Ah, Christmas. For most people, it is a season of giving, laughter, togetherness and joy; peace on Earth, good will toward men and so on, et cetera. For those that work in the music business, it’s a ragingly hectic and busy time – in the spirit of giving, there are few people that won’t buy one of their “someone specials” a couple of CDs (or, for the audiophiles, maybe a couple of records too) in order to show that they know the intended recipient’s tastes and thought of them while at the mall buying stuff. For their part, the members of the music industry are only too happy to cater to these whims as they repackage, reissue and restore a host of classic ideas from Vivaldi to the Velvet Underground and from Miles Davis to John Denver. It’s beautiful.
Arguably the most common releases are the compilations that come out every year featuring a hefty concentration of star power to commemorate that other celebratory star in the sky. Musicians of every stripe don festive apparel to rehash and reinterpret the same (roughly) thirty songs to make someone’s Christmas special with a soundtrack that plays to the intended recipient’s aural indulgences. This year though, things are a little different; the selections – while there are certainly more of them – are catering to more specific and off-beat tastes. In short, many of the songs are the same, but the deliveries of them are quite different. Got someone on your list that feels a little left out by the deluge of Anne Murrays, John Denvers, Kenny Rogers, Nana Mouskouris and other assorted winter-song packages festooning release racks this year? Some of these titles might help.
[To the tune of The Twelve Days Of Christmas] “This year at Christmas the music business sent to me…”
“…Twelve bangers belting…”
Various Artists
We Wish You A Metal X-Mas And A Headbanging New Year
(Armoury)
There’s little doubt that a host of Santa’s more disgruntled elves will laugh with glee as they peruse this assemblage that celebrates both Santa and the average person’s more aggressive tendencies. Collecting some of the meaner (and readily identifiable) voices in metal including Ronnie James Dio, Alice Cooper and Lemmy Kilmister, Metal X-Mas rages against the holiday blues with a dozen all-star standards including “Santa Claws [misspelled on purpose –ed] Is Coming To Town,” “Little Drummer Boy” and (oh, the irony) “Silent Night” that put a metal sheen on some old chestnuts. Is it kitschy? Yup. Is it silly? Uh huh. Is it great fun for the holiest of holidays? Hell yeah. The performances here burn bright as this cast of classic metalheads changes through like a herd of unhinged buffalo trampling eight tiny reindeer and bring new meaning to the words ‘joyous noise.’ In spite of the fact that most of this cast cut its teeth on and made their millions supporting the dark lord, all acts fall away as they give it up for the other man in red while grinning from ear to ear. Even with that said though, when Lemmy growls “Run Rudolph Run,” listeners will cheer like a heavenly chorus while throwing devil horns in the air.
“…Some Lonely Boys harmonizing…”
Los Lonely Boys
Christmas Spirit
(Epic)
To say that Los Lonely Boys took the “love thy neighbour” sentiment to heart as they were recording Christmas Spirit goes without saying as, from note one of the opening “I’ve Longed For Christmas,” there’s an all-encompassing feeling of warmth, love and happiness that dominates the proceedings. Covering some standards along the way (“Away In A Manger,” “Silent Night” and Jingle Bells” all appear here), the group spices things up with some Tex Mex flavour in a rumbaed run-through of “Carol Of The Bells,” a swaggering “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” and, of course, a rendition of the stereotypical staple “Feliz Navidad” that sounds like it was channeled through the ghost of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Los Lonely Boys’ three-part vocal harmonies lend a marvelous choral effect to these proceedings and imply without forcing a feeling of togetherness and joy and avoids the “It’s Christmas! Be happy!” sloganeering that other records usually fall prey to dictating by simply being and sounding happy. As it progresses, listeners can tell that Los Lonely Boys made this record because the songs genuinely make them happy and that is their gift to fans.
