Christmas is almost here!  There is still time to get in any orders that you may want before the big day, if you hurry.  I’m shipping as fast as I can.

I have some nice items in stock at the moment that may interest you for the holidays, so I thought I’d shoot out another quick update.  Check these out…

NEW ARRIVALS:

Pet Shop Boys “Christmas” (CDEP) $12 — This is a great piece for the fans and collectors, featuring five tracks to add to your holiday cheer, including a cool mix of “Viva la Vida / Domino Dancing”.   See the track list and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/CDR6784/Pet-Shop-Boys-Christmas

A-Ha “Nothing is Keeping You Here” (MCD) $10 — This is the next single from the last, impressive album from A-Ha.  Good news too…they are actually planning to play a few shows in the USA around May of 2010.   This single features two tracks– the radio edit of the title song, and a remix.   Order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/060252726819-4/A-Ha-Nothing-is-Keeping-You-Here

Legacy of Music “Forward / 4Ward” $22 — This is the best album by Legacy of Music so far, with a very solid, strong German synthpop sound.  The lyrics are mostly in English, with a little German thrown in here and there for good measure.   If you haven’t checked out this band yet, I’d say this is a great album to do so– their forth release to date.    Listen to samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/404256411898-8/Legacy-of-Music-Forward-4ward

SPECIAL HOLIDAY OFFERS:

Remember, you can still pick up this great deal on 4 CD’s for one low price, for only 1 more week!
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/Offer1/Christmas-Offer-Rename-Iris-The-Nine-Remixes

Plus, for the next 4 days, if you place an order, you can add a note in the “note box” during checkout with a DIFFERENT name and address of somebody else who could use a little synthpop for Christmas, and I’ll ship them the Endless Shame “Pure” single, plus a little something extra to lift their spirits.   Cheer up a family member or friend.  ONLY good when you place an order online and fill in the request in the note box during checkout.  ONLY one person will receive the gift per order.

Thanks,
Todd

It feels like this year has gone by really fast.   Sure, a lot has happened, but wow, I can’t believe we’re flying through December.

Well, this month brings you another really great new releases before the year ends, which you can pre-order now from A Different Drum.   I think you’ll really love this one:

AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER:

Blume “Rise from Grey” $12 — Blume is an exciting new electronic pop band from Italy that combines melancholy moods with energetic music and a smooth, strong voice. The debut album RISE FROM GREY is sure to catapult this promising threesome into the spotlight, appealing to fans of classic new wave and synthpop as well as to the fans of club-friendly industrial and futurepop.  Listen to the audio samples and pre-order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/ADDCD1290/Blume-Rise-from-Grey

NEW ARRIVALS:

Erasure “Phantom Bride” (CDEP) $14 — Yep, I’m late!  I ordered this cool import a long time ago, but I guess independent stores are not the priority because it finally arrived now, a few weeks after the release date.  Anyway, as a long-time Erasure fan, it is fun to revisit not only “Phantom Bride” (a great stand-out track that was not originally a single), this one also includes new versions of several other early Erasure hits.   See the track list and order here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/CDMUTE420/Erasure-Phantom-Bride-EP

Joy Electric “Favorites at Play” $12 — The analog synth master is back again, but this time with a collection of cover tunes.  I talked to a synthpop fan briefly about this and he said, “but it would have been nice to hear covers of songs I actually know.”  Why doesn’t he know these songs?  Well, because they’re taking from the popular music market, including covers of artists like Keane and Coldplay.   So, add some synth to your hits!  Check out the tracks and order here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/509992647842-5/Joy-Electric-Favorites-At-Play

Rotersand “War On Error” (CDEP) $14 — If you haven’t had a chance to pick up this import CD which features remixes of songs from the popular new album “Random is Resistance” then here is your chance!   Check out the track list and order here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/TRI371CD/Rotersand-War-On-Error

A-Ha “Live In Chile 06″ (DVD) $16 — Though this is an import DVD from Europe, it happily declares itself “Region 0″ NTSC format, which means it should play on all American DVD players.   It features songs played live in 2006 including many of their old hits plus some new songs.  See the track list and order here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/SHOW016-9/A-Ha-Live-in-Chile-06

