CD Reviews: "Duck the Halls" and "Slower Than Christmas"

Since we're still in the pre-music-sharing season, I thought I'd instead share my take on "Duck the Halls", the Christmas CD from the Robertson family of Louisiana Duckmen fame, and, most recently, of course, Duck Dynasty.

I had never seen Duck Dynasty until this past Summer, and wondered how the heck a show about a family that made duck calls could be any good.  My kids started watching it, and, unlike they other shows they watch about tattoos, tattoo removal, opening up storage bins, and building aquariums, I actually got sucked in to the phenomenon.  I find Duck Dynasty to be very funny and very entertaining.  Why, you ask?  Well, sure, it's not a reality show.  The situations are "suggested" by the producers.  It's half sitcom and half reality, but it's funny.  The Robertsons have a collective great sense of humor, have natural comic timing, and the looks the teen-aged Robertson kids give are precious.  But the main thing it that it's refreshingly clean.  There are no language bleeps.  No swearing.  No more than the brothers calling each other idiots.  And, every episode ends with the family around the dinner table, with Phil Robertson saying a prayer.  It's good, clean, entertaining TV.

Ok, so, how's the CD?  I like it.  I think it's darned entertaining, and it makes me laugh and smile.  The music is surprisingly good, though there are peaks and valleys.  Is it a timeless Christmas classic?  Nah.  It is fun?  Yes, definitely.  It makes me happy, happy, happy.

Missy Robertson is featured on three of the songs, and has a very good voice, pleasantly delivering on "I'll Be Home for Christmas", "Baby, It's Cold Outside", and "Why I Love Christmas".  Sadie Robertson, Willie's daughter, is joined by the other Robertson children on "Away in a Manger" (also featuring the totally awesome Alison Krauss) and "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer", and gives fine, earnest, and sweet performances.

"Christmas Cookies", with Phil Robertson and special guest George Straight, is a great little song about Miss Kay's Christmas cookies (yep, you guessed it).  It's a happy, fun, and superbly seasonal song, and one of the best on the album.

Let's get back to "Baby, It's Cold Outside", with Missy and Jase Robertson.  Ha!  This one cracks me up.  Jase's mainly spoken performance is funny, just in his delivery and timing.  I love this version of a song that is really hit or miss.  This take is a definite hit (even though it doesn't get "bone-chillin'" in Louisiana).

The biggest surprise is "Camouflage and Christmas Lights", performed by Reed Roberston, Jase and Missy's son.  When I first listened to this, I checked the liner notes to see who the guest singer was.  Reed has a fine voice, the best on the record.  I'd like to hear more from Reed, in more traditional Christmas carols and songs.

And, of course, there's the title track, complete with duck calls replacing the Fa La La La Las.  And, Uncle Si chimes in on three songs, adding his unique vocal talents to the record.

Classic, no.  Loads of fun, yes indeed.

Now, there is one more Duck Dynasty-related Christmas CD that has not gotten the press and hype that accompanied "Duck the Halls".  Mountain Man, one of the best and funniest neighbors on Duck Dynasty, released a Christmas record called "Slower Than Christmas".  Mountain Man has a well-deserved reputation for not moving at too fast a pace.  Nor, talking too fast.  So, "Slower Than Christmas" is themed around Mountain Man's pace of life.

I listened to some of the tracks from "Slower Than Christmas" on Spotify, as a try-before-you-buy.  I didn't buy.  It's a gimmick of an album, and, for me, the gimmick doesn't work.  I couldn't get into this record.  Mountain Man, love ya on the tube, but the record, not so much.

Just my opinions - your mileage may vary :-)

Free EP from Brad McNett & Jake Reichbart

One of the best aspects of running this little ol' Christmas Music blog is that artists will occasionally contact me about their music.  A few days ago I heard from the duo Brad McNett and Jake Reichbart.  Brad and Jake have a 6-song Christmas EP available on Bandcamp as a free download. 

Brad and Jake deliver an "unplugged" (is "unplugged" just too '90's?) collection of traditional Christmas songs that I think you'll enjoy.  I especially like their acoustic arrangement of "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year".

Follow the links below to download their EP "Please Come Home for Christmas", and to find out more about these two fine musicians.

