lambchops's Full Review: Everything You Want For Christmas by Big Bad Voodo...
Raise your hand if you’re tired of all the same old Christmas music. Most certainly about half of you (or more) are now sitting patiently at your desks with your palm in the air. Now, tell me, which songs are you most sick of? Is it Jingle Bell Rock? What about Silent Night? Or is just the whole shebang.
In any case, I personally grew weary of Christmas music about a decade ago. Weaned on worn-out 8-tracks of country music stars yelping their favorite tunes, I couldn’t take it any more. I just tuned out every bit of music the holiday had to offer. Today, thing have gotten no better. The pop stars have replaced the country stars at the forefront of the Christmas music movement but the renditions are no less annoying. However, every once in a while a band or artist comes along with something worth checking out. This year, that particular honor goes to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and their new disc Everything You Want for Christmas.
A mix of new tracks (written by Scotty Morris) and standards tossed with a good bit of big band, the album is both eclectic and entertaining without being in the least bit trite. The BBVD sound, popularized first in the 40’s and 50’s and again in the late 1990’s, works nicely with spirited holiday songs. In fact, I love the injection of saxophones and trumpets into what may otherwise be dry and predictable genre. Just like the packaging, these are classic songs with an edgy twist. The cover looks like a traditional holiday scene; save for the macked-out toy car. Inside, classic toys and ornaments flank and fill stockings adorned with the names of the guys in BBVD. Dirk (Dirk Shumaker, acoustic bass), Andy (Andy Rowley, baritone sax), Karl (Karl Hunter, alto/tenor/baritone sax), Kid (Glen “The Kid” Marhevka, trumpet), Kurt (Kurt Sodergren, drums), Josh (Joshua Levy, Piano), and of course Scotty (vocals & guitar) each have their own stockings—I guess they think they were good boys this year.
Everything You Want For Christmas features ten songs—three written by Morris. The other seven tracks range from medleys to the very traditional. In fact, I think it’s the beautiful album closer, We Three Kings that is the most outstanding offering of the entire album. Delicate and classic, this version uses trumpets and saxophones rather than the usual “classical” instruments. The resulting version is nothing short of spectacular. In fact, it is one of the most gorgeous Christmas songs I’ve ever heard. However, with that said it is in great contrast to the other nine swingin’ songs.
The disc starts out with the fun Rockabilly Christmas (it sounds exactly like you’d expect) followed by the smooth Merry Christmas Baby. Both are good songs, but it is Mr. Heatmiser that really jumps out as excellent. If you don’t know the song by that name, maybe the fact it was originally from the holiday show The Year Without Christmas (1974). The fact that it appears on this album proves that this is an album to be enjoyed and not taken too awful seriously. This is fun—the kind of album you can share with family and friends and not feel too embarrassed about the situation. I adore Mr. Heatmiser and the fantastic horns and memorable lyrics and melody:
He's Mister Heat Blister
He's Mister Hundred and One
They call me Heat Miser,
What ever I touch
Starts to melt in my clutch
I'm too much!
The album continues with Blue Christmas, a classic holiday carol. The gorgeous arrangement and vocals make for a fantastic experience. It’s never sounded better. Last Night (I Went Out With Santa Claus) (another Morris original) is next. It’s a kinetic big band track with muted trumpets, saxes, and everything. While not one of the better songs, it’s still worth hearing. Heck, the whole album is worth hearing if you’re disappointed with the whole Christmas music scene. Christmastime in Tinsel Town is a better song from Morris—possibly his best here.
A Party For Santa rearranges and spices up Santa Claus is Coming To Town nicely with new words and a wholly unexpected bunch of lyrics however it is Jingle Bells (Cha Cha) that is the most unexpected offering of the entire album. Who knew that the song would sound so good as a cha cha? Not me, of course. Even better is that it is driven by just percussion and a saxophone and toward the end a flute. Genius, I tell ya, genius.
Before the album wraps up with the gorgeous We Three Kings, there is one last offerings. Is Zat You Santa Claus? with Dirk Shumaker on vocals is an update of a James Fox composition popularized by none other than Louis Armstrong. Done BBVD style, it is definitely all in good fun.
Everything You Want for Christmas is an unexpected gem. It’s not perfect (few if any Christmas albums are), but it is a great option for people looking for a little different way to celebrate the holiday season. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy proves (once again) that swing is hot and never goes out of style.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Rockabilly Christmas
02. Merry Christmas Baby
03. Mr. Heatmiser
04. Blue Christmas
05. Last Night (I Went Out With Santa Claus)
06. Christmastime in Tinsel Town
07. A Party for Santa
08. Jingle Bells (Cha Cha)
09. Is Zat You Santa Claus?
10. We Three Kings
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