1 comments about Oy Vey in a Manger.

1. Drag Queens singing "Christmas Carols and Other Jewish Music" with their own naughty lyrics. If this is your idea of travesty, move on. If travesty is your idea of comedy, you will enjoy this cd. The humor and the music-making are a bit uneven, but when these queens are on, they sparkle and glitter with the best. If the title "God Bless Ye Femmy Lesbians" makes you laugh out loud, buy this now. Funny, funny, funny!

5 comments about Drew's Famous Ultimate Halloween Party Music.

1. What I'd really like to know is just exactly WHO IS DREW-this guy that puts out so many terrible collections of various tunes that ARE NOT BY THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS???!!! I am sure many folks out there will agree with me. I peeked in on this series just to see the types of reviews written. For the most part, the majority of reviewers mentioned how really awful this series is-except for a small handful who actually had the audacity to mention that it's ok to purchase this stuff if you or your friends can't even tell the difference!!! Good God, if you can't tell the difference then you must really have a tin ear! FORGET THIS & THE REST OF THE DREW'S PARTY SERIES-if you are really into good music-stick with the original hits. You don't necessarily have to go out & buy an entire album with filler just for one or two particular big hits-if you do your research you'll find many great collections are available-not necessarily greatest hits packages either. Try those Billboard collections(various albums are listed year by year)or even the always great Only Rock & Roll(year to year)or Only Radio Hits, anything titled ONLY on the JCI/ESX label. Happy hunting!



2. At first glance this "Halloween Party" compilation CD seems to be everything you might want--but when the party starts and you drop this in your CD player, your friends will likely recognize it as an act of desperation. Not a single one of the cuts here are by the original artists, and to make matters worse most of them sound like Muzak gone bad.

   Even so, I'm giving this particular compilation two stars instead of one, for it includes a number of selections that WILL work if you (as I always do) are making your own party music tape or burning your own party music CD: themes from the films HALLOWEEN, PSYCHO, and THE EXORCIST and a really nice full organ rendition of Bach's "Tocatta en Fuge," as well as several fairly decent sound effects tracks that work well in the mix.

   Still, you can find these worthy selections elsewhere, and frankly if I had known this thing consisted of re-recorded songs by grade Z singers, I wouldn't have popped for the price. Yes, you really are better off looking through your own music collection first--or begging a friend with a good music collection to help you out--and if you absolutely must have this one, you'd do better to dig through the bargain bins than to pay full price.

   GFT, Amazon Reviewer




3. I bought this CD so I could learn some of these songs for a halloween show my band was playing. It was definitely scary! The guitar on Rock The Casbah is the worst I have ever heard recorded. Drew should join the dead!



4. I thought the music was fine for a Halloween party. It's not meant for the music collector. The hokey rendentions play perfectly for a costume party. I marked it down because it should be more up-front that it is not the original performers.



5. why is rock the casbah on here? I hate to sound like a music elitist, but I don't think Joe Strummer had a goofy halloween song in mind when he penned it. Anyhow, this is awful, awful, awful. It's no good for anyone. Don't give this guy any of your money because it is clear upon first listen that he put more effort at the toilet than in the studio. with that said, drew, go purchase better equipment, or go into the toilet paper industry if you want to produce this kind of garbage.

1 comments about Ave Maria - Christmas with Placido Domingo and the Vienna Choir Boys.

1. Excellent! I purchased this as a gift for a friend who loves Placido Domingo and she was very pleased. There is no other who compares to him. (our opinion)

5 comments about Christmas on Death Row.

1. Is there any route to dollars untried by formidable Death Row boss and frankly scary hip-hop mogul Suge Knight? Well no actually, and the reissue of the Row's '96 festive chancer proves that long after the talent and even ideas for commercial scams have run dry, Knight is still looking for gold.

   Things weren't too good for Knight and Death Row even back then, this album was released after Dre quit the label and its sagging mid-nineties-R&B-by-numbers vibe is a dead giveaway for a label at sea without a creative captain.

   Other than the amusement of soul interpretations of carols and Christmas staples including 'Silent Night' and 'Frosty The Snowman' - you know 'Music To Smoke An Ounce To After Your Turkey' - the majority of this is depressingly humourless. There are some great quotes, like the none-truer observation, "Christmas time is a time for chillin' ". But that's it.

   What the album revealed in '96 and reinforces with its reissue this year is that Knight's business head isn't smart enough to realise that the punters can only be patronised for so long. No investment in talent, no long-term return. It's hard to conceive of Death Row as anything other than a spent force milking the last few drops so that it's investors can finish furnishing their Malibu retirement homes.




