By now, we've all had just about our fill of holiday music - and there are still six more shopping days left! Well, hold the reins there, Santa. It's time to break out the good stuff.
Each year, a sleighful of stars delivers CDs of every color (but mostly red and green), and the trick is knowing what's inside the package before you open it. We've done the unwrapping for you. Sit back, put another log on the fire, and lend us your ears.
First, the best:
Los Straitjackets, 'Tis the Season for Los Straitjackets!(Yep Roc): Wonderfully nutty, beach-party-appropriate and boffo. (Quick - when's the last time you did the shag to "Frosty the Snowman"?) Flat-out the most creative and fun album of the season, from a wrestling-mask-wearing, Dick Dale-, rockabilly- and Latin-influenced instrumental rock 'n' roll quartet. Hear the opening chords from "La Bamba" morph into "Feliz Navidad" and just try not to get a little more jolly. A rollicking "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" gets its kick by sampling "Tequila." This is eggnog in a tiki mug! It's a hoot.
*** 1/2
Alan Jackson, Let It Be Christmas (Arista): The top pure yuletide album of them all. What is it about country music at the holidays? Even folks who swear they never touch the stuff find the country sound just right for Christmas. Maybe the down-home feel fits the search for family warmth at this time of year. Or maybe it's that we are just a little sappier at the holidays. Whatever. Alan Jackson's traditional, twangy take on the chestnuts - "White Christmas," "Jingle Bells," "The Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Silent Night," "O Come All Ye Faithful" - makes this a perfect soundtrack to the season.
****
Now, the rest:
Pop
Carly Simon, Christmas Is Almost Here (Rhino): The sexy wrapping on the cover (tight white minidress and high-heeled red boots Santa would die for, or from) suggests Carly wants to cuddle up with us for the holidays. You know, like "Baby It's Cold Outside" and "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" Nope. It's Christmas, for heaven's sake. And Simon keeps things reverent, sweet, light and sincere on the very pretty title track, and on "Silent Night" and "I'll be Home for Christmas." Simon harmonizes nicely with guest Willie Nelson on "Pretty Paper" and tries awfully hard on the gospel number "Twelve Gates to the City" and the John Lennon/Yoko Ono classic "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." ** 1/2
Johnny Mathis, The Christmas Album (Columbia): Pretty soon Mathis will have a holiday album for each of the 12 days of Christmas ("On his sixth Christmas album, old Johnny sang to me ..."). This, No. 6, is good enough to cut the chill, but no better than the previous five. No matter. He's still got that twinkle in his eye, and his voice is as welcome as ever. This year, he brings us "Frosty the Snowman," "Joy to the World," "Heavenly Peace" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." One misstep, or maybe just an unwise choice, is "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas." Not that it's bad, but, as anyone knows, Burl Ives' version is the only one acceptable. ** 1/2
Barry Manilow, A Christmas Gift of Love (Columbia): Barry Manilow does his thing with his usual style. There are some paint-by-numbers performances here. But from "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" to "My Favorite Things" and an upbeat "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," Manilow gives the holiday a fairly sincere go.
Steve Tyrell, This Time of Year (Columbia): These smooth holiday standards are substantial and uncomplicated, from "The Christmas Song" to "Here Comes Santa Claus." Nothing flashy, but it wouldn't be a proper holiday musical feast without them. Just nice ballads with an R&B; twist.
**
Rockapella, Comfort & Joy (Amerigo): Parts of the album sound like a coffee commercial, which is understandable, because many folks know Rockapella only for its "best part of waking up" TV ads. At its best, though, the a cappella outfit shows off an inventive flair. Standouts are a beautiful "This Christmas Day" and "Please Come Home for Christmas." "It's a Small World" - huh? - and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" are the sour notes. **
Sha Na Na, Rockin' Christmas (Gold Label): On Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen! Wait, no Bowzer? Let's call the whole thing off, which is just what Sha Na Na should have done. This act has gotten tired, and the effort here is far short of rockin'. There's even an imitation of Elvis doing "Blue Christmas." Why? * 1/2
America, Holiday Harmony (Rhino): There are moments here when the years melt away, with original America members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell bringing bits of "Horse With No Name" and "Tin Man" - and thus a warm rush of nostalgia, as if one were needed - to classics such as "Winter Wonderland" and "White Christmas." The rest is mush. * 1/2
En Vogue, The Gift of Christmas (Discretion): Almost worth buying for two cuts: "My Christmas," a groovy tribute to family, and "With My Honey," a seductive fireside slow jam. The rest of the album is a bit cheesy. Worst of all is "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" sung to the tune of the funky divas' 1992 single "Giving Him Something He Can Feel." * 1/2
Jazz
Chris Botti, December (Columbia): Botti's smooth, glistening trumpet pours it on, with standards including "The First Noel," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and a swinging "Little Drummer Boy." ***
Warren Hill, A Warren Hill Christmas (Narada Jazz): This fluid jazz sax is a rich, smooth cup of after-dinner coffee with a refreshing mint. The best of the batch are "Joy to the World" and "The Christmas Song." ***
Kenny G, Wishes (Arista): Listening to this album is like watching a graceful figure skating floor routine that never hits the triple axel. Never really even tries. Here, G is content just to glide along nicely. The album warrants an attentive ear only during the soprano saxophonist's lively medley of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Frosty the Snowman," and the audio-clip job of America's past century set to "Auld Lang Syne."