Brad and Jake on Bandcamp

Brad McNett artist website

Jake Reichbart website

CD Review: Elizabeth Chan "Everyday Holidays"

Elizabeth Chan: Everyday Holidays

Let’s get right to it: I really love this record.

Many readers of Merry and Bright, being the internet-savvy, Christmas music loving folk that they are, may already be familiar with Elizabeth Chan.  In 2012 Elizabeth released an EP titled “Naughty & Nice”, with 5 original Christmas songs.  Elizabeth, who lives and breathes Christmas every day of the year, has a goal to write and record a modern classic Christmas song.  To this end, she has written over 300 seasonal songs to date.  In 2013, Elizabeth went to Kickstarter to help fund a full-length CD, and at the end of the funding period 95 backers had committed over $10,000 to support her project.  And now, after all is said and done, we have a full CD from Elizabeth, with 10 original songs, plus a remix cut, for a total of eleven happenin’ holiday tunes. 

Elizabeth’s songs tend toward a blend of Christmas with pop arrangements.  “Fa La La” is the best of the bunch, and it is her first single from the album.  “Fa La La” is a catchy, energetic song with a driving snare drum beat.  You’ll be tapping your feet and nodding your head along as you listen, and you’ll find yourself singing along.

“A Christmas Song” is a wonderful cornucopia of Christmas song tidbits, expertly woven together with an upbeat, jingly arrangement.  A few years ago Rocky and Balls (aka Sophie Madeleine and Hannah-Rei) achieved perfection with their “Christmas Song Song”, creating a kazoo-accompanied homage to what seemed like every popular Christmas song ever.  But while Rocky and Balls created a work of pure whimsy, Elizabeth has married the joy of hearing Christmas songs with the feelings of love for that one special person.  It’s a truly great song that gives us a glimpse into Elizabeth’s passions and soul. 

“Vixen” debuted on “Naughty & Nice” and makes a return on this CD.  It’s a sexy little song about Santa’s favorite girl who may, just may, edge over into the realm of the naughty J  “Vixen” is totally unique and attention-getting, while remaining radio-friendly.  Now if only Christmas radio would play it!

On “Only On Christmas Time”, Elizabeth explores her range as a vocalist, particularly into her lower register, with wonderful results.  It’s a dance-beat celebration of the season, and very enjoyable.

“Tis the Season” is a rockin’, drivin’ force of a song with powerful drumming by John Benthal, shredding guitar by Nik Chinboukas, and sleighbells – what a great mix!

I find this collection of songs to be truly inspirational.  Elizabeth has not relied on covers and interpretations of classic Christmas songs to get our attention.  This is an artist truly following her dream, which is not just performing Christmas songs, but writing, performing, and recording her own Christmas songs.  Folks, this is inspiring artistry at its best.  And she’s good, too, friends, really good. 

And, I have to give a quick shout-out to Elizabeth's musicians who helped make this record:  Tony Lauria, Dylan Wissing, Yan Falmagne, Andy Snitzer, Kent Smith, Pemberton Roach, and Steve Addabbo.

To me, this is what Christmas music is all about.  It comes straight from the heart of an artist.  It’s a direct connection to the passions of a musician.  Elizabeth’s love of Christmas shines through on every song.

Please visit Elizabeth’s website to learn more, and to hear samples of her music.  Then surf on over to Amazon or iTunes and support an inspirational artist.

Lizchanchristmas.com

Amazon link

Welcome to the Season!

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Holidays, 2013 edition! 

As I sit here this morning, the first day of our return to standard time, after forgetting to set my clocks back last night and joyfully realizing it this morning, I wanted to write a quick post to welcome everyone back to Merry and Bright for a new season of Christmas music, books, and whatever else comes to the mind of ol' Der Bingle.

I'm hoping for a great year here - more mini-reviews of new Christmas releases, a few full reviews of Christmas records from artists you won't find at Target.  Perhaps some artist interviews.  Salute!s for the work done by the some of the friends of Merry and Bright.  And, of course, sharing out Christmas music that is out of print and unavailable in digital format.

