The Smithereens "Christmas With The Smithereens"

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL!

Some goodies to enjoy that you may not have.

Christmas with the Smithereens features three original tunes, and as rock & roll Christmas albums go, this is good fun and admirably eclectic. The Smithereens are pretty broad-minded when it comes to what constitutes a Yuletide melody, given the presence of "Christmas," a not especially seasonal tune from the Who's Tommy, and they dig up the Beatles rarity "Christmas Time Is Here Again," as well as cutting a version of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" that's a dead ringer for the Fab Four.

Seasonal numbers from the Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, and the Ramones also make the set list, and you get a snappy spoken word rendition of "The Night Before Christmas" as well as some rollicking proto-surf boogie on "Auld Lang Syne." The big surprise here is that Pat DiNizio shares the vocal mic with his bandmates for a change, and if guitarist Jim Babjak and drummer Dennis Diken aren't quite up to DiNizio's standard as a singer, they fit their selections better than DiNizio's often-gloomy tone.

Fans waiting for a "real" Smithereens album will apparently have to wait a bit longer, but Christmas with the Smithereens is more thoughtful and intriguing than the average tossed-together holiday offering, and the best moments are a clear reminder of what makes this band worthwhile.

01 - Waking Up On Christmas Morning 02 - Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me) 03 - Merry Christmas, Baby 04 - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree 05 - Christmas Time All Over The World 06 - Christmas 07 - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas 08 - Run Rudolph Run 09 - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight) 10 - Christmas (I Remember) 11 - Auld Lang Syne
12 - Christmas Time Is Here Again

cwsmeen

Donna Summer - Christmas Spirit

This is an appealing mix of secular and devotional Christmas songs by the once upon a time disco diva. They are all ballads, there's nothing to dance to here, but the album is a classic of its genre. On several tracks Donna is backed by the Nashville String Quartet and by various choirs on others.

The two slow ballads White Christmas and The Christmas Song are followed by a rousing version of O Come All Ye Faithful, where Donna is assisted by a children's and men's choir. Another highlight is the Christmas Medley consisting of What Child Is This/Do You Hear What I Hear?/Joy To The World, a most impressive arrangement.

I'll Be Home For Christmas comes across as a bit mournful, whilst Christmas Spirit is joyful and optimistic. The beautiful devotional Breath Of Heaven has a spoken intro. It is a most stirring piece of music with a magnificent melody and soaring vocals. Equally moving is O Holy Night, a slow, tender song with a gospel choir.

The album concludes with Lamb Of God. This one also has a spoken intro from the Gospel and a lovely inspirational sound with its children's and adult choirs. This wonderful album is on a par with two other great Chrismas albums by female vocalists: Noel by Noel Baez and Light Of The Stable by Emmylou Harris.

Good listening; good holidays, everyone!

1. White Christmas 2. Christmas Song 3. O Come All Ye Faithful 4. Christmas Is Here
5. Christmas Medley: What Child Is This?/Do You Hear What I Hear/Joy ... 6. I'll Be Home for Christmas 7. Christmas Spirit 8. Breath of Heaven 9. O Holy Night 10. Lamb of God

dschs

The Wave Benders - Surfin' Christmas

Surfy versions of Christmas songs. "The Wave Benders" are a bunch of studio musicians in Amsterdam recording their idea of surf. Pretty good, if somewhat generic. More rough around the edges, frat surf rather than the polished sound of The Ventures. Still good to throw in the holiday mix.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 2. What Child Is This? 3. Deck the Halls 4. Twelve Days of Christmas 5. Do You Hear What I Hear? 6. We Three Kings 7. Joy to the World 8. Jingle Bells 9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 10. Silent Night 11. Little Drummer Boy 12. We Wish You a Merry Christmas

merrychristmas