No comments about The Traditions of Christmas.

5 comments about Christmas.

1. Rebecca St. James has created a reputation for orchestrating a symphony of guitars, electric or otherwise, drums, strings, synths, and producing an almost girl-punk sound, but for this album, added a small amount of seasonal cheer to old Christmas tunes. A new version of "O Come Emmanuel" with powerful bridges gives the old a new meaning. John Lennon's "War is Over (Happy Christmas)" couldn't be done any better, and I had never even heard "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" until I bought this CD. Surely one of Rebecca's best! If you love to rock, and you love Christmas and you love to buy good CDs, maybe you should think about maybe getting ahold of one of these before next Christmas.



2. Rebecca St. James' Christmas cd is neither sappy nor traditional. It has crisp lyrics and smooth beats. Songs are well paced and distributed, neither all fast nor all slow. Will appeal to pretty much anybody who has any bit of sentimentality for the Christmas season past or present.



3. A fan of Rebecca St. James, I found this album to be disappointing in the end. I originally loved the album and enjoy her takes on "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" and "O Holy Night," but the loud, head-banging selections on nearly every song on this album make it a near headache instead of a worshipful experience. St. James could have done better with her album. Those who are fans of her album "God" will enjoy this album. Those who prefer the techno-driven "Transform" over the heavy-rock inspired "God" would probably have a hard time listening to "Christmas."



4. Rebecca St. James is my number one gospel rock artist, and this Christas album is like music in her most famous album "God". She sings beautifully and there's great melodies. Of course, Iäm little disappointed in "Silen Night" because it is too long. Still, there's 8 great Christmas songs and two not-so-good ("Jesu' Joy of Man's Desiring" is the worst song in this album"). I always love to hear new versions of the classic song "What Child Is This". How ever, the best songs in this album are "Sweet Little Jesus Boy" and "O Come All Ye Faithful". This is a perfect Christmas album for them who liked the album "God". There's even a peaceful song "A Cradle Prayer" which is made by Rebecca!
   Stars: O Come All Ye Faithful, Sweet Little Jesus Boy, One Small Child, What Child Is This



5. I agree whole-heartedly with one of the other reviewers. This CD is definitely going for the "ethereal" and coming out with eerie. Very disappointing from Ms. St. James, and not a good mix with her already unique (and usually beautiful) voice. Give me the traditional any day.

1 comments about Pilgramage to the Andes.

1. I first played this one while I was working, and only half-listening... but it grabbed my ears and I had to go sit down and listen to it -- its just beautiful!
   The first 7 selections comprise a Catholic Folk Mass, all done in the Andean style with Folk instruments, and the vocals of Mauricio Venegas-Astorga are among the best I have heard in Andean music ( and I have a big collection!) The music varies from slow-moving to very bright and fast. Music is a subjective thing, very much in the "ear of the beholder", but I believe this CD will be appreciated by anyone who has enjoyed the Andean style, and by many others as well.
   I did not like the second section ( Part 2, # 8 - 12) as well, thus my 4 stars instead of a full 5. However, that section is still above average in my opinion.

1 comments about Judy Garland Christmas Album.

1. Judy is Judy. I am glad now I have some Christmas holiday music of hers to play. What can I say? It is a bonus to my Judy collection and it will be worth every penny to add it to yours. Go ahead and buy it. You won't be sorry you did. You will wish you had more to buy.

5 comments about Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas.

1. Our Heart's Desire, masterfully and lovingly sung by the great all-male group, Chanticleer, is the one Christmas album I wouldn't want to be without. The content, covering a broad range of styles spanning several centuries, includes some music to make almost anyone happier at Christmas. The blend is superb, the arrangements are innovative but true to the music, the intonation is nearly perfect, and Chanticleer sings as though the music means something to them. An hour spent listening to this album will unwind you from the crinkiest pre-Christmas blues and tensions. Don't be without it!



2. I first owned a tape of this in 1993, and went out of my way to purchase the CD last summer. I never get tired of this CD. Of course, there is nothing more healing than the Biebl Ave Maria, which grows more and more beautiful everytime I listen to it. Chanticleer introduced this beautiful piece to me, I've had the good fortune of having it sung at my wedding, and being able to sing it last year in the Cathedrals, Abbeys and Basilicas of France! The rest of the CD is just as superb, and yes, those really are men singing those most amazing Soprano sections in Go Tell It On the Mountain. Other favorites are the Mouton that opens the CD, There Is No Rose, and O Come Emmanuel. A wonderful addition to anyone's Christmas CD collection, and one that you can play year round!



