Tossing a Love Letter into the Ludaverse

I don't usually write reviews regarding rap albums anymore, or albums that are outside the seasonal bent, but it has been over a decade, and this record must have made enough of a mark to consider revisiting it for a tribute.

Jimmy Fallon "Holiday Seasoning"

 Bored with Christmas music? Maybe you need some Holiday Seasoning! 

Wait a second! Where are you going? What? Wasn't that an appropriate joke?

"Exactly, it was a 'joke.' I can tell this may be one of the most boring reviews about an album chock full of holiday cheer and intrigue."

No, I do agree with that. But I haven't even started yet, so please just read another sentence or two. I would consider that an early Christmas gift. One down, two to...wait, I should have said three, or a paragraph! I hadn't even gotten started yet! No, I will not beg you to stay, nor play it coy the "Baby, It's Cold Outside" way.

We could all use a "Holiday" from time to time, whether in light-hearted or in free verse. This is almost as good as the Jo Bros own tune, "Like It's Christmas," but different, not worse. LL Cool J even stops by for the remix on the deluxe with several references and a red solo cup. Sounds like a party, and the lyrics do attest, but... 

"Hey Rudy!" these holiday-rooted lyrics are more engaging, and the music is better suited for a holiday family fun fest, while the former is perfect for caroling, or taking a stroll whilst viewing holiday decorations.

"Wrap Me Up"

No, it's too soon to end this review, there is still more to say, and I forgot, how many guesses did Jimmy make before he realized Meghan Trainor was the gift? That's a game you can choose to play. It was a real cute duet, with an even cuter lyric video. 

Also, if you have not heard A Very Trainor Christmas, and you like her style, where have you been all the while? She even has her own song for the holidays with the funkiest elements on Earth; she was the water.

This next song must be a hall-iday pass for JF and JT because although this song doesn't sound the same as "Mistletoe," and is very catchy, I remember Bieber receiving a lot of flak when this tune was released, and he was a kid for crying out loud. "You'll Be There" judging me, and that's okay, as long as you hear the song.

There is a lot can be said for "It Was a...(Masked Christmas)." I know it was released as a "single" and a video was made for it, but I don't think that means it should automatically be on the record. On one hand it was a capsule of calamity in time no one wants to remember, and the video is full of visuals that could be triggering to many people; albeit the incorporation of certain elements visually is intriguing, it still can be upsetting. It is basically propaganda wrapped in a holiday song.

 "How You Know it's Christmastime" spouts a short list, not a good or bad list, but one that hosts            holi-dentifiers for those people whose life feels like it is one long day. That may not have been the best way to put it, but it's what I got. That, and love, among other things; I cannot declare it sublime though.

One of my favorite songs to listen to during the holidays is another sad New Year's Eve tune, "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg. To me, it may be even more sad than the song Jimmy was lamenting, and in that lamentation, inspiration.  The "New Year's Eve Polka" with Weird Al is a lot cheerier than its other NYE counterparts, but it is not the most fun you can have on the record.

The next few songs see Fallon sounding like Chris Issak on "Chipmonks and Chestnuts"; "The Boss" to me, but Jimmy was inspired by Zevon for "One Glove"; and I hear John Lennon in "Merry Happy Christmas."

I don't like to drink, but I would be interested in trying "Coquito."

For fans of the "Hallmark Movie," this may offend you. It may even offend Lifetime movie fans, but the song is only relaying the formula that people who have watched several movies see again and again. The last few years, I have grown to appreciate rom-coms and rom-drams and managed to sit through a few hallmark and lifetime films. There are some good ones, but some of them just may have several names. 

While we may not agree that this "Weird Cousin" imitated Weezer really well, we can come closer to an agreement that Jimmy Fallon effectively imitated Bob Dylan and have an even higher likelihood of agreeing that "Thanksgiving Eve" is the biggest drinking night of the year; that prospect is overrated, but I do like the song.

In the traditional album finale, Dolly Parton returns for another, but much less awkward, duet that iterates it is "Almost Too Early for Christmas." The video has the same style as the duet with Meghan Trainor, so it is really cute, even with Jason making an appearance. Their duet on Dolly's last Christmas album was creepier, and that is if you consider the context of the age discrepancy, which makes it a little weird. 

While I do enjoy solitude, I do not think I would like "Christmas Alone," and I may be a lone wolf here, but the autotune and the audio effects cause this Christmas banana to peel; with that said, I can also see how and where others can find this tune to be unbearable and annoying.