2. Death Row pulls out all the stops! They got all they stars in this joint! The only ones missing is Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur and, for the most part, Snoop Dogg.
   
   But they got 6 Feet Deep! Guess! Sean Barney Thomas! and even Danny Boy (whoz got da best rapper moniker, handz down! What'z a badder image than one of an old Irish guy in a sweater dancing jigz, yo? If you know, let me know! [call my cell])
   
   Plus, yo, the packaging tearz it up! You can tell they literally got a pretty good artist to not just do a first drizaft drawing for the cover but also color it in and use Photoshop some! My man also used some perspective when drawing the little gift packages so they look like they in a 3-d space and all that!
   
   But, back to the trax! Therez one called "Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto"! And it has stuff about Santa doing' weed! Which is so not the image of Santa we've got! Thus makin' it hilariouzzz!
   
   It would take a mad week or two for me and my unmusical friends to crank out a joint wif the same quality as this! So much eazier to just go buy this!
   



3. I admit I didn't have this album when it was released in like 98 or something, but I've had it for a good three or four years. I remember seeing it chillin in the bargain bin for a whoppin 4.99 at the local Wherehouse Music and I thought Why Not? If I didn't like it I could burn it and return it(say it was scratched) and if I liked it I could just keep it. A win-win situation. So I got it and popped it in and was pleasantly surprised. This is, as reviewer Nathan stated, a sincere holiday album.
   
   Christmas On Death Row contains soulful interpretations of classic songs such as Silent Night, Silver Bells(Go Michele!!!), Christmas Song (Danny Boy), Frosty The Snowman, O Holy Night, This Christmas, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and Christmas Everyday. All of the these songs are sung beatifully with nice backdrops; they stay true to the original yet put a slight urban spin on the sounds. Yet, they are still recognizable and completely enjoyable. Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto by Snoop, Bad Azz, Daz Dillinger, Tray Deee, and Nate Dogg is believe it or not a classic. They rap about life in the ghetto at Christmas time; yes they stay on topic and tell some christmas stories. I Wish by the Dogg Pound is another great song. The Pound talk about dreams, wishes, and aspirations on this song. Greatness. The best song to me though is the Nate Dogg blessed Be Thankful. Nate Dogg really shows his chops on this one singing about how he's blessed and thankful for his family and friends. A Masterpiece. The only songs worth throwing away are Christmas In The Ghetto and Party 4 Da Homies, which are mindless rapping tunes with cursing (in a holiday album? Control yourself please) which gives the album the Parental Advisory sticker. It also ultimately lowers the rating because without those two this would be a holiday album you could play with your grandmother in the house and she won't turn her nose up at you(thank goodness for cd burners!).
   
   Don't be fooled that this record is a Death Row Records production because this album deserves props. It's a sincere holiday album...no joke. Why would I lie? 4 stars.



4. This is truly a horrific example of Death Row records. If you value your opinion of most of Suge's productions, do not buy this, since it will forever scar you emotionally and physically.
   
   PROS: Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg. CD Artistry
   CONS: Where's Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg?
   
   All I have to say is "What the hell???"



5. Ok....let's get some things out of the way right off of the bat. This is not a Hip Hop Christmas Album and there really are only 3 rap songs on here: Santa Claus goes straight to the ghetto, party 4 da homies and I wish. I wish is the only one worth mentioning and it actually does catch a holiday spirit. Ultimately a thug longing for love at christmas time...almost asking how can he expect it doing dirt.
   
   The rest of the album is straight R&B and will seem familiar to you...why? Because most of the folks singing are the folks singing background on all the G-Funk hits. These songs are all surprisingly good with Danny Boy doing most of the heavy lifting. I got hipped to this CD while listening to all of R&B christmas shows on The Beat in LA and realized that my favorites were coming from this album.
   
   So don't expect a rap album...take this for what it is...a mid nineties R&B compilation from an unexpected source. This is probably one of my favority R&B christmas albums...there have not been many good ones in quite a long time and quite easily outperforms a lot of the other compilations that amazon pairs with these CD as it contains quality from top to bottom.

5 comments about Saint Säens: Christmas Oratorio/Britten: Ceremony of Carols.

1. This bargain-basement recording has more than its share of shortcomings. A competent but uninspired performance of the Saint-Saens is by far the highlight. But Britten's _Ceremony of Carols_ is sung in German instead of the original Middle English, and it comes off as something of a fiasco.

   The absence of liner notes means that you won't know what the choir or soloist is singing at any given time, so much of the subtle word-painting will be lost on most listeners. All vocal soloists are unidentified.