Human Puppets “Future From the Past” $20 — This is a re-release of classic, minimal electro that was only on vinyl before.  There are only 500 numbered copies of the CD’s and they’ll go fast.  It includes bonus tracks as well.  I only got a handful, so if you’re a collector of electro history, grab it quickly here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/DRD02/Human-Puppets-Future-From-the-Past

Various Artists “Blank & Jones Present So80s (So Eighties)” (3CD) $30 — This is a nice treat for 80’s music collectors.  Not only does it feature 2 CD’s of classic extended versions from the 80’s, but it also has a disc that includes several of those tracks mixed together by the modern German club sensation, Blank & Jones.    See the complete track list and order here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/SC0306/Various-Artists-Blank-and-Jones-presents-So80s-So-Eighties

Remember that there is a great Christmas package deal for this month only, including 4 fun CD’s of remixes:
Iris “Reconnect”
The Nine “Invasion”
Rename “First Bounce”
Various Artists “A Different Mix 6″

They are sold at one, low price!  Great for gift-giving to people who need a little more electronic pep in their life!
Order the package here for only $12 !!!
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/Offer1/Christmas-Offer-Rename-Iris-The-Nine-Remixes

LISTEN TO THE SYNTHPOP STATION!

I’ve updated the synthpop player with a couple new songs and removed a few of the old ones.  Open it up for a fun listen while you’re working or playing at your computer:

http://www.adifferentdrum.com/Player/

Thanks, and have a wonderful weekend!  Looks like snow where I live…time to start building this year’s igloo.
-Todd

Hello from A Different Drum!  It’s time to look at the latest arrivals in the store as we head into the holidays.  I also have a special Christmas offer which may interest you…

Go to A Different Drum’s online catalog and search “Christmas Offer” and you’ll find a 4CD package deal for only $12!  You can add it to your cart and buy it.   Jump straight to this link if you’d like:
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/Offer1/Christmas-Offer-Rename-Iris-The-Nine-Remixes

It includes this remix collection CD’s:
Rename “First Bounce” (remixes from the first two albums, plus bonus tracks)
Iris “Reconnect” (remixes of tracks from the popular “Disconnect” album)
The Nine “Invasion” (remixes from the band’s two albums)
Various Artists “A Different Mix 6″ (all exclusive remixes of songs from several synthpop acts)

This offer is ONLY for the holidays!  Pick it up for yourself, or for friends.  You probably know a whole slew of teenagers who are into Owl City– use this as a way to show them that there is more out there

NEW ARRIVALS:

Hidden Place “Punto Luce” $16 — This new album from Hidden Place features a combination of dreamy female-vocal lead synthpop and punchy instrumental synth music.  Plus, the final track has a guy singing with something of a VNV Nation sound.  It’s a nice variety of textures and is worth checking out, which you can do by listening to the samples and ordering the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/TW164/Hidden-Place-Punto-Luce

The Frozen Autumn “Pale Awakenings” $16 — This is another re-release of a nice album by The Frozen Autumn, a band from Italy that is often compared to classic, old-school Clan of Xymox.   With echoing vocals and synths, it does have the 80’s Xymox sound, with a nice blend of synthpop and dreamy gothic textures.   Listen to audio samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/TW166/The-Frozen-Autumn-Pale-Awakening

Requiem 4 FM “Novocaine” $18 — This is a super-cool import from Russia from a new synthpop act that is packed with energy, cool melodies, and a solid production sound.  They do sing entirely in English, and have the potential to grow into one of the big bands in the scene after this solid debut.   Check out the audio samples and order the CD here :
http://www.adifferentdrum.com/buy/SPR090/Requiem-4-FM-Novocaine

That is all for this week.   Please remember, for any holiday shopping where you plan to give a CD as a gift, please order sooner rather than later.   Because of the volume of shipments that are handled this time of year by the postal service, you simply want to plan ahead to avoid delays.

Thanks for your support!
-Todd