[Review originally published 12/8/2009 on my old blog, Skratchdisc]
PHIL SPECTOR would be rolling in his grave if he knew what these malcontents have done to his quintessential yuletide rekkid. Featuring artists like Billy Childish, Thee Headcoatees, Cute Lepers, Holly Golightly, and other mostly-Brit indie stars, A Damaged Christmas Gift For You is about as garage as you can get. The 14-track compilation pulls cuts from various Damaged Goods (UK record label) 7″ holiday singles from the last decade, plus a couple of new tracks. Holly Golightly is great with “Christmas Tree on Fire” and “Little Stars” (backed by a few of The Raconteurs under the Greenhornes guise), T.V. Smith (of The Adverts) has a ditty called “Xmas Bloody Xmas,” and then there’s the incredibly naughty “Santa Claus” by Thee Headcoatees—so dirty I’d be surprised these girls got anything aside from a summer sausage as a gift that year. Very Damaged, indeed. (Available as a download only from Damaged Goods) — Marsh Gooch
NuDisc 