The Essential Advent Calendar: December 4 – Jesse Malin’s ‘Xmas, etc’ Is The Seasonal Second Single Lifted From Upcoming 20th Anniversary Expanded/Re-recorded Edition Of Debut Album

We’re cracking on with the 2022 Essential Advent Calendar, and behind Door Number 4 we find Jesse Malin’s festive single, ‘Xmas, etc’, which was released on November 18, via One Little Independent. It can be streamed and downloaded here.

The track is a re-recorded version of the one from his debut album, ‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’. The 2-disc long player, set to come out on February 17, 2023, is the expanded edition to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the album’s first release, and it includes a bonus LP of the entire album, re-imagined and re-recorded. You can pre-order and pre-save it here.

‘The Fine Art Of Self Destruction’, released in 2003, was the debut album for New York based singer-songwriter, Jesse Malin. The new release will include a bonus disc of the album’s songs re-imagined and re-recorded with Malin’s long-time band and was produced by Derek Cruz and engineered by Geoff Sanoff, who worked on Jesse’s recent ‘Sunset Kids’ and ‘Sad And Beautiful World’ releases.

Speaking of the album, Malin said,

“It wasn’t named for drug or alcohol abuse. It was more about a personal wreckage when I looked back on my life, from my parents’ divorce to failed relationships, broken up bands, dropping out of school, crashing cars, breaking things. It was more of a spiritual journey in some sense. This record is definitely one of my favourites.”

A new version of the album song ‘Xmas’ has been re-entitled ‘Xmas, etc’, with Malin saying the poignant track is,

“a reminder of the unconditional spirit while somehow surviving the holiday season. Sending love out to those who are now far away from us.”

Following his teenage years in the pioneering hardcore band Heart Attack and his 20s fronting the wild and beloved D Generation, Malin took a cue from his songwriting heroes and was ready for a chance to stand alone. His solo debut was recorded over six days in New York City, live and raw.

Xmas, etc.

“I was still learning how to sing and tell stories. These songs were written in a little apartment downtown, without a record deal, a manager, or any expectation of anything coming of it – just a need to write them.”

Malin will arrive in the UK in mid-February for the start of a European tour to promote this reissue, before returning to New York to perform at Webster Hall, where his special guests will include Tommy Stinson (who also guests on the European dates), Lucinda Williams, Butch Walker, Cait O’Riordan (The Pogues), Catherine Popper, Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie), opener Fantastic Cat, with more surprises to be announced. The European tour dates are listed below.

‘THE FINE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION’
TRACKLISTING
1  Queen of the Underworld
2  TKO
3  Wendy
4  Downliner
5  Brooklyn
6  The Fine Art of Self Destruction
7  Riding On The Subway
8  High Lonesome
9  Solitaire
10  Almost Grown
11  Xmas
12  Cigarettes and Violets
13  Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash)
14  Riding on the Subway ’22
15  Downliner (Afterglow Version)
16  High Lonesome (PBR Vacation)
17  Cigarettes and Violets ’22
18  Almost Grown (Busker Version)
19  Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller)
20  Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version)
21  Xmas, etc.

Limited Edition 2xLP
A1  Queen of the Underworld
A2  TKO
A3  Downliner
A4  Wendy
A5  Brooklyn
B1  The Fine Art of Self Destruction
B2  Riding On The Subway
B3  High Lonesome
B4  Solitaire
B5  Almost Grown
B6  Xmas
C1  Brooklyn (Walt Whitman in the Trash)
C2  Downliner (Afterglow Version)
C3  Solitaire (Song for Kelly Keller)
C4  Almost Grown (Busker Version)
D1  Queen of the Underworld (Cantina Version)
D2  Cigarettes and Violets ’22
D3  High Lonesome (PBR Vacation)
D4  Xmas, etc.

JESSE MALIN UK / EUROPEAN TOUR 2023
15.02.23  GLASGOW Stereo  tickets
16.02.23  MANCHESTER YES (The Pink Room)  tickets
17.02.23  LONDON The Garage  tickets
18.02.23  PARIS (FR) La Boule Noire  tickets
19.02.23  UTRECHT (NL) dB’s  tickets
23.02.23  BERGAMO (IT) Druso  tickets
24.02.23  RAVENNA (IT) Bronson  tickets
25.02.23  MARENO DI PIAVE, TV (IT) Corner Live  tickets
27.02.23  HAMBURG (DE) Nochtspeicher  tickets
28.02.23  COPENHAGEN (DK) Hotel Cecil  tickets
01.03.23  LUND (SE) Mejeriet  tickets
02.03.23  STOCKHOLM (SE) Bar Brooklyn  tickets
03.03.23  OSLO (NO) John Dee  tickets

You can find out more about Jesse Malin online on his official website.



About the author

Lisa has been writing for over 20 years, starting as the entertainment editor on her university newspaper. Since then she's written for Popwrapped, Maximum Pop, Celebmix, and ListenOnRepeat.

Lisa loves all good music, with particular fondness for Jedward and David Bowie. She's interviewed Edward Grimes (Jedward), Kevin Godley, Trevor Horn, Paul Young, Peter Cox (Go West), Brendan B Brown (Wheatus), Bruce Foxton (The Jam), among many many more. Lisa is also available for freelance writing - please email lisa@essentiallypop.com