope of staying out late, drinking too much, and finding yourself persona non grata, to say the least. And from the fun and light-hearted to something more resonant, “Where Do The Holidays Go” reminds us that the holiday season isn’t always that much fun for many – the ill, the troubled, and the lonely.
The EP rounds off with that classic “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” delivered in the jazz-infused style of the Judy Garland original. This includes the oft-changed line, “Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow,” which grows in poignancy the more you think about it.
Christmas songs used to be the sort of jolly old singalong designed to make you forget your troubles and paper over the cracks. With artists such as Ever More Nest at the wheel (or should that be holding the reins), such songs are now filled with more profound and meaningful messages, too. The Christmas song, it would appear, has finally grown up.
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