“…Fleshtones a-bouncing…”
The Fleshtones
Stocking Stuffer
(Yep Roc)
Unlike so many other comps at Christmas that strip mine the vaults standards and classics, The Fleshtones have gone against the grain and released a Christmas album for the love of it with exactly none of the old-school carols included. Comprised entirely of Christmas songs (I think “Run Rudolph Run” is the favourite this year), this Stocking Stuffer is the epitome of the genuine joyous noise that the holiday season is supposed to incite and, because there aren’t many covers here at all, it tells people that this album is unmistakably the work of a band that loves the season; if they didn’t, they wouldn’t try to say anything new about it. With R&B-infused garage rock glee, The Fleshtones deck some tracks witth sleigh bells and good cheer from Down Under before blasting out songs including “Six White Boomers,” “Super Rock Santa” and “Canadian Christmas.”
“…Sixteen Belas Flecking…”
Bela Fleck And The Flecktones
Jingle All The Way
(Rounder)
When anyone that is familiar with his work hears about banjoist Bela Fleck doing a Christmas album, you’ll immediately see a smile start to creep across their face. Fleck has built an entire career on the notion that off-beat virtuosity can function as a hook on its own and, before they ever hear this collection of off-centre-sitting standards, they know they’re in for something special.
Fleck doesn’t disappoint either; without a doubt, this set of instrumental performances is different. Covering every inch of ground between “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” “Bach’s Christmas Oratorio,” “The Hannukah Waltz” and “Danse Of The Sugar Plum Fairies,” this maestro and his ‘Tones re-envision the concept of a Christmas record beautifully with a cartoon-ish virtuosity unprecedented in the often trite undertaking that is Christmas-record-making. Seriously though, while the numbers and placement might not reflect it, Jingle All The Way is my favorite holiday album released this year – in truth, it might be my favourite ever released.
“…One guitarist plucking…”
Sean Kelly
Christmas Guitar
(Universal)
This time of year – particularly in a bell-and-whistle-adorned glamour industry like the music business – it’s unusual to find a tasteful and unaffected document recorded recently that simply plays it straight and doesn’t attempt to sound novel. This year though, guitarist Sean Kelly has put out exactly that; compiling fifteen classic Christmas carols (not Christmas songs), Christmas Guitar offers a beautiful reprieve from the canny and novel approach that many musicians take to the holidays. With minimal additional backing (those other instruments that do appear are classically informed), Kelly takes no risks and adds no undue shimmer to his performances of tracks including “Joy To The World,” “The First Noel” and “O Holy Night” and chooses instead to simply reproduce them with a hint of classicism and respect. This is the sort of album that one would expect to hear at an upscale Christmas dinner party; or, if you didn’t hear it at one, you’d certainly want to.
“…A newer classic diva…”
Beverley Mahood
This Christmas Celebrate Me Home
(Road Angel/Fontana North/Universal)
For a glimpse into how I grew up (I’m sure other people will be able to relate), my Dad loves Christmas – particularly the music. As a kid, I have memories of the Christmas releases by John Denver (complete with The Muppets), Nana Mouskouri and Kenny Rogers beginning to see play on the cassette deck of the family car from shortly after Halloween until the snow started to melt months after Christmas. I mention this because, as I review it, I know that the Christmas album I will give my father this year will be Beverley Mahood’s; it has everything my father likes in a holiday release. With a balance struck between classic Christmas songs (“Silver Bells,” “Let It Snow,” :Deck The Halls”) and new, original material, Celebrate Me Home offers a sweet, warm and nostalgic image of Christmas – when families come together, sit down for dinner and simply enjoy each other’s company. Of the Christmas records to come out this year as well, Beverley Mahood’s is the most representative of a late twentieth century holiday seasonal affair; it’s lovable and celebratory without a shred of fashionable irony.
