Dr. Dog Release a Holiday Ep, All Proceeds Will Go to Charity [stream]

A few days ago, Santa came early when Dr. Dog announced the release of their Christmas EP, Oh My Christmas Tree. Just when I thought I couldn’t love this band any more, they also added that all proceeds from the sales will go to Feeding America, a nationwide food bank network. The band has been busy this past year; earlier in 2013, Dr. Dog finished building their very own studio in Philadelphia, and in October they released their latest LP, B-Room. The four original songs on Oh My Christmas Tree, written by frontman Scott McMicken, are a perfectly jolly way to round out a productive year. Dr. Dog showed their fans a new direction with their sound on B-Room, focusing more on minimal arrangements and bluesy production, but Oh My Christmas fits in perfectly with the rest of the band’s jangly-pop discography.

The EP opens with “Christmas Party”, depicting a party scene full of “stocking stuffers, mistletoe lovers,” “eggnog enhancers, tinsel-tossing cookie-cutting ribbon-tying types,” cheerfully acknowledging the campiness of the holiday season with a twinge of irony — a scene, and attitude, many of us know well. “Christmas Party” would fit on any Christmas playlist right alongside other celebratory anthems like “Sleigh Ride”, or “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”, but the following track, “Oh My Christmas Tree”, is a more sentimental waltz with hummed harmonies, a twinkling piano, and sleigh bells — a song for the more melancholic revelers.

The EP picks up again with “I Believe In Santa Claus”, displaying the same playfulness mostly found on the band’s earlier albums, with a little spoken message from Scott about the power to make miracles happen. If you’re not already rejoicing by the end of these three tracks, Oh My Christmas Tree closes with “Rejoice”, emitting the kind of beautiful optimism with which Dr. Dog originally stole my heart. As timeless as the classic Christmas carols may be, it’s so refreshing to hear new additions to the pantheon. Plus, by buying this EP, you’re donating to a wonderful cause. Who doesn’t win here? Be sure to pick up your copy on iTunes today!