Print
Email
Share
Well, it’s that time again.
Time to brush off my all-time favorite holiday album, Mambo Santa Mambo, and see how this year’s crop of new seasonal newbies fare against the reigning champ.
So let’s start handing out the candy canes—or the lumps of coal.
Bootsy Collins, Chistmas is 4 Ever (Shout Factory!): A funky collection that’s already in contention as a potential new all-time favorite. Especially cool: The opening disclaimer: “I’m sure there’s going to be more than one unpleasant surprise before we’re done.” Highly caffeinated versions of “Chestnutz (AKA the Christmas Song),” “Merry Christmas Baby” and others offer lots of surprises, none unpleasant. Five candy canes.
Twisted Sister, A Twisted Christmas (Razor & Tie): “We never play things nice and easy, we play things nice and twisted,” says Dee Snider in the opening “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Alas, the Twisted concept sounds like more fun than it is on that headbanger and others including “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” “Silver Bells” and “Deck the Halls.” For hardcore fans only. Two lumps of coal.
Twisted Sister - Oh Come All Ye Faithful
Soundtrack, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Razor & Tie): This soundtrack to the theatrical adaptation of the classic film is grand, exuberant and relentlessly peppy. These singers belt it out to the back row in a wonderful old-school holiday collection. Four candy canes.
Soundtrack, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (Walt Disney): Probably logical to file this under Halloween, but Santa’s involved in this story, so let’s show some latitude. The new reissue includes a bonus disc with the film’s signature songs performed by Marilyn Manson, Fiona Apple, Fall Out Boy, She Wants Revenge and Panic! At the Disco. Cool, even if it will scare the carolers. Four candy canes.
John Fluker, J is for Joy (Retribution): Singer-keyboardist Fluker’s R&B style leans heavily toward the Smooth Jazz crowd on this collection of traditional songs (and one original). About half of the material is instrumental. J also is for Just Too Mellow. One lump of coal.
Rachael Ray, How Cool Is That Christmas (Epic): A Ray holiday album would have more kitsch value if the chirpy TV cook were doing the singing. As it is, it’s a solid assortment of songs from Elvis Presley (“Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)”), Billie Holiday (“I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” Buster Poindexter (“Zat You, Santa Claus?”) and others. The lone novelty song, Lou Monte’s “Dominick the Donkey,” is happy family fun that will take five spins to drive you insane. Two candy canes.
Sarah McLachlan, Wintersong (Arista): If you don’t have a donkey song, earnest is always a reliable way to go for the holidays. That’s the road for McLachlan, who covers John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” to open her first seasonal collection. She’s straight-forward and reverent in “What Child Is This,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Silent Night” and others. It won’t make you laugh, but it’s soothing and lovely. Three candy canes.
Israel & New Breed, A Timeless Christmas (Integrity Gospel): High energy and stylistic range mark these 15 songs by Israel & New Breed, the Dove Award-winning house ensemble at Houston’s culturally diverse Lakewood Church. Horns and propulsive rhythms in songs such as “Everybody Knows” recall Earth, Wind and Fire, while other tracks feature massive choral arrangements. Uplifting. Two candy canes.
Aimee Mann, One More Drifter in the Snow (SuperEgo): Mann puts an original stamp on this album, a blend of traditional and contemporary material along with one new original. Her voice is intoxicating, especially on “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch.” Four Candy Canes.
Celtic Woman, A Christmas Celebration (Manhattan): The five-piece vocal ensemble delivers glorious, grand renditions of the classics. Feather-light voices, harps, strings. A somber, yet beautiful, collection. Four candy canes.
George Strait, Fresh Cut Christmas (Hallmark): Strait can pretty much sing the phone book and make it work. Who knew that pedal steel guitar fits so well in “Joy to the World”? “Jingle Bells” makes for dandy Western swing, too. Three candy canes.
Various artists, Home for the Holidays (Sony Classical): A gorgeous but spirited treatment of favorites and orchestral interludes (such as the Pastoral Symphony from Handel’s Messiah) by the Canadian Brass, London Festival Orchestra and others. Four candy canes.
Ali Lohan, Lohan Holiday (YMC Records): On the other end of the spectrum from the London Festival Orchestra, it’s Christmas at the Lohans! With Lindsay’s little sister! And a free poster inside! You just can’t keep this spunky family down, no matter how much you want to! On the road-to-insanity scale, Lohan Holiday gives Dominick the Donkey a run for his money. Four lumps of coal.
