The Cosmic Culture Club

A Very Kacey Christmas

November 30, 2023

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Kacey Musgraves

Overview

This album delivers Christmas music with vintage Kacey Musgraves flair. It’s emblematic of how she approaches music in general – play it traditionally and don’t shy away from being higher than the angel on top of the tree. She invites a couple of friends to join the party, notably her BFF Willie Nelson and Fort Worth crooner Leon Bridges.

It’s a quirky, fun, timeless album. “I really wanted to create a whimsical throwback holiday record, one that evokes feelings of nostalgia and simpler times.” Musgraves explained. “I think that the fine musicians and brains that were a part of this project have helped me create a body of music that can be added to people’s classic collections.”

Vibe

This is a great addition to the classic collection, but the four original songs she penned are clear highlights. It’s a good album to play at a party, but it is a great one to play after a party. When you are back home after an evening of socializing, a warm fire flickering on the tv, the tree lights set to a soft glow, a glass of red wine in hand. Shoes traded in for warm slippers. Drop the needle on this one and settle in for a cozy evening.

Companion Album

Under the Double Ego is a beautifully mellow album from Kinky Friedman that contains some of his finest songwriting. It was a goodbye album from him, and it took thirty years for him to record the follow up. The Kinkster was one of the rare souls who had a wit that could go toe to toe with Kacey, and he shows a subtle mastery on this collection of folk songs.

Lost Lake

Being a Texan I have an affinity for Christmas tiki drinks seeing as how we are more likely to get weather befitting of Christmas in the sand than snowcaps. When Kacey decided to record “Mele Kalikimaka” it’s fate was sealed. This album is getting the tiki treatment.

The Lost Lake originated as a signature cocktail at a Chicago tiki-bar, but that is not the way it made into our recipe collection. One year for the family Christmas party we embraced a Hawaiian theme. We roasted a pig, served spam musubi appetizers, and required that everyone bring a tiki cocktail for the competition. Guests were given five coffee beans to use as voting tokens and pitchers of the cocktails were set out for tastings. At the end of the night, the Lost Lake had the most beans and was declared the undisputed champion.

Here is the award winning recipe:

Ingredients

2 oz aged Jamaican rum
3/4 oz lime juice
3/4 oz passionfruit syrup
1/2 oz pineapple juice
1/4 oz maraschino liqueur
1/4 oz Campari

Directions

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice.
Shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
Strain into a rocks glass (or your favorite tiki mug) filled with crushed ice.

Holiday Album

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Holiday Lounge

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