Adam Green, Jack Black, Haim and more contribute to Hanukkah+
This Friday sees the release of Hanukkah+, a brand new compilation of Chanukah music, created by some major names in the contemporary music world. And while they're not all Jewish, it's fair to say that the subject matter is incredibly so. Coming in at 12 tracks, and released by Verve Forecast, the album features Haim, The Flaming Lips, Moldy Peaches' Adam Green and actor/musician Jack Black, to name a just handful.
Loudon Wainwright III © Carl Lender
Produced by Grammy-winner Randall Poster, the LP was supposedly inspired by New Jersey band Yo La Tengo, who also appear on the record. Almost every year the indie-rock trio host a series of gigs called '8 Nights of Hanukkah', which led Poster to put together a collection of all-new recordings by Jews and non-Jews alike. "As non-practicing Jews (and non-Jews), truthfully the holiday has little meaning for us," Yo La Tengo revealed in a press release. "That’s the meta joke behind [our] Hanukkah shows. But we were open to inspiration.”
Yo La Tengo © Alterna2
'Eight Candles' by Yo La Tengo is one of the original offerings on the compilation, along with Loudon Wainwright III's 'Eight Nights a Week', 'Sing it Now, Sing it Somehow' by The Flaming Lips and 'Hanukkah in ’96' by Alex Frankel – one half of synthpop duo Holy Ghost and whose family own Frankel’s Jewish deli in Brooklyn. The rest of the record is made up of covers, including Leonard Cohen's 'If It Be Your Will', as performed by LA sisters Haim, and two from Jack Black that bookend the LP: 'Oh Hanukkah' and 'Chad Gadya (Passover Bonus)'.
Jack Black © Eva Rinaldi
The track list is as follows:
1. ‘Oh Hanukkah’ – Jack Black
2. ‘Dreidels of Fire’ – Adam Green
3. ‘Eight Candles’ – Yo La Tengo
4. ‘If It Be Your Will’ – Haim
5. ‘Sing It Now, Sing It Somehow’ – The Flaming Lips
6. ‘Hanukkah in ’96’ – Alex Frankel
7. ‘Give You Everything’ – Buzzy Lee
8. ‘Dedication’ – Tommy Guerrero
9. ‘Eight Nights a Week’ – Loudon Wainwright III
10. ‘Hanukkah Dance’ – Watkins Family Hour
11. ‘Sanctuary’ – Craig Wedren
12. ‘Chad Gadya (Passover Bonus)’ – Jack Black
By Danielle Goldstein
Header photo of Haim by Jared Eberhardt
Hanukkah+ is out Friday 22 November, followed by he vinyl release on Friday 13 December. Visit verveforecast.com for more info.