3. The all male, A Capella choir Chanticleer includes songs of many styles on this recording, but one in particular has always shined the brightest for me. The "Ave Maria," written by Biebel, includes introductory passages of traditional Gregorian chant, which lead into lush choral passages of neo-classical style, richly colored by impressionism. The sound is sonorous, fluid, and radiant, and communicates a deep sense of spiritual fulfilment. The "Ave Maria" text has been set numerous times in history, but this rendition seems best to capture the delicate longing and pleading for intercession between humans and the Virgin Mary. It is a quiet comment on the human condition, as we turn to the heavens to find order both in our lives, and in the world around us. If there is a heaven, it must sound like this.



4. This is lovely music, which I bought because the completely performed E La Don Don and Riu Riu Chiu are so difficult to find , but I just didn't think the rest of the CD justified the enormous price. A lot of the songs are too alike for me to be able to distinguish. Beautifully performed, but too expensive for what it is.



5. After listening to samples of Chanicleer's new Christmas album, "Let it Snow," I realized how far the group's standards have fallen over the years. It's sad. Given the reception of "Let it Snow," it's puzzling why they even released it, rather than re-release "Our Heart's Joy." In other words, by this CD if you can get ahold of it; it's a recording of fantastic, deeply spiritual music that shows Chanticleer at its best. From the first track to the last, "Our Heart's Joy" gives you sublime Christmas music to enjoy this holiday season. My personal favorites are "Riu Riu Chiu," a rollicking Spanish carol, and Franz Biebel's august "Ave Maria." On a personal note, I had the opportunity to sing both of these songs in high school, and felt it an honor to sing the songs that I had heard Chanticleer perform so beautifully. So if you're looking for beautiful music, exquisitely performed, buy "Our Heart's Joy." You won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Willie Kalikimaka.

1. Willie K is one of the greatest musicians in Hawaii. This Christmas album is truly unique and for those of us who live in Hawaii - it tells the story of Christmas the way we live it.



2. I bought this purely on impulse last year at Kilohana in Redondo Beach...and it beat the pants off every other Xmas CD I've heard...Willie K's enthusiasm and delight in the holiday spirit are contagious. This year it's definitely going to be our company's holiday hold music ;-)



3. Excellent source for powerfully performed Hawaiian Christmas music.
   
   Especially O Holy Night



4. I first heard Willie K's version of "O Holy Night" four years ago when visiting family in Hawaii and immediately fell in love with it. It has always been my favorite Christmas song. I also enjoy Willie's regular Hawaiian music and to have the two combined was a joy. His version of this song gave me chills (or as the Hawaiians say "chicken skin") and brought tears to my eyes. I loved this whole CD, but I would have bought it just to have "O Holy Night".



5. This is the best Christmas album ever. Willie K has the most amazing voice since Elvis.

3 comments about Handel, arranged by Mozart: Messiah.

1. This recording of Messiah is interesting in the fact that One.
   
   It is "Messiah" as arrainged by W.A. Mozart. 2. It is sung
   
   in German, which does not take anything away from the beauty
   
   of the work. 3. You have soloists and chorus and Orchestra under
   
   a younger Sir Charles Mackerras. As recordings of "Messiah" go
   
   this is actually one of the lovliest ones of the "traditional"
   
   performances available. Once you can get used to hearing this
   
   work in German you realize that the soloists are doing a great
   
   job singing, the chorus delivers wonderful performances and the
   
   Orchestra also delivers. You might be wondering why Mozart got
   
   with "Messiah" . It was a commissison by the
   
   Baron Van Swieten, who wanted the people of Vienna to hear the
   
   work, so he had the libretto translated into German and had
   
   Mozart arrainge the music so the musicians of Vienna could play
   
   it. One of Mozarts best ideas in this work is to have the start
   
   of some of the big choruses Like "For Unto Us a Child is born"
   
   sung by the soloists, who are then joined by the choir. This
   
   works to great effect, also Mozart added some wind sections to
   
   it. This is I think one of the best recordings of the Mozart
   
   arraingement.



2. The performance also excels.
   The score had been re-arranged, some of the original instruments used in Handel's time not being available to the Viennese at the time of Mozart. For instance, the trumpet parts had to be substituted by horns, so "The Trumpet shall Sound" sounds very different from the original Handel arrangement.
   Certain arias were also re-arranged, either shortened or cut or sung by different voices. In conclusion, the score is significantly shorter than the original Handel version.
   The baroque grandiose effect having been shorn somewhat by substitutions of classical instruments, the vocalists were left with actually more work than the original set up. Here we have a splendid ensemble directed by Mackerras, with top-notch singers headed by Adam, Schreier, Mathis. All are terrific baroque interpretors. The full religious sense and up-lifting spirituality are being fully realised. Theo Adam is one of the best bass bartione voices for the Messiah (the other being Donald McIntyre, in his recording for Karl Richter). His arias are powerful, dramatic and uplifting. Peter Schreier is without doubt the best tenor ever to grace the arias of this great oratorio in German. Edith Mathis sings the soprano parts with such zeal and conviction that lifts this performance from the purely artistic level to a religious level.



