When it comes to the holiday season, few things bring people together like Christmas carolling. The Milk Carton Kids have reintroduced us to the magic of this tradition with their new album. In this article, we'll explore the album, its songs, and the meaning behind them.

Uncover the Melodies and Memories of Christmas with The Milk Carton Kids

Introduction to the Album

During the pandemic, The Milk Carton Kids started a live stream around the holidays from Kenneth's house. This led to the idea of doing a different holiday song each year. Eventually, they decided to make a full Christmas album. The songs on "Christmas In A Minor Key" are all traditional, chosen for their beauty and nostalgia.

The album features acoustic guitars that accentuate the fragility of songs like "The First Noel." Specific images create the feeling of the season, transporting listeners back to a time of shared memories.

Joey Ryan's Perspective

Joey Ryan, one half of The Milk Carton Kids, shared his thoughts on the album and what Christmas means to him. For him, it's about family and tradition. Whether it's the religious relevance of the nativity scene or the warmth of home with presents under the tree, Christmas is a time to celebrate.

He also mentioned his love for Phoebe Bridgers' "So Much Wine" EP and how it's one of his favorite contemporary Christmas albums. And when it comes to performing the songs, they'll be doing a live stream at a small venue and a benefit show with Emmylou Harris this weekend.

Childhood Memories and Traditions

Growing up, Joey had a mix of Christmas and Hanukkah in his house. He doesn't remember the specific Christmas music they listened to, but he does remember the big family time and getting presents. Now as an adult, he enjoys a collection of Christmas vinyl, including Nat King Cole, Sinatra, and Bing Crosby.

He has two boys who are very into Christmas and watch a lot of Christmas movies. They have their own traditions, like watching "Christmas Vacation" and "Elf."

The Religious Aspect

The Milk Carton Kids chose a lot of Jesus-y songs for the album. Joey realized that they were singing about Christ the Lord quite a bit and wondered how it would strike people. For him, growing up Jewish and Kenneth not being religious, the lyrics in these songs don't have a lot of weight. But the melodies are so ingrained in their memories that the lyrics seem to disappear.

They also discussed Rodney Crowell's "Christmas Everywhere" album, which was almost anti-Christmas. Joey prefers the traditional Christmas songs and thinks there's enough to gripe about in the world without ruining Christmas.

Christmas List and Traditions

Joey's Christmas list is focused on connection and nurturing relationships. He noticed that during the pandemic, people were more likely to retreat into their own worlds. He's trying to push back against that.

When it comes to Christmas traditions, cooking is one of Joey's favorites. In his wife's family, they have either turkey or ham. And he makes a big batch of eggnog, spiked with whiskey from a bottle that's been sitting on the shelf for a while.

The digital files for "Christmas In A Minor Key" can be downloaded or streamed from their website. It's a testament to the power of these traditional Christmas songs and the memories they evoke.