Various Artists - Acoustic Christmas

Mele Kalikimaka

"Acoustic Christmas" is a CD for the Holidays that has a mix of traditional and a few you don't hear on too many other albums. But the real treat of this album is the collection of talent to be found here. The music including the acoustical instruments and the vocals are beautiful. I think I would best describe it as easy listening that includes both spiritual and spirited Holiday tunes.

T Bone Burnett opens with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and Laura Nyro's lovely voice does a medley of two, "Let It Be Me"(which you probably wouldn't even associate with holiday music), and then goes into a beautiful rendition of "The Christmas Song"(Chestnuts Roasting). Harry Connick doesn't sing, but does a delightful piano solo of "Winter Wonderland", taken from the sound track of "When Harry Met Sally".

Adding their talents are Marcus Roberts, another piano solo arranged by Wynton Marsalis, and The Hooters doing "Silent Night" You'll immediately recognize Art Gurfunkel's style on "O Come All Ye Faithful"(2nd version on the album). Judy Collins, Shawn Colvin and Rosanne Cash, sound like the angels are singing to you. There is some wonderful guitar by from Randy Scruggs as well. (see buying info for complete list of tracks)

Two others on the album that are not standards are "Ice", which is the one song on the album, I found a little depressing. Shelleyan Orphan performs, and it is quite a sad song. One that will bring the bring a definite downer to your Holiday spirit.
But the other is lots of fun. It's "Mele Kalikimaka",a Hawaiian Christmas song, performed by Poi Dog Pondering with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.It's a lively tune. You may remember it from "Christmas Vacation", in the scene in which Chevy Chase, is looking out the window and dreaming of what it would be like to have all his loved ones, around the pool he wanted to put in the yard. That song always reminds me of that scene and makes me smile.

The CD is a good sound quality. It was too short though, at only 37 minutes. A little booklet with the names of the songs and the credits is included.

Happy Holidays To Everyone....Laurie
November 26, 2005

Nice variety but one clunker

This is a nice compilation. My favorite by far is Roseanne Cash's lovely version of "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." She sings it beautifully and the mandolin in the background adds a nice touch. The one that ruins it for me (and I have the tape, so I can't click past it) is the whiny and dreary "Ice" by Shellye Orphan. I was surprised that someone criticized the Hooters' "Silent Night." I thought it was an interesting version, pretty, just a bit more upbeat than usual, with nice harmony and instrumentation. Just shows you how subjective musical tastes are. Several other nice cuts from Shawn Colvin, Judy Collins, T Bone Burnett, Art Garfunkel, etc. Overall, I would recommend this CD, but get the CD version so that you can skip past that dreary "Ice" song if you hate it as much as I do! December 5, 2004

Some unusual songs

In my opinion, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" sung by T Bone Burnett is worth the price of the CD. After hearing it, I looked for a Christmas CD by him alone. "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" was done in a very unique way. I wouldn't want an entire CD of this style of "shout" music, but it was the perfect ending to the CD. Several of the songs were excellent, including the songs by Harry Connick, Wynton Marsalis, and Shelleyan Orphan.

The songs on this CD use many different acoustic intruments: piano, guitar, strings, harmonica, and so on. That is just about the only thing that these songs have in common. This CD is an eclectic collection of jazz, blues, country, folk, and traditional style Christmas carols. Some are upbeat and cheery, some are slow and soothing. The sound quality was acceptable.

If this will be your only Christmas CD, Acoustic Christmas would not be my recommendation. However, if you have several Christmas CD's, and you are looking for something different, several of these songs will fit the bill. I recommend this CD for acoustic music lovers. November 28, 2003

and 14 ~~ com"YULE"ation Cleric : Denim "YULE" Doings

Kinda' without the glitz or pampering found among most other merry merchandized mirth mixes made for the masses, conceptualized this recording is more like the feel'n one gets slipp'n on a favorite worn~in pair of jeans. Eleven out of twelve tracks are of super seasonal standards, with now,less than 12 the songsmithing remaining exclusive to this collection since it's 89~90 holiday release . Though it remains pure in an "Acoustic" vein prevalent of that decade, most every qualifying sound making tool finds inclusion somewhere, I found the multiple angelic offerings and a tilt toward the piano and strings { which figures pretty prominently throughout } tended to lead the listener along a traditional sleigh ride pulled by a bare bones horse. ~~~Merrily Mix~~~ { 1 } s,s,s, ~ stark yet compelling~ slower~ Art Thou, folky~acou ~***~ { 2 } medley ~ love song + s,s,s,~ ch ~slow piano~ Ultra Lounge L or J ~ ***12 ~~ { 3 }s,s,s, ~ instru~tinsel ~ roadhouse peeanoobilly ~ Ultra Lounge L or J ~**** ~~ { 4 } s,s,s, ~ ch ~ others high ~ piano soft ~ *** ~~ { 5 } s,s,s, ~ ch~ quite, yet clear ~ Art Thou ~***~~{6}s,s,s,~ instu~tinsel~ pinao ~deep digg'r~****~~{7}s,s,s,~ accordion ~muddled~**12 ~~ {8}seldom ~ worldly ~ fun time jamm'n loungey ~ Toz, Ultra Lounge L ~**** ~~ {9 }seldom ~ch~ tradish ~ ** ~~ {10 } YULEridGEMal ~ ch~ simple coolness ~ down with the blue story ~ Ultra Lounge J ~****~~ { 11 }s,s,s,~ guitar ~ spacey quite ~ Rock'n ~ *** ~~ { 12} s,s,s ~ bar song shout rock ~ Art Thou~ ***~~~Post Script : Only a gaint house would end a com""YULE"ation with a tune " Featuring ~ Merry Merchant Circle of Men". Not a must have, but for many not a bad choice either . Despite being so safe, an YULEtide Treasure Seeker can still load 4 overlooked GEMS. ***buyit*safeit*sharemost*donate it to the local library *** May 13, 2003

an overlooked Christmas classic

This is a wonderful, eclectic mix of accoustic interpretations of holiday music. It's become a favorite of my in the last 10 years and is worth owning just for Shawn Colvin's rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and Judy Collins's version of "The Little Road to Bethlehem." Only dull spot is The Hooters doing "Silent Night," which sounds like they gave it all of 5 minutes of thought. Otherwise, a fine disc for holiday listening. November 28, 2002

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