3. Mozart adding his taste to Handel's Messiah was most interesting to listen to. His addition of wood winds playing under the strings really gave you the feel of Mozart. There was a movement that for a moment I thought for a split second that I was listening to THE MAGIC FLUTE. The slight manipulation of notes to fit the german language was nothing different than a soloist adding notes to make thier aria more dramatic. I was totally moved by the alto's rendition of HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED OF MEN. The aria plays on of nearly 12 minutes. Yet I did not want it to end. Many of the movements I found to be very slow in tempo, but that did not bother me. 1 star was lost though because I was sad to hear my favorite movement, "THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND", the flowing trumpet solo was cut, and replaced with a french horn. How can you sing about Gabriel's trumpet without the trumpet? Just a question I will have to ask Heir Mozart when I meet him in the hereafter. All in all, a most enjoyable CD.

No comments about Boots and Stockings.

5 comments about Tales From the Crypt: Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas.

1. Let me start off by saying that this album is NOT for everyone -- especially those who have no sense of humor about the holidays. If you find lyrics like "Stockings stuffed with ears and fingers (fa la la la la la la la la) Chopped from all those carolling singers (fa la la la la la la la la)" offensive, don't even bother.

   If that tidbit made you laugh, this album is for you.

   The Cryptkeeper delivers his pun-laced humor, mixed with not-horrible singing, incredibly hilarious lyrics, and that trademarked cackle that sends a chill right down my spine every time I hear it. I can't help but make this my first holiday CD each year. Who could resist that "Saint Nick Rap"?? (That reminds me... anyone know where I can reach the Dallas Cowgirls? My friend Jack wanted some special cheer.) Oh, my sides are aching just thinking about this horrifyingly humorous holiday hoot.

   Again, not for everyone -- but if you're looking for an atypical holiday album with deliciously twisted lyrics... then look no further.




2. This is my favorite Christmas cd and I drag it out every year. Don't get me wrong, I like Bing Crosby as much as the next person, but this is just fun. I love "juggle bills" because it is a great parody, and it also lets me know that it isn't just me who feels flooded by bills around the holidays. And, "Deck the halls with parts of Charlie" just needed to be done. The whole cd has an almost cute quality about it but it is just good plain fun. I will pass this on to my own kids some day as Bing was passed to me.



3. Well, boils and ghouls, it's Christmas in July! Light the candles and bake the Tollhouse cookies, for the Cryptkeeper (John Kassir) is coming to your doorstep! The 1994 album "Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas" is chockfull of chestnuts, holly, mistletoe, roasted venison, blood & guts, amputated limbs, exploding missles, decaying zombies and, best of all, your delightful Host with the Most. Graciously supported by the spectacular orchestrations of the Salvation Army, CK croons, cackles and belts out 11 unique carols generously laced with wicked wits and putrid puns. What other album features St. Nick filing for bankruptcy (Juggle Bills), a salute to horror movie icons (Christmas Rap) or a New Year's eve party attended by deceased celebrities? (Should Old Cadavers Be Forgot) Or how about a Douglas Fir tree decorated with spleens and kidneys (Deck the Halls) or a mortician who embalms a family a LITTLE too early? (Moe Teitlebaum) But that's not all, folks. As a bonus, the CD's booklet contains a brilliantly colored reprint of "And All Through the House," a horridly classic tale from the 1952 "Vault of Horror" comic book (and eventually a favorite Tales from the Crypt episode). Last but not least, kiddies, this recording includes the most shocking incident of all, something only the Cryptkeeper would have the audacity to do: HE TAUNTS SANTA CLAUS!! YOU'LL LAUGH! YOU'LL SCREAM! YOU'LL BE CHILLED TO THE BONE! GUARANTEED FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! :D



4. This Christmas CD features The Crypt Keeper(John Kassir) singing parodies of Christmas songs. The songs are done with the same type of "ghoulish" puns that were used on the TV show. If you enjoyed the Crypt Keeper's sense of humor on his TV show, you should enjoy this CD.



5. i have loved this cd since i got it in highschool. its halarious.

1 comments about Soulful Sounds of Christmas.

1. This compilation features R&B Christmas songs recorded between 1985 and 2000. Contemporary R&B isn't really my bag, but this isn't bad. Run-D.M.C.'s "Christmas in Hollis" is a classic, of course. Dru Hill does a very good version of "This Christmas". Whitney Houston's version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" is quite good. And Take 6 does a great a cappella rendition of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem". The other songs are ok, but the ones I mentioned are my favorites. If you enjoy modern R&B, you will probably like this CD a lot.