As contradictory as this can be, "The Elves Are Unionizing" while wrapped in what sounds like (folk?) punk to me. Nope, he was not my Idol, but the first name I thought of was Billy. I also figured out the other artist I could not pinpoint, another Billy with last name Joel

However, "Broadway (Do You Remember)" finds my memory in less of a fog, as Jimmy reminds me of an A.I. Elton John: good, but not the real thing.     

As for the rest of the songs, a grab bag of souvenirs from the consistently distant aunt and uncle you may see once every y...five years: A song that could be featured on a Rivers Cuomo Christmas Record; a somber dose of nostalgia brought to us by Fallon and Lang Lang; a song about secrets and surveillance sung by an Elvis impersonator less than a foot tall; two covers live at the Electric Lady; and finally a holiday reboot with another rapper that busts rhymes .

Clay Aiken "Christmas Bells Are Ringing"

 While I view American Idol a lot differently now and stopped watching the show as a whole (I have seen an occasional clip here and there the last few years). I remember a time when it was a family staple, a time when I was a lot younger, hearing his version of "Solitaire" before making the connection that it was also the name of a card game. Oh, the naivete, or is it ignorance? Both.

  I remember Clay Aiken's first Christmas album, how bright-eyed he looked on his first Christmas venture, and that voice. What happened to him?!

No, he looks basically the same, but instead of being endearing, that "bright-eyed" look he wears is kinda creepy now. He still sings well. I have heard most of the songs he covers here more than enough to cover my own ears and imagine his interpretation (hyperbole alert). There were some "Magic Moments," this little ditty right there, where it is festive and familiar enough to other tunes heard without being a blatant rip-off, (cough) cover. Ok, forget what I said, but now I know it is a cover (first time I heard it). Others, such as "Caroling, Caroling" hit the high (quality) notes for me; and his version of "Wonderful Christmastime" may be more wonderful than his Wonka-less "Pure Imagination," (which was also covered by his season two superior, Ruben Studdard); still determining that. "On This Silent Night" and "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" could be choice cuts for you. 

While the record was fair, I will ask, was there really a need for another Clay Aiken Christmas album?

I'll answer with this: do we really need all these Hollywood reboots?

3 Heath Brothers "Not So Silent Night"

While their version of this classic was faithful and worthy of multiple listens, I prefer the eponymous "opener," which gives us a glimpse into their collective personality as a group. Then, they decided to take a deeper dive and give us a beautiful song that lists some likely possibilities of "What God Wants for Christmas."

Could it be a trend? After this triplicate of covers, or what many may call a medley, a dark cloud looms and the brothers sing a somber tune. Most wouldn't say the season's temperature rose when we lost a loved one, or they left us, we would say "Christmas Got Colder."

This next medley of "Feliz Navidad/ Come On, It's Christmas/We Wish You a Merry Christmas" was followed by a much warmer and hopeful sentiment with their cover of "I'll Be Home for Christmas." 

Though, if I had to choose my favorite of covers it would have to be their version of "Mary, Did You Know?" I have heard several versions but, with the multi-layered treatment with enough variety of instrumentation, and the right tone, to score the scope of the majesty that is the birth of Jesus Christ, without going overboard and cheapening it, this is my favorite.

 

The album gets even better with "This Year (Happy New Year)" with a joyful tone and a hopeful heart that oft appears at the prospect of the new year.

There is so much I can say about the finale, other than its my favorite, but I'll say this: it not only tells the greatest story ever told with engaging and rousing melodies, instrumentation and harmonies, but it also finds one of brothers attempting to lead someone back to Christ. Is it done? Is it well? 

The record could not have had a finer end.

My Morning Jacket "Happy Holiday!"

Ah, to have These indie darlings wish you a Happy Holiday! Sounds good, right?

Sounds like a challenge approaching. While no one really likes feeling sorry for themselves, except what it may afford them, even though it is counterproductive, this song allures and then stings, not only because of the song itself, but it scores this seasonal paranoia.

I can imagine that one of the most poignant songs a traveling musician can sing around this time of year is "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and they deliver that yearning while keeping you out of the cold, with the internal burning.

One of my favorite selections had to be their cover of The Band's "Christmas Must Be Tonight" referencing the original Christmas story in its lyrics, and not only does that little baby boy, but this song also, brings so much joy (just not as much as the former).

 

So, after realizing that most of the songs I hadn't heard before were also covers, nearly identical to their originals, I was less impressed, but still pleased with the songs. 

Covers are basically regifting older songs, because music is a gift, but not everyone always sees it that way. The boys in the band, this band, go so far as to regift their own songs, both of which were wonderful in sound, one in title as well, with snowy versions. 

