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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spokane musicians share Christmas spirit on ‘Bartlett Christmas Vol. 4’

This year’s album is the fourth in the Bartlett’s Christmas compilation series. (Cover design by Karli Ingersoll)

Now in its fourth year, the Bartlett’s Christmas compilation album puts a local twist on holiday cheer, with Spokane-area musicians writing and recording holiday- or winter-inspired songs.

To celebrate the album’s release, the Bartlett is hosting the fourth annual Bartlett Christmas Special on Friday.

A track by Misty Mountain Pony Club, aka country duo Milo Krims and Sally Jablonsky, called “South of Town” opens the album.

On “South of Town,” the pair sings about their winter checklist, which includes tasks like feeding the chickens and a little pony, roasting chestnuts on the fire, sledding “down the big hill to the cottonwood tree” and making a wish on the North Star, on a day so snowy they can’t get into town.

On the cheeky “Hello Santa,” Miles Martin of Friends of Mine echoes the wishes of many 20-somethings and asks Santa to help pay back his student loans or for a little money to get a new transmission for his car.

All goth dream pop duo Newman (Ceira Thomas and Chris Malsam, who also plays in Friends of Mine) wants is for a loved one to drive to be with them on “South to North,” and J.T. Landy, who also performs with Marshall McLean, makes his first of two appearances on the compilation with his synth-heavy take on “Christmas Time Is Here.”

Then, Ripe Mangoes, Misty Mountain Pony Club’s Krims, goes solo on the charming acoustic tune “Clumsy Bell,” and Chris Molitor, who released his debut full-length album in October, puts a folk spin on “O Holy Night.”

Surf-rock trio Runaway Octopus explore a little thought-about aspect of wintertime on “Where the Snow Plows Go to Sleep,” and Landy closes the album with an instrumental version of “Silent Night.”

Scott Ryan, Jenny Anne Mannan, Windoe, Cedar and Boyer, Super Sparkle and Marshall McLean will also perform at the Bartlett Christmas Special.

All four volumes of “Bartlett Christmas” can be heard at https://thebartlett.bandcamp.com/.