Music for the holiday mood
Diana Krall – “Christmas Songs”
Has the snow got you down? Holidays not so holi-fun?
Jazz vocalist and pianist Diana Krall has the answer to the holiday blues with her first holiday album “Christmas Songs.”
Krall and the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra combine to smooth over the Christmas sounds of the season with some fresh jazz moves.
Krall resonates through the album and upbeat Christmas classics “JIngle Bells”, “Sleigh Ride” and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” will put a smile on your face.
For when the holidays aren’t so happy Krall’s reassuring voice on “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Christmas Time Is Here” doesn’t force the happy holidays on you but warms you up like chestnuts on an open fire.
Besides the Christmas classics, Krall performs Irving Berlin’s “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep” and “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve.”
With her smooth voice and the jazz orchestra accompaniment give the normal songs a little bit of a different feeling. So when Bing, Burl and Trans-Siberian Steamrollers get a little old, “Christmas Songs” is a perfect album to mix things up with.
– Kevin Nielson / krn@cc.usu.edu
Trans-Siberian Orchestra – “The Christmas Attic”
For all those that enjoy having Christmas in the attic, or a haunted house, this is the album for you. Trans-Siberian Orchestra is one of the orchestras where you will hear classic electric rock guitar solos accompanied with the melodic arrangements of a talented string orchestra. This new album is the third Christmas album made by TSO. It is a 17 track album with songs like “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve,” “The Three Kings and I (what really happened)” and “Midnight Christmas Eve.” An interesting compilation put together in a way only the Trans-Siberian Orchestra could accomplish.
– Josh Law / jlaw@cc.usu.edu
Various Artists – “Taste of Christmas Rock”
For all those people that think Bing Crosby or Mannheim Steamroller is way to soft then this album will be your purchase of the year. This Christmas album was made by hardcore musicians for the hardcore community. It is a compilation of eighteen bands in the post hardcore genre. Some of the bands featured on the album include: Skindred “Jungle Bells,” Opiate for the Masses performing “Christmas Evel” and Emery with their version of “The Last Christmas.” This is a one of a kind album; if it doesn’t knock the Christmas tree down I don’t know what will.
– Josh Law / jlaw@cc.usu.edu
Barenaked Ladies – “Barenaked for the Holidays”
The quirky, guitar streaming sound of Canada’s highest quality export takes on the holidays in this popular 2004 album.
Barenaked Ladies combine a number of classic christmas hits including “Jingle Bells,” “I Saw Three Ships,” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman” (which has seen significant airtime in Utah on the “Play Christmas music ’til you explode” stations).
The original numbers on the album combine the same BNL vocals on previous albums with quirky, holiday themed joy in songs like “Elf’s Lament” and “Christmas (Oh Yeah).”
But perhaps the best part about the album is that, when they say “Holidays,” they don’t just mean Christmas. There are four songs celebrating Hannukah, including “Hannukah, Oh Hannukah,” “I Have a Little Dreidel,” and “Hannukah Blessings.”
Perhaps my favorite song from the entire album, however, is “Deck the Stills,” which features the quintet singing “Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young” over and over again to the tune of the traditional “Deck the Halls.”
If you liked their previous albums, then it might just be time to throw caution into the air and get “Barenaked for the Holidays.”
– Matt Wright / mattgo@cc.usu.edu
bands featured on the album include: Skindred “Jungle Bells”, Opiate for the Masses performing “Christmas Evel” and Emery with their version of “The Last Christmas”. This is a one of a kind album; if it doesn’t knock the Christmas tree down I don’t know what will.
-Josh Law, jlaw@cc.usu.ed
Rock”
For all those people that think Bing Crosby or Mannheim Steamroller is way to soft then this album will be your purchase of the year. This Christmas album was made by hardcore musicians for the hardcore community. It is a compilation of eighteen bands in the post hardcore genre. Some of the bands featured on the album include: Skindred “Jungle Bells”, Opiate for the Masses performing “Christmas Evel” and Emery with their version of “The Last Christmas”. This is a one of a kind album; if it doesn’t knock the Christmas tree down I don’t know what will.
-Josh Law, jlaw@cc.usu.ed