   I've recommended this recording only because it is at present the only one of the Saint-Saens available. But it's high time for something better. Naxos, are you listening?




2. Having had no previous experience of either piece of music, I'd say this recording is well worth its low price. Sound quality is very high for a budget recording. If this is still the only recording of the St. Saens oratorio, I'd say don't think twice - just grab it, before it goes out of circulation.

   I can see how it might come across as uninspired, as the previous reviewers mentioned, but I think the gentle approach suits the music well in most spots.




3. I don't find anything wrong on these recording. Both the Christmas Oratory and Britten's carols are beautifully performed.It is of special interest Saint-Saens Christmas Oratory since personally, I had never heard it before, but after listening to it I can fully recomend it.



4. I think this album is worth buying for the Oratorio alone. Saint-Saens' Oratorio is way too underrated and underperformed, and I hadn't heard of it myself until my fine arts program put on a production of it this semester. It's a small scale work written only for strings, harp and organ (and chorus and soloists of course), nevertheless it is absolutely gorgeous. Even the recitative is beautiful! My personal fav's are the Soprano and Baritone duet (in which the soprano hits a high C without shattering the windows), the Tenor, Soprano and Baritone Trio which in itself is one of the most beautiful and haunting pieces of music that I've heard, and the Quartet for Alto, Soprano, Mezzo, and Bass. I don't know anything about Britten's ceremony of carols, but I would still buy this album even if it were solely for the Oratorio. And regardless of what others have said, I think this particular recording of it is marvellous.



5. I don't usually disagree with prior reviews but here I have to. I have owned this CD for at least 8 years, maybe longer. And I love it. The Saint-Saens is a very special piece of music and I am totally dumbfounded why nobody ever plays it. It does not sound difficult, so a church chior and orchestra could easily take a stab at it. Instead, we get one Handel Messiah after another at Christmas. And this performance sounds just perfect to me. True, there are no texts but remember, this a super budget CD and your are lucky to get performer's names sometimes. As for the Britten, it is a piece I have little love for. And so I will not comment on the performance.

No comments about His Christmas Album.

4 comments about Merry Christmas From the Beach Boys.

1. This is an atrocious rehash of the Beach Boys' "Christmas Album" with only nine of the twelve songs "presented" out of order with no liner notes, and poor sound quality to boot. Get the official "Christmas Album" instead, or better yet, get the "Ultimate Christmas" CD which has the entire "Christmas Album" plus lots of bonus tracks with three times the playing time and with fantastic sound quality compared to this sad CD.

   I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

   Peace on earth, good will toward men (and women!).




2. This is a truncated version of The Beach Boys standard Christmas Album. Personally I don not think this CD version is worth the money. However, if you can find this album on cassette at a much lesser price it may both worth it to you providing you just want a few Beach Boys songs for your Christmas song collection.



3. What can be the reason to release such a piece of s... ?
   We have a wonderful Xmas album, available in three versions (the original 12 tracks, the same with some funny bonus tracks, and the "ultimate Xmas", addding the aborted second Xmas album. The original album is already quite short (aaah the sixties !) we don't need this truncated copy. Run away from it !



4. this album of the biggest band in the history explain the talent uncopied of Wilsons.
   The Best.

5 comments about Radio Disney Jingle Jams.

1. ok so i bought this CD only for the songs by Jesse McCartney, Greg Raposo, and Stevie Brock but the CD turned out to be a great Christmas CD i love it lol so does my brother( he took it) my fave song is Santa Clause is Comming to Town By Stevie Brock My lease fave song would have to be the song by Christy Carlson Romano



2. here is the track list for jingle jams 05 version out OCT.11
   
   1.Someday at christmas-B5*
   2.Everyday is christmas-Everlife*
   3.Winter Wonderland-Jesse McCartney
   4.A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (christmas version)-Disney Channel Cricle Of Stars*
   5.Santa Cluse Lane (north pole mix)-Hilary Duff
   6.Jingle Bell Rock-Aly & Aj
   7.I Love Christmas-Fan_3
   8.Feels Like Christmas-Caleigh Peters*
   9.One Way Or Another-Jesse McCartney
   10.I'm Coming Home For Christmas-The Beu Sisters*
   11.Sleigh Ride-Jump5
   12.Toy Town-Christy Carlson Romano
   13.Run Rudolph Run-Aaron Carter
   14.My Christmas Wish-Raven Symone
   15.Christmas Past,Present, & Future-Ashlee Simpson
   16.Why Dosnt Santa Like Me-Skye Sweetnam
   17.Circle Of LIfe (christmas version)-Disney Channel Circle Of Stars
   
   (*)New Songs



3. I did enjoy this album for what it was. Everyone has pointed out the best Aly&AJ, Jesse, Raven, and so on..
   But, I keep reading that 'Toy Town' by Christy is the weakest.
   