“…An uptown swinger crooning…”
Tony Bennett
A Swingin’ Christmas
(RPM/Columbia)
In the strictest sense, everyone knows that Tony Bennett has danced the holiday rounds before and done it well – and this time is no different; it’s inclusion here is to illustrate that some classics never get old and some things always have a place of honor. That said, A Swingin’ Christmas finds Bennett playing to his strengths as he jumps and swings his way through seasonal classics including “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “O Christmas Tree” and “Winter Wonderland” among others and shows no age as he reprises each with vintage flair. The instrumental backing provided by The Count Basie Big Band hangs on the singer’s every cue here – when the singer makes calls for it, the band hits that beat hard and swoons at his request too. This all, of course, presents Bennett still at the height of his powers; when he’s on, he’s dead on and he’s on it all the time. There is no fault to find with A Swingin’ Christmas; this vintage style has a welcome home anywhere it goes.
“…Fourteen sweetened femmes fatale…”
Various Artists
The Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs
(Epic/Sony BMG)
In the spirit of the holidays these days, The Hotel Café presents a set of songs by the celebrated female singer-songwriters of the moment with fairly mixed results. To be fair, it’s unlikely that many of these selections find cross promotional success in one Christmas season Gap ad or another as some of the larger names on this comp (including KT Tunstall, Colbie Caillat and Brandi Carlisle particularly) take the opportunity to turn in some of the most garish interpretations for standard fare ever committed to tape, but there are surprises hidden in the most unlikely places. Without a doubt, for example, Fiona Apple’s version of “Frosty The Snowman” is the standout track because it doesn’t over-orchestrate the proceedings (something Meiko could have taken under advisement for Maybe Next Year”). Almost invariably, whenever a singer attempts to be more overwrought than their voices or the songs will allow, the proceedings tend to grate on listeners more interested in what’s inside the boxes over the shiny packaging (a perfect example is Katy Perry’s “White Christmas”) but, for that hipstress on your shopping list, Winter Songs won’t fall on unreceptive ears.
“…Another Carpenter to celebrate…”
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Come Darkness, Come Light
(Zoe/Rounder)
Certainly, everyone has someone in their family that loves the pomp and ceremony of Christmas; the midnight mass on Christmas Eve, the reading of the Christmas story from the Bible during their family festivities, the careful savoring of opening presents rather than the youthful rip-and-tear… in short, the delicacy and quiet joy of the season. It is with those people that Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Come Darkness, Come Light album will find a happy home. Mid-paced and methodical, the album presents itself with the reserved grandeur of such a picturesque setting as that detailed above and yields untold treasures for the listener that craves sanity after the hectic tempo of events prior to the big day. It soothes those frayed nerves. Carpenter’s gentle and delicate delivery of such staples as “On A Quiet Christmas Morn,” “Candlelight Carol,” “Bells Are Ringing” and “Christmas Carol” work in magical ways toward that end with a serenity and grace not often heard in Christmas albums anymore, and maybe it’s because of that fact that it’s so welcome here. Come Darkness, Come Light doesn’t try to be the biggest Christmas album to be released this year and that might ultimately wind up being the reason that it becomes the most enduring.
“…And some posthumus duets with Elvis Presley.”
Various Artists
Elvis – Christmas Duets
(RCA/Sony BMG)
Anybody that’s aware of how the music business used to work in the embryonic years of rock n’ roll knows that it was often written into the contracts of select singers that they make a Christmas album at some point. Of the lot, Elvis Presley was one of the most celebrated singers for his Christmas recordings and, this year if only for the season, Presley is revived for a set of staggeringly well-orchestrated and produced duets with some of New Country’s current and elite female talent. It’s actually a pretty remarkable thing how spry this album sounds; with the benefit of some remixing, re-mastering and CG sprucing, Elvis does appear to live again. With some excellent editing performances, songs including “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, “White Christmas” and “O Come All Ye Faithful” all sound as if they could have been recorded yesterday with Presley and Wynnona Judd, Amy Grant and Olivia Newton-John (respectively) sharing the mic in the studio. The quality of the reproduction as well as the newly-recorded instrumental parts works perfectly with Elvis’ original performances (they even set it up so that it sounds as if the singer is interacting with the musicians) and so makes for totally new-sounding affair.
