Manchester Orchestra have announced that their holiday compilation Christmas Songs Vol. 1—released last year exclusively on Bandcamp, where it shot to No.1 on the Best Sellers list—will see a wide release digitally on October 29, 2021, and physically on November 12, 2021, via Loma Vista Recordings.
The EP, which features six seasonal classics, will be available across all DSPs and on CD as well as vinyl for the first time; the band’s webstore will feature a special blue vinyl variant, while the retail version is holiday red with an etching on the B-side, housed in a ruby red foiled jacket. The band’s spare, atmospheric rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is available to hear now.
“The idea of recording a collection of Christmas songs has always been dancing around in the back of my head,” explained singer/guitarist Andy Hull of the EP’s origin. “Many of the songs we decided to record are hundreds of years old and our approach to recording them was to get out of the way and let the beauty of the composition do the talking. We chose songs that we grew up singing and that were ingrained in our musical inclinations from a very young age. Regardless of your beliefs or how you chose to celebrate or not celebrate this holiday season, I hope this collection can bring you some peace and calmness.
Earlier this month, Manchester Orchestra shared a new version of their latest single “Telepath,” reimagined by Dirty Projectors.
The track is a deconstructed and kaleidoscopic rendering of the heartfelt original from the band’s acclaimed new album, The Million Masks of God (Loma Vista Recordings). “Telepath (Dirty Projectors Version)” follows Local Natives’ reworking of Masks’ lead single “Bed Head,” the band’s latest No.2 AAA and Top 20 Alternative radio hit.
The group also recently released the heavy, slow-burning new song “Never Ending,” their contribution to the Dark Nights: Death Metal Soundtrack, executive produced by Tyler Bates (Guardians of the Galaxy, Watchmen, John Wick) and out digitally now.
Pre-order Christmas Songs Vol. 1.
Christmas Songs Vol. 1 Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Silent Night
3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
4. White Christmas
5. O Holy Night
6. God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
7. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
8. Outro