To wind up this first post of the new season, I want to give a quick shout out to Ronald Lankford's new book, "Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells, and Silent Nights:  A Cultural History of American Christmas Songs".  Ronald is the curator of his own Christmas music site, and has published a marvelous book about the music we all love so dearly.  I started reading it this morning, and will post a more extensive review later in the season.  Ronald's research and work is exceptional, and the artwork included in his book and on his site is simply fantastic.  I have a great fondness for the nostalgic Christmas art of the past, and just love the vintage images he posts. 

Sleigh Rides, Jingle Bells, and Silent Nights website

Amazon link to the book

 

 

So, here we go!  The start of a new and joyous season!

Cuneo Christmas Book Collection

I've written here before about the Cuneo Christmas books I've collected over the past couple of years.  The books were published by Cuneo Press in Chicago from 1942-1981(?), and are wonderful collections of stories, poems, and artwork.  Each book has a brief introduction by John Cuneo.  I'm guessing they were distributed as some sort of subscription, or as an annual premium of some sort.  I haven't been able to find much information about them, but they are absolutely splendid.

I've managed to pick up several more editions of the books, including all eight published in the 1940's.  Here are a few pictures from the inaugural edition, from 1942:

 

 

Here is a picture of the spines of the first four, 1942-1945.

And here is a picture from the 1943 edition:

Each one was hardbound, gilt edge, and published with pages uncut, in the style of much older books.  Many that I have bought still have uncut pages, so I have to use a sharp blade to cut the page edges in order to read them.

Not every story in every book is Christmas-themed, though I believe that each book does contain at least one.   Many, though, have all Christmas stories and poems.

Each one, starting in 1943, closes with the Pope's Christmas Broadcast from the previous year.  It's amazing to read some of the messages from the Popes through the years.  Many times the messages still resonate, and apply to current events even though the words were spoken 60 or  more years ago. 

These are marvelous books, and will provide me with excellent holiday reading for many years to come.

I'm missing only the 1950, 1953, and 1978-1981 editions.  I'll find them for a good price one of these days!

Christmas Kickstarter: Andrea Hamilton

Following the successful Kickstarter campaigns from Elizabeth Chan and The Bowmans, I now would like to call your attention to another very worthy Kickstarter project from Andrea Hamilton.  Andrea is a Los Angeles based singer-songwriter who is producing a Christmas album and is asking for a quite modest contribution from all of us Christmas music lovers to help bring the project to completion.  Andrea is asking for $6000, and with about 10 days to go is less than $1800 away from funding.  So close!

Andrea Hamilton Kickstarter

Andrea has some great perks for backers, starting with the Christmas CD, of course.  But for the truly inspired backers, you can receive Andrea's previously released CDs, a live performance DVD, a custom Youtube video, a Valentine's Day performance, vocal lessons, and more! 

Want to know more about Andrea the Artist?  Visit her website, hopefulpop.com.

hopefulpop.com

 

 

So, please take a few moments to check out Andrea's project page, and if you're as impressed as I am, send a few dollars her way to back this truly worthy seasonal project. 

Andrea Hamilton Kickstarter

*Now* You Rear Your Ugly Head, Summertime?

Holy smokes - Ol' Man Summer waited until September 8 to hit 100 degrees in Kansas City.  Over the past few years, it seems that every September we get one penultimate blast of heat in September that reminds us that Fall isn't for a couple more weeks.  (The Last Blast? - usually 2 days in October that hit 93ish, then we settle into cooler weather).

But, I can't complain.  One day at or above 100 this year compared to something like 26 last year.  And, late in the season, I had my AC tuned up on Friday.  So it was ready for the heat :-)

Not that my readers tune in here for the latest in Kansas City weather...

Christmas Music update:  have ripped three or four more albums for sharing since last week, plus one just for me - a 4-record set of Lawrence Welk's Christmas music.  It's in terrific condition, the music is awesome - love that Myron Floren on the accordion - but I can't share it because the music has been released on CD.  I've had it for a couple of years but had not gotten around to ripping it, so I decided it was time.  If you have memories (fond or maybe not quite so much) of the Lawrence Welk Show in the 60s and 70s, give his Christmas music a listen sometime - I think you'll like it.

Next post:  Cuneo Christmas Books - building the collection...