** 1/2
Country
Patty Loveless, Bluegrass and White Snow (Epic): Loveless thoughtfully grouped the four new songs - "Santa Train," "Christmas Day at My House," "Beautiful Star of Bethlehem" (a weak spot) and "Bluegrass, White Snow" - at the back of the album. First come lots of traditional carols: "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," "The First Noel," "Joy to the World" and "Carol of the Bells." First-class musicianship and good taste throughout.
***
Lee Ann Womack, The Season for Romance (MCA): Rather than a country feel, this has the deliberate flavor of classic '40s and '50s Christmas pop and jazz, a la the Andrews Sisters or Eartha Kitt. Womack seems to be having a ball going through the 78s and flirting with Harry Connick on "Baby It's Cold Outside." For old-school cuddling with your sweetie in front of the fireplace, this one would be perfect.
***
Brooks & Dunn, It Won't Be Christmas Without You (Arista): The chestnuts are there, but Kix and Ronnie spike the punch bowl with several new tunes: the nostalgic title track, the high-steppin' "Rockin' Little Christmas" and "Hangin' Round the Mistletoe." Though B&D; aren't exactly hard-core traditionalists, there's a good slice of Gene Autry-style Western swing on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and a loping, steel-flavored "White Christmas." Still, the Brooks original "Who Says There Ain't No Santa" is generic fruitcake.
** 1/2
Jo Dee Messina, A Joyful Noise (Curb): Messina seems to really get inside of "What Child Is This." You get the sense the song has some special meaning for her. The rest of the album pales by comparison, both to that song and the other country offerings in this roundup. What we get are perfectly nice versions of "Silent Night," "Winter Wonderland," "I'll Be Home for Christmas" and "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!"
**
Cledus T. Judd, Cledus Navidad (Monument): If you skip past the redneck stuff - "All I Want for Christmas Is Two Gold Front Teeth," "Stephon the Alternative Lifestyle Reindeer" and a lousy, unnecessary remake of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" - you'll find fun here. There's the family feudin' of "Merry Christmas From the Whole Fam Damily," the crackling "Tree's on Fire," set to the tune of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire," and the too-true "Only 364 More Shopping Days 'Til Christmas." You'll hate yourself Christmas morning. Until then, what the heck?
**
Bluegrass
Various artists, Christmas on the Mountain (Universal South): This gathering of minds, voices and fingers was conceived as a summit meeting of a handful of bluegrass greats, primarily the Osborne Brothers, Del McCoury, Doc Watson and Mac Wiseman. These seasoned pickers and singers sound as if they're having the time of their lives, especially on the opening trio of tracks, "Bluegrass Christmas," "Christmas Time on Rocky Top" and "Our 12 Days of Bluegrass Christmas." ***
Children
Raffi, Raffi's Christmas Album (Rounder): A beloved children's musician plays the beloved music of the holidays for the beloved child on your Christmas list. In lesser hands, this combination would rot teeth, and perhaps ears, too. Give the guy his props. It's good, simple holiday music that the kids will love. ***
Other notable issues
Jim Nabors' Christmas (Columbia Legacy reissue); Ann Hampton Callaway's This Christmas (N-Coded Music reissue); Jim Wilson's My First Christmas With You (Hillsboro); A Windham Hill Christmas (RCA/Victor); and Christmas All Over the World (Sony Classical/Legacy).
Reviews from the Knight Ridder/Tribune news service supplemented this article.
Excellent ****; Good ***; Fair **; Poor *