Video: Last Minute Gift Ideas from Cnet TV’s Loaded

3D HD TV’s without those stupid glasses. I’m intrigued, go on….

Hit the jump for CNET’s ’12 Days of Christmas’ shopping guide…

[via DJ Enuff]

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Strut Records Gets In The Christmas Groove

In the spirit of James Brown’s Funky Christmas is this excellent-looking compilation of holiday rare groove and soul records that I missed last year from the always-reliable Strut records. Peep the science:

“The golden era of ‘60s and ‘70s soul music boasts a great tradition for Christmas songs and, following in the footsteps of classic Christmas albums from the Motown stable and James Brown, Strut enter the festive spirit this November with the first ever Yuletide compilation on the label, In The Christmas Groove, bringing together 12 rare soul, funk and blues cuts rediscovered from Christmases past.

All in all, an essential diggers’ grab bag for the festive season and a refreshing alternative to the traditional Christmas fare. Early reaction from Lapland is encouraging: “Sinatra and Jim Reeves are certainly legends but the same songs each Christmas are driving me and Rudolph a bit potty, quite frankly,” explains Santa Claus. “This is the sh*t I want in my sleigh!”

In The Christmas Groove is released on CD and digital and features an extensive booklet including original sleeve artwork and sleeve notes by James Maycock of Mojo magazine.”

MP3: Wild Honey · Angel’s Christmas by Popcasting

MP3: Electric Jungle – Funky Funky Christmas by elninodiablo

Hit the jump for the full track listing.

Connect with Strut online – website | In the Christmas Groove microsite

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New Music: 1982 (Statik Selektah & Termanology), Kali, REKS, JFK and Teyana Taylor – Christmas In Boston

MP3: 1982 (Statik Selektah & Termanology) – Christmas In Boston featuring Kali, REKS, JFK and Teyana Taylor [direct download link]

Which of course is Beantown take off on “Christmas in Harlem.” Hit the jump to hear the final, mastered (?) version of that track.

T.dot version coming soon? Anyone?? (I guess for now it’s just this one verse from local rapper, Promise)

[via Nah Right / Clockwork Music / Cityonmyback.com]

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New Music: ReKaSte – Christmas Time is Here

R&B cover of the ‘Charlie Brown Christmas Special’ classic….

Download ReKaSte – Christmas Time is Here [direct mp3 download link]

Connect with ReKaSte – twitter | facebook



Previously on The Kitchen:

Listen to DJ Jazzy Jeff feat. Ayah – Xmas Time

Chris Read and Marc Hype – The World’s Greatest Christmas Mixtape (2-CD Set)

Need some funk, soul, boogie (?) and hip hop in your Christmas music? Then look no further! Here’s the background from Chris Read:

“When it came to putting together an Xmas mixtape, I knew I couldn’t do it without getting my friend and 2x ITF champion, Marc Hype in on the act. Marc and I first met about this time last year when DJing at the Rap History club night in Berlin and bonded over our love of obscure rap 12s, unusual breaks and, as it turns out, funky Christmas records. The result of many hours of digging, many more of mix construction and a few email conversations is a little collaboration we’ve decided to call ‘The World’s Greatest Christmas Mixtape’, a title we hope will be taken in good humour and a dose of Christmas cheer.

You’d be forgiven for thinking a Christmas mix is going to be a little corny and you might be right, but what the hell; If some of our favourite artists of all time (Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Michael Jackson to name a few) can get away with making Christmas records, I don’t see why we shouldn’t give some of those records our loving touch – so that’s what we’ve done!”

Download: Chris Read and Marc Hype – The World’s 2nd Greatest Christmas Mixtape: music of substance | rapidshare zip file (Tracklist, artwork and press info are included.)

Hit the jump for the track listing for both volumes…

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