1. Vertical Horizon......I Believe In Father Christmas
2. Belinda Carlisle......God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
3. Mike Conley......Christmas Time is Here
4. Chase Stevens......First Christmas Apart
5. Kathy Sledge......The Christmas Waltz
6. The Swingin' Medallions......Hey Hey Santa
7. Bootlegger......Coming Home For Christmas
8. Deep Blue Something......Little Drummer Boy
9. Sleeping At Last...Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Dave Stewart......White Christmas
11. Persephone's Bees......Sleigh Ride
12. Hello Dollface......Merry Christmas, Baby
13. Death on Two Wheels......Blue Christmas
14. The Briggs......Silent Night (Not So Silent)
15. Ball & Chain......The First Noel
SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS WEBSITE 16. Tequila Hounds......Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
AMAZON 17. North Pole All-Stars......Santa Gotta Get Some
Reviewing a compilation is problematic at best. Each of the songs on a compilation has been individually conceived and recorded by different artists. But a compilation review cannot simply be a dozen or more individual song reviews. No, the review that is required is of the whole. What was the compiler's conception and how well was it executed?
Former DJ Ken Kessler is someone who tired of waiting for major labels to issue the kind of Christmas records and compilations he knew people like him were longing to hear. And so he started The Sounds of Christmas, a record label devoted to Christmas music. Ken's inaugural compilation, The Sounds of Christmas 2009, was one of last year's best releases, in my opinion and the opinion of most who bought it and took the time to comment elsewhere on the web. And my overall feeling of "The Sounds Of Christmas, Volume 2" is that Ken has completely outdone himself.
Most of these songs are making their first CD and/or commercial appearance, including the cuts from Deep Blue Something ("Breakfast At Tiffany's"), Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), and The North Pole All-Stars. So that's a good place to start. As a Christmas record buyer, myself, I know I tire of buying the same songs over and over again just to get the one or two tracks I don't already own. Out of the 17 tracks on this collection, I previously owned 4 (2 on CD and 2 as downloads), and I tend to be pretty obsessive so it's probable that you don't own more than a couple. That's a big plus for any compilation.
Right up top, the album makes a statement with Vertical Horizon's rendition of "I Believe In Father Christmas" which, for my money, outshines the U2 version by giving the song a strong backbone and a little bite, all without obscuring the melody. From there, the album is a constant stream of smiles--a never ending Christmas present. I smile instantly whenever I hear a song I'm familiar with that is grossly underplayed by commercial outlets (tracks here in that category include those by Belinda Carlisle, The Swingin' Medallions, and Sleeping At Last). And I smile, a few seconds in, at the discovery of something totally new to me, unexpected and delightful (and, here, that applies especially to tracks from Persephone's Bees, Bootlegger, and Deep Blue Something).
In between lie a few absolute gems that I had only recently become acquainted with--mostly due to the pre-release information about this CD. "Santa Gotta Get Some", a song recorded by members of Little Feat and friends as a fund raiser for drummer Richie Hayward (who passed away earlier this year), was an iTunes exclusive last year. It's an instant and quintessential Little Feat Southern Rock Christmas classic and this is the song's first appearance on CD or vinyl. Hello Dollface offer up some straight-up stripped-down blues. And then there's new artist Chase Stevens. Stevens' original "First Christmas Apart" so recalls the late Jim Croce at times, that it is probably the album's greatest highlight. It's certainly the song I've listened to more than any other since my copy arrived.
There are one or two songs on "The Sounds Of Christmas, Volume 2" that do little or nothing for me, as it turns out. But that's the thing about compilations--those very songs might be someone else's favorites. It's one reason putting such collections together requires extra thought and care.
In reviewing compilations, I listen for balance, variety, and flow. As with any album, I want to feel I've been taken on a journey--with a beginning, a middle, and an end--a journey with some familiar stops along the way, but one that also reveals some completely new and wondrous things. "The Sounds Of Christmas, Volume 2" succeeds on all counts. The smile quotient is high. It's a journey I recommend highly.
A portion of the proceeds from this release will benefit the Sweet Relief Musician's Fund.
