how Seacoast music fans kick the winter blues

For some, winter is a time of joy and cheer, a time for putting on a goofy sweater and sitting by the fire with a cup of eggnog, watching snowflakes collect on the evergreen branches just outside the window. You can hear Tony Bennett, Mariah Carey or Kenny G play rosy versions of your favorite holiday classics. Carolers may even arrive at your doorstep to serenade you with live renditions of standard Christmas tunes (although I don’t think that really happens anymore).

For others, winter is a time of darkness, depression and loneliness. The lack of sunlight and frigid temperatures induce chemical imbalances that manifest themselves as a perennial pout that lasts until the first spring thaw. While blizzards once held the alluring promise of a day off from school filled with snow forts and snowball fights, they now just mean a rough morning commute and a backache from shoveling.

Regardless of which camp you belong to, thank heavens for music. A proper mood album can either validate your feelings of desperation or bolster your giddy holiday spirit. Or, you can try reverse musicology: listening to The Beach Boys during the heart of winter’s icy oppression or blasting the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” while you’re snowed into the claustrophobic confines of your apartment can have a remedial effect on your psyche. The Wire asked a number of Seacoast musicians, fans and critics to share what they’ve been listening to as the winter of 2007-’08 sets in for the season.

“Let’s Go” by Rancid—In remembrance of the ghost of Christmas past. “Challenger” by The New Pornographers—Long live ELO and anything that sounds like them! “Boxer” by The National—The song “Apartment Story” is great for beating winter blahs. — Liberty Hardy, The Wire contributor

I have two things I’ve been listening to. First, I’ve been on a Count Basie kick lately, so I’m currently listening to a smokin’ live set from 1959 called “Breakfast Dance & Barbecue,” on the Roulette/Blue Note label. The other CD is something I’ve listened to every year at this time for several years now. It’s a soul/gospel version of “The Messiah” called “Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration,” a recording that always gets me in the holiday spirit. —Alan Chase, The Jazz Universe columnist

“Ongiara,” by The Great Lake Swimmers—It’s the band’s latest release, and this album is currently tied for my Best of 2007 album with Levon Helm’s “Dirt Farmer.” It’s got all kinds of achy goodness on it—banjos, pianos, chimey guitars—and the lead singer sounds like this year’s model of Neil Young at his heartbreaking best. The songs “Changing Colours” and “I Am a Part of a Large Family” have enough sweet longing and redemption in them to handle any Christmas dolor. —Steve Johnson, actor and WSCA DJ

I’ve been listening to a ton of Tom Waits lately. Specifically, his new “Orphans” album and my favorite album of all time, “Frank’s Wild Years.” His music is comforting to me—there is something about it that makes me feel as though I am not alone. It seems to me that Tom copes with life by making his music. I can relate to that. —Elsa Cross, singer-songwriter

“Iris” by Rosy Parlane—On the cover is a frozen tree as seen through a window, so maybe the suggestive cover art works because this album feels frigid. It’s like the amplified sound of a million icicles melting inside your brain. Essential slipper listening. —Tom Kressler, employee of music distributor Forced Exposure

“Broken Boy Soldiers” by The Raconteurs—Still listening to it after two years. “Musicology” by Prince—Don’t overlook this disc. “Trouble” by Ray Lamontagne—Push the dark and depressing winter to the brink of your mental capacity. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio—Puts everyone back in their footy PJs. “The Road to Escondido” by JJ Cale & Eric Clapton—Great driving music between holiday parties. —Andy Herrick, of Assembly of Dust

To cope with the impending doom of the holiday season I find myself listening to a lot of Charles Manson’s “Lie: The Love and Terror Cult” It’s soulful, funny and ridiculous, but totally beautiful and easy to hum along to (kind of like those annoying Christmas songs that get stuck in your head). Just thinking about Charles Manson can steer your mind away from anything. Also, I’ve come to find that any Third Eye Blind song can brighten up even the coldest day … not kidding. —Kathleen Boyle, of Boy

I don’t know if anything I’ve been listening to lately is related in any way to winter, but here’s a short list! The Casting Out’s EP—Right now you can only get this EP on iTunes or at a show, but it’s awesome. “Don Quixote’s Last Ride” pulled me in and “Alone” sealed the deal. The Have Nots’ demo—Awesome Boston ska-reggae-punk. If this doesn’t get you dancing you should have your hearing checked. “Battle Hymns” by The Suicide Machines—Put this on and rage about the current socio-political status of the world. —Matt Cost, of The Swaggerin’ Growlers

“The Edge of Christmas” by various artists—I bought this compilation of ’80s rock and new wave Christmas songs for one song: “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses. To a teenager in the ’80s, it wasn’t Christmas until this song went pogo-ing out over the radio. “The New Possibility” by John Fahey—From the godfather of the finger-style guitar revival of the ’60s and ’70s, this album should top the wish list of any guitar player. Fahey interpreted holiday standards with odd, emphatic rhythms and chimey chording that makes them sound like new compositions. —Michelle Moon, singer-songwriter

“We Three Kings” by Reverend Horton Heat—A rockabilly holiday album. Sure beats Vince Lombardo Christmas albums. “Beatmas” by Rubber Band—Christmas songs put to Beatles melodies and done quite well. “The White Album” by The Beatles—My favorite record and one I revisit all the time. “The Meanest of Times” by Dropkick Murphys—Full-on Celtic punk with our own hometown hero, Al Barr. “Viva Noel: A Q Division Christmas”—It’s one of my favorite Christmas albums, featuring all Boston-based rock ’n’ pop bands. —Tim McCoy, of Tim McCoy and the Papercuts

The Brother Kite’s “Waiting for the Time to be Right” warms my heart in these cold, dull winter days. It is also jangly and sort of haunting enough that it plays well on any Christmas day. By the time “Never in Years” hits, you can practically feel the relief of spring. Simply beautiful. —Joseph K. Murphy, of Murkadee

“Go For Your Guns” by the Isley Brothers—A vital winter selection because, sometimes the power goes out, and you have to light the candles, put some batteries in the boom box and get down. It’s good general practice to get down to this album regularly anyway, to drill in case of emergency. —Geoff Taylor, of One Hand Free

The only music that makes any sense this very time of year is our lovely, local The Jethros. “Dark Side of the X-Mas Tree” is just a deliciously confounding collection of holiday classics, seemingly re-imagined by developmentally disabled middle school children. Really, it defies description. Once you hear these versions, the originals will quickly fall from your memory. —Guy Capecelatro III, musician