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Faithful readers of this blog will know I really like my Christmas music. (I know, you're still surprised--deal with it.) Once upon I said I'd have one Christmas Album for each year I'm alive--but that ship sailed long ago. (Of course, I have been weeding out my collection--but I'm not going to talk about that.) This year I found myself going toward popular artists. The results were--interesting (to say the least!) So, here are the reviews...
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A Christmas Corncucopia by Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, the female half of the Eurythmics, has released an album of mostly traditional material. There is a decided Eurythmics "vibe" to the music and arrangements (although Dave Stewart is nowhere in evidence). She's never had the world's best voice and the years haven't been kind to her vocal cords and a lot of the songs seem more shouted than sung. Still, somehow she manages to make it work: combining techno and world music elements with these familiar (and a few not-so-familiar) old carols makes for an excellent listen. There's nary a mention of Santa or anything else secular--and I found that rather refreshing. The one original song, Universal Child, isn't holiday-themed at all--but rather talks about suffering children. All the procedes of this song are going to charity so I can't really knock (even though the sentiment has been expressed many times before--and better). If you were a fan of the Eurythmics, "synth-pop" or even just holiday music that isn't a carbon copy of evertyhing else you've heard done to death A Christmas Cornucopia is a worthy choice.
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FINAL GRADE: A
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A Cherry Cherry Christmas by Neil Diamond
In a lot of ways this album is the polar opposite of the one reviewed above: with two exceptions (Joy To The World and Amazing Grace) this is a decidedly secular outing. A lot of the songs are lushly orchestrated and you have deal with Diamond's often cheesey (which sometimes seems to veery way too close to self parody) that send some of the songs that threaten to send the album into the land of Utter Crapdom. (His version of White Christmas needs to be taken out in the alley and shot and Jingle Bell Rock couldn't be saved by Jesus Christ himself.) The three new songs included here are nice but nothing special: there are no new Christmas Classics here Still, there are a few songs that save the album from the toilet. The self-referential title track is chock-full of shout outs to Neil Diamond songs and albums: it's pure fun (but, like, any novelty song might grow tiresome after a few hearings) His gospel-drenched Joy To The World harkens back to Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show and there seems to be some real emotion and sentiment here. The strangest song on the closer--The Chanukah Song (yes, the one by Adam Sandler!). I didn't think he could pull it off but somehow he makes it work (and it's one of the better cuts on the whole album). Neil Diamond fans will eat this up like candy and fans of mainstream music will probablhy enjoy it more than I did. This is one of those times I really wanted to cherry pick the best cuts on i-Tunes and ignore the rest.
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FINAL GRADE: B-
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Joy by Jim Brickman
New Age Pianist Jim Brickman is back with his third Christmas Album featuring more gooey goodness for the holidays. This has a nice mix of traditional carols and one or two new pieces done mostly with solo piano (with the occasional instrumental or vocal added in for spice). Unless you are a serious piano fan you don't actually need to listen to anything on here--but it makes for great background music. (This is perfect music for a holiday party or to read a book by the fire.) The original songs are more forgetable than those on the previous two albums but that's OK. All in all, this album isn't bad for what it is--if you don't expect a lot.
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Final Grade: C+
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Christmas Wishes by Aureole
Technically, this isn't a "new" Christmas album at all (although it is new to me). It was released back in 2004 but I didn't know of its existance until a few days ago while listening to Holiday Pops on satelite radio. That got me curious enough to search my usual musical haunts: I found it only at Amazon.com but it was cheap so I bought a copy. Three hot babes playing flute, viola and harp travel through mostly traditional, and quite familiar, music: some of the arrangements a very traditional and some have a decidely jazzy, very modern-day vibe. The mix makes for an interesting combination you can actually listen to or simply put on as background music for a holiday party. There aren't any "oh my gawd that song is awesome!" moments on the album--but neither are there any "Jeez--that song sucks major!" moments either. For those who like their holiday music out of the mainstream this album is well worth tracking down.
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FINAL GRADE: A-
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Holly Happy Days by the Indigo Girls
And now for something completely different--starting with the packaging! This album doesn't ship in the usual plastic "jewel case" but instead comes with inside a cardboard "present" along with three free-standing "ornaments" (so they could include the liner notes). This is a fairly low-fi, folksy album with a decidely country flair. Unlike the other albums I've reviewed today, seven of the eleven tunes are originals (that vary from the pretty darn good to merely OK). Songs like the rollicking I Feel The Christmas Spirit and the joyful Your Holiday Song are the stand-outs in the bunch although there's much to recommend the hauting lullaby Peace Child. The traditonal songs are where the album falls down a bit: their version of O Holy Night isn't quite a howler but their bawling version doesn't do justice to one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written and there cheesed-up version of I'll Be Home For Christmas is a total groaner. In The Bleak Midwinter is entirely too spritely for my taste but the harmonies and instrumentation at least make it interesting to listen to. Not sure why they felt the need to include Happy Joyous Hanukah but their version is loaded with fun and good cheer and fits right in with the tone of the other songs. It is an altogether worthy additon to the collection. At least they follow it up and end the album with a pretty good Angels We Have Heard On High. Again, this is an album out of the mainstream but this is something more than just background music. Holly Happy Days has its flaws but the highs well outnumber the lows: all in all it is well worth the listen.
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FINAL GRADE: A-
1 comment:
I saw Lennox on the recent Dancing with the Stars, and couldn't help but also notice her singing was fragged up. Kept thinking her throat had finally given out on her.
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