With the holidays quickly approaching, most music retailers are slowing down--and hell, we deserve a break, too. Unfortunately, that's just not going to happen this week. With over 50 new titles on the database--including over half a dozen brand new pre-release white labels!--you can say we're getting a head start on the New Year. And that's not even mentioning the fact that our Year-End Holiday Sale continues to thrive in full-swing with hundreds of imports going for $5.99 or less and domestic records finding themselves at $3.99 or less. Might as well set up a tent in the middle of the store, then. It's going to be a busy Christmas.

Here's a taste of this week's vinyl Christmas caroling:

MIKE DIXON "Swing My Jingle Bells / Merry G-Swing Christmas" G-Swing [House] Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do believe this is the first-ever Christmas house record. It's "Jingle Bells" revisited for the Chicago house set--making this a guaranteed holiday staple (and somewhat secret weapon) for years to come.

www.g-swing.com

PATRICK TURNER & JAY TRIPWIRE "Altered States" EP Movim (Promo) [House, Tech-house, Tribal] Lest we forget the phenomenal year that Patrick Turner and Jay Tripwire have had on their own--with massive releases for Bluem, Tango, Nightshift, End Recordings, Big Chief, and, umm, PR2 between them--these brilliant producers team up for the first time ever and donate two brand new tracks for this exclusive pre-release white label. Set for release in 2003, "Altered States" is the debut release for Patrick Turner's Movim label, an EP that basically revels in what made these guys so popular to begin with: Dubby and subby bass lines, dark and moody undertones, and the drums--oh, the drums. Turner and Tripwire have set the standard for this sound.

www.movim.com

SOMBIONX "Introduce An MC" (Original & Johnny Fiasco Rmxs) Doubledown (Promo) [House, Tribal, Tech-house] Chicago's Adam Nelson has taken his Sombionx project a long way this year, and his latest release for the Doubledown crew--here on exclusive pre-release--keeps the pace with recent releases on Viva's Extract imprint, Jamayka, and his own Q Studios label. The original mix is a high-powered funky tribal tech-houser that will not disappoint, while Johnny Fiasco lends a hand with a slightly deeper mix that exploits a frenetic and funky bass line that would find a nice spot in Mark Farina's Christmas stocking this year.

www.doubledownrecordings.com

JT DONALDSON "Rhythm & Dance Exploration" EP Lowdown (Promo) [House, Tech-house] On his own and as one-half of a production team that includes Lance Desardi, JT Donaldson is certainly poised to break through big-time in 2003. Here, he gets the ball rolling with these promos of an upcoming solo EP for Lowdown, which won't see the commercial light of day until late January. The result? "This Rhythm, This Dance" is my pick: Classy, quirky tech-house with an effortless deep house edge that will sound just as good at midnight as it will with the pitch jacked up at 2AM.

www.doubledownrecordings.com

CHRIS LUM / TONY HEWITT "Get Connected" (Fred Everything Rmxs) / "Party People" Nightshift (Promo) [House, Tech-house] Hell, yeah! Chris Lum's "Get Connected" was certainly a favorite for me (and plenty of others) in 2002; on this limited promo, it gets the remix treatment from Canadian deep house don Fred Everything and the result is nothing short of brilliant. Fred's Connected Mix stays true to the original, maintaining the vocal and the bass line while adding texture, atmosphere, and slightly funkier groove. The Connected Dub, however, gets my unabashed endorsement for its driving tribal rhythms and lower-than-low end groove. Tony Hewitt offers up an original track of his own, "Party People," to round out another solid package from the ever-dependable Nightshift camp. It's this week's essential pick.

www.tangorecordings.com/ns/ns_main.html

AUSTIN LEEDS VS. THE DIRTY FOURS "Submarine" (Original & Southtribe Mxs) Hamachi (Promo) [Progressive] Another exclusive on the white label front, this time from our new friends at Hamachi Records. Here, Florida producer Austin Leeds (best known for his work on Bedrock) teams up with The Dirty Fours for a deep and dirty progressive houser that gives off a slight nod to the Miami tribal sound while maintaining both feet in the UK big room rooms. Southtribe offer an early evening mix to warm-up with, but I'm going with the dark and moody original for maximum dancefloor response.

www.hamachirecords.com

FREAKS "Washing Machine" (Mark Farina vs, Sneak and Freaks Rmx & DJ Sneak Dub Mxs) White Label [House] 2002's underground house anthem of the year? "Washing Machine" was on fire since the second MFF let loose a small amount of promos in early summer. Here, house royalty Mark Farina, DJ Sneak, and the Freaks themselves reconvene for the track's definitive remix package. When is the next time you think you'll see all those folks under the same studio roof again? This is history, right here.

www.musicforfreaks.com

Also in this week is new remix and production work from Alexander East (featuring a massive Rick Preston vs. Lawnchair Generals remix!), Joshua, Home & Garden, Terry Farley's Spirit Of The Boogie (with Cass & Slide on the mix), Boston progressive wunderkinds Steve Porter & John Debo, Space Manouevers, Mike Monday, Jori Hulkkonen (with Acid Kings remixes on white label), Denver tech-house trailblazers Ty Tek & Little Mike, Luzon, Mr. G, Tony Thomas, ADNY, Sean Cusick's Q&K Sessions, Soul Mekanik, Freaks, Tony Senghore & Jonene, Nick Dare, Mavi, and lots more.

New label output this week is coming from RIP, Bedrock, Viva, Aestoeric, Yoshitoshi, Wally's Groove World, Court Square, Low Pressings, Junior, Fluential, Fluid, Mechanism, new Chicago imprint Mouthful Music, Finger Lickin', F-Communications, and many others.

And finally, on the restock tip, we've got the latest from Those Norwegians on Red Melon (with Terry Lee Brown Jr. mixes) back by popular demand, as well as Joshua's classic "Roots & Wings" / "Come Over To My Place" in stock once more on white label. (We don't have many of that one, either, so act quick.) Full release copies of the latest by Circus Night on Jamayka are also in.

Finally, the last Get Underground! party of the year is happening this Friday night in San Francisco and this is not a party that local folk will want to miss. Featured DJs include H-Foundation's Halo Varga, Dufflebag's Wally Callerio, and Primal's own Hector Moralez and Rebecca Watkins. This is going to be hot.

Thanks once again for all of your support this year and we promise to work our hardest for you in 2003. There will not be an update next week due to the Christmas holiday (and the subsequent standstill in label release schedules), so be sure to take advantage of this week's up front material and our ridiculous online sale. That should be enough to tide you over!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

(Norman Arenas)