   I slightly agree, only because, It is not dance-pop or pop/rock like the other tracks and gets lost, and the voice is SLIGHTLY whiney. [hoever] Christy's version of 'Toy Town' reminds me ALOT of an updated version of Brenda Lee. Basicly meaning it's current pop meets classic pop. Which isn't a bad thing but, simply doesn't fit this album.
   
   Overall a nice little Disney Channel album.



4. Radio Disney Jingle Jams is good, it should of been Holiday Jams 3, but the Holiday Jams contain both new and old songs. Jingle Jams only contains new songs. Fan_3's "I Love Christmas" song is horrible and it should of been one of the songs replaced on Jingle Jams 2005, along with Hilary Duff and Ashlee Simpson. How come J-Mac (Jesse McCartney) has two songs on the Jingle Jams? Aaron Cater was good, and I think Hilary Duff's remix of "Santa Claus Lane" is better then her orinigal.



5. 
   * * * * * * *
   
   Huckapoo's version of "Wild christmas" is AWESOME! I LOVE HUCKAPOO!!
   
   
   
   Brittney, Brittany, Jordan, Brooke, and Lindsay. yOU GUYS ROCK!
   
   -Jess

No comments about Gonna Let It Shine, A Concert For The Holidays.

5 comments about Peace on Earth.

1. I really enjoyed this one by Kitaro. The interesting style all his own mixed with the traditional Christmas hymns all together makes for one beautiful album. Kitaro is a man with an unusual talent, and it is so cool to relax to the soothing sounds of Christmas music.Especially KITARO style.



2. I mean, as such. Look, a lot of electronic, instrumental prog, "space" music--what evurrr!--artists got lumped into this New Age category once the term was invented. Veteran artists like Vangelis and Kitaro, for example. It was a convenient way to pigeonhole them so that people knew what you were talking about--I did it, you did it, we all did it, right? The trouble was that it got them associated with the spiritual kitsch of New Age, a form of philosophical repudiation of the "stress" of the world, along with a mistrust of religion to help the soul. So a whole bunch of Christians, Jews and Muslims decided that the messed-up way their brethren approached the issue of the spiritual meant their faiths themselves were no longer valid. Geez, Islam has these fundamentalist extremists, Christianity has the Klan and David Koresh, yadda-yadda. Errnngh! Wrong answer. But hey, don't get me started. And when it comes to music, both Vangelis and Kitaro got their starts in early prog bands in their native lands, and decided that a look outside their native cultures would help them in a creative sense. They made that decision as musicians, hear what I'm saying? If Kitaro has always seemed "other-worldly" to the Westerner in the themes he uses, that's because he's Japanese, okay? On his other albums, listen to those synth lines and picture them done on shamisen or koto. And that cultural flavoring comes through on this Christmas album. Behind the signature Kitaro phrasing, these Holiday classics are basically played straight, as composed. That's not so unusual--look at the Harry Simeone treatment of "Little Drummer Boy" as contrasted with two different versions of it by Johnny Mathis. And now we have one by Kitaro. And there's an international flavor to this album overall. Kitaro reminds us of one thing we've forgotten--that our Holiday favorites are of diverse national origins. And he underscores that by organizing an international children's choir to do the vocals. It wouldn't be too shabby an idea for him to re-do this as a TV special the way he did with "One Enchanted Evening"--that one was a huge PBS hit. And that, my friends, is how a so-called "New Age" artist can do a Christmas album. He does it as a musician, not a philosophical zealot.



3. Only kitaro can play and compose beutiful music like this,very relaxing and peaceful.releases all your tensions in your body and helps you to relax.



4. the track list is correct
   but the cd cover is wrong
   i own peace on earth



5. I absolutely loved the CD Peace on Earth. One of my all time favorite holiday CD's in fact. However, none of the other reviews gave the whole picture of what I was getting.
   I was quite surprised when I first watched the DVD and realized there would be no performance footage. There were some really nice still shots of footage that appeared to be Colorado "ish" in the winter time. Somehow, this really should have been mentioned. Also I admit to be disappointed that Great Spirit was not included in this collection.
   I still love the music, but this DVD is basically a "video fireplace" to have on the big screen during the holiday season. I still give it 4 stars becuse it is the best of its kind. I got this DVD on Amazon marketplace for $7.20. Had I paid full price, I probably wouldn't have been as generous with the number of stars.