White Xmas 2000

Put out as a thanks "to all the deserved supporters" who helped the Lips over 1999 and 2000, this features two versions of the classic Irving Berlin song the Lips sort of made their own on tour in late 1999. A very limited supply (circa 25) of CDs were put around, as well as the green vinyl 7 inch. The A-side also featured on the Xfm compliation "It's A Cool Cool Christmas" (available on Jeepster records).

The A-side is a working version of a track intended for the proposed Christmas record in 2001. As the title states, this is indeed a demo, and it should sound more complete with a proper Tom Waits vocal on it. Meantime, the Lips trademark space-based orchestration is pretty intriguing, and a definite shift on from the gloriously frazzled live version performed as a show ending encore in late 1999.

The B-side is an eye opener, showing the Lips in a rather electronic mode, which may or may not be a portent of things to come. If it is, things could get very interesting because, as usual, they do things their way and arrive at an engaging and very different spacey sound that just seems to use hyperspace to get to wherever it is...

The clincher for this package though, is Wayne's message on the back, which leaves no doubt as to why he wants to make a full Lips Christmas record for next year:
"Sadly, Christmas time is still viewed by some as an unwanted hassle, It interrupts their busy schedule and disrupts their everyday routine. And instead of welcoming this pleasant, bright change, they complain about its fakeness and its exaggeration of goodwill and joy. But I say that Christmas time is not fake or exaggeration... I believe Christmas is a true measurement of the possibilities of the human spirit. And even though it has religious origins, I assert it can be just as powerful, if not more powerful to the reality based mind. It stands as a marvel of organized generosity and proof of the contagiousness of love." - Wayne, 2000