I can call this effort a lazy and deceptive one, but that would be the scrooge within. Pragmatic, maybe? They do cover appropriate staples, and the covert tributes to previous bands' originals are all tastefully done.  The new versions of their regifted originals manage to simulate an occasional snowfall from time to time.  In the spirit of the season, I guess I can forgive them, also because their holiday outing is giving a home to some of their songs which had none.

You may not find this funny, but at the outset, James was feelin' sorry for himself, with what could be their own Elvis holiday staple, and throughout this steady coaster of emotions we arrive at "Wonderful (Snowy Version)." The song starts with saying, "It matters to me. Took a long time to get here." The perfect way to end what should be a happy holiday; accurate statement when it comes to where they started on this record, which may set one for how quickly they arose out of the void.

Sabrina Carpenter "fruitcake"

 I will start this critique with a query. Did Carpenter come up with this title because of a clandestine appreciation for this seasonal confection, oft the receiver of rejection, in hopes that fans will praise the album aloud, so she can claim others also have praised what "gives cake a bad name?" Or did I come up with the conspiracy because I did not want to be alone? I don't care, I love fruitcake regardless. 

It's been said that love can make people do crazy things, one of which is not remixing a former hit into a festive and fun entry into the Carpenter canon with "A Nonsense Christmas." The song is the outcome of a blizzard of revision, not a mere flurry, and the snow didn't take long before it got dirty.

"Buy Me Presents" is a not so subtle reminder that her boyfriend is not only on the naughty list, but that he may soon find himself on the "do not reply" list if he does not take initiative by drinking her like a warm glass of milk, or racing to her from the North Pole to LA just to keep her stocking filled, those references (were not missed because of warm milk, not a fan anyways).

The proclamation that "santa doesn't know you like i do" is not only an incredibly arrogant claim, but can forsake your feelings like the subject of Wham's "Last Christmas" did. It sounds like Carpenter took a similar path, but the video for this song offers a last-minute shift in the narrative.

"cindy lou who" can be said to be an icon of Christmas spirit, or one of giving. The subject of the song still gives, but it's worse than coal...heartbreak.

After hearing the songs that have preceded this one, it is no surprise she is asking "is it new year's yet?" in a disco/dance club, no doubt. One that prohibits the enjoyment of fruitcake, the secret is out (It was just a theory, the majority despise this delectable confection).

The finale of this E.P. finds Carpenter drifting into a modernized version of a "white x-mas" collaboration of influences, while gifting us a surprise twist.

This album is appropriately titled because I could see myself listening to this for years to come; as a guilty pleasure because some of the lyrics are suggestive.  It is a very likeable and listenable album, in a worldly sense, but there are some things. It's not the same but reminds me of "Blue Christmas" by a fellow Sabrina, Claudio. I could listen to the actual fruitcake, and probably eat it years later because of how hearty they are, almost like the cockroach of "cake?" Many would say that is an accurate metaphor for more than one reason.

Mark Tremonti "Christmas Classics Old & New"

 I never expected to hear Mark Tremonti Christmas Classics New and Old, period. Especially performed in this way, if you consider his career prior to this release; still active as a guitarist for Alter Bridge, his own band Tremonti, and Creed with 2024 reunion tour. I should have known though finding out about his album Tremonti Sings Sinatra, with members of Sinatra's own band, no doubt.

While it would have been cool to hear rock renditions of these songs, the music was in good hands. I get it, many may have memories of the timeless albums that put a little swing in one's step, and when a musician has a chance to be a part of it, especially if one is working with a band of one of the best voices in music( I cannot confirm that he recorded with Sinatra's band for this record, but I can speculate) then why not swing for the fences.

Known more for his guitar prowess, this, along with the aforementioned album, gives his voice time to shine. He may not have "The Voice," but has a comparable one, even recreating Sinatra's own version of "Jingle Bells."

 "Christmas Morning" could be heard alongside decades-old timeless canon classics, and I don't think many would disagree that it belongs; it may be the sole new song included, but I will take one expertly crafted, and nominee for "timeless" label, over ten soulless cookie cutter newbies any day.

"O Holy Night," and even "The First Noel" are some of his strongest cases supporting the claim that his voice is comparable, although the delivery in the former reminds me more of Manilow than Sinatra.

If I were to recommend a solo record by a hard rock legend with a stylistic twist recorded a year before "This Christmas," than you know my answer. The latter happens to be the only song that sounds anachronistic. So, all the better it is the final song, as this is the final paragraph, or simply a set of sentenses.