2. Belinda Carlisle......God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman
3. Mike Conley......Christmas Time is Here
4. Chase Stevens......First Christmas Apart
5. Kathy Sledge......The Christmas Waltz
6. The Swingin' Medallions......Hey Hey Santa
7. Bootlegger......Coming Home For Christmas
8. Deep Blue Something......Little Drummer Boy
9. Sleeping At Last...Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
10. Dave Stewart......White Christmas
11. Persephone's Bees......Sleigh Ride
12. Hello Dollface......Merry Christmas, Baby
13. Death on Two Wheels......Blue Christmas
14. The Briggs......Silent Night (Not So Silent)
15. Ball & Chain......The First Noel
SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS WEBSITE 16. Tequila Hounds......Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
AMAZON 17. North Pole All-Stars......Santa Gotta Get Some
Reviewing a compilation is problematic at best. Each of the songs on a compilation has been individually conceived and recorded by different artists. But a compilation review cannot simply be a dozen or more individual song reviews. No, the review that is required is of the whole. What was the compiler's conception and how well was it executed?
Former DJ Ken Kessler is someone who tired of waiting for major labels to issue the kind of Christmas records and compilations he knew people like him were longing to hear. And so he started The Sounds of Christmas, a record label devoted to Christmas music. Ken's inaugural compilation, The Sounds of Christmas 2009, was one of last year's best releases, in my opinion and the opinion of most who bought it and took the time to comment elsewhere on the web. And my overall feeling of "The Sounds Of Christmas, Volume 2" is that Ken has completely outdone himself.
Most of these songs are making their first CD and/or commercial appearance, including the cuts from Deep Blue Something ("Breakfast At Tiffany's"), Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), and The North Pole All-Stars. So that's a good place to start. As a Christmas record buyer, myself, I know I tire of buying the same songs over and over again just to get the one or two tracks I don't already own. Out of the 17 tracks on this collection, I previously owned 4 (2 on CD and 2 as downloads), and I tend to be pretty obsessive so it's probable that you don't own more than a couple. That's a big plus for any compilation.
Right up top, the album makes a statement with Vertical Horizon's rendition of "I Believe In Father Christmas" which, for my money, outshines the U2 version by giving the song a strong backbone and a little bite, all without obscuring the melody. From there, the album is a constant stream of smiles--a never ending Christmas present. I smile instantly whenever I hear a song I'm familiar with that is grossly underplayed by commercial outlets (tracks here in that category include those by Belinda Carlisle, The Swingin' Medallions, and Sleeping At Last). And I smile, a few seconds in, at the discovery of something totally new to me, unexpected and delightful (and, here, that applies especially to tracks from Persephone's Bees, Bootlegger, and Deep Blue Something).
In between lie a few absolute gems that I had only recently become acquainted with--mostly due to the pre-release information about this CD. "Santa Gotta Get Some", a song recorded by members of Little Feat and friends as a fund raiser for drummer Richie Hayward (who passed away earlier this year), was an iTunes exclusive last year. It's an instant and quintessential Little Feat Southern Rock Christmas classic and this is the song's first appearance on CD or vinyl. Hello Dollface offer up some straight-up stripped-down blues. And then there's new artist Chase Stevens. Stevens' original "First Christmas Apart" so recalls the late Jim Croce at times, that it is probably the album's greatest highlight. It's certainly the song I've listened to more than any other since my copy arrived.
There are one or two songs on "The Sounds Of Christmas, Volume 2" that do little or nothing for me, as it turns out. But that's the thing about compilations--those very songs might be someone else's favorites. It's one reason putting such collections together requires extra thought and care.
In reviewing compilations, I listen for balance, variety, and flow. As with any album, I want to feel I've been taken on a journey--with a beginning, a middle, and an end--a journey with some familiar stops along the way, but one that also reveals some completely new and wondrous things. "The Sounds Of Christmas, Volume 2" succeeds on all counts. The smile quotient is high. It's a journey I recommend highly.
A portion of the proceeds from this release will benefit the Sweet Relief Musician's Fund.
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