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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Fire drills at work can and do save lives ... Out-of-bounds ventures lead to rescue calls ... Ashlander wins $50K in Powerball drawing ... Fire drills at work can and do save lives ... Out-of-bounds ventures lead to rescue calls ... Ashlander wins $50K in Powerball drawing ... HOLIDAY MUSIC 2015 Christmas albums are full of star power Comment By Alan Sculley Last Word Features DailyTidings.com By Alan Sculley Last Word Features Posted Dec. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Alan Sculley Last Word Features Posted Dec. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News This may be a rare year in which the country music genre is under-represented for Christmas albums, but there's plenty of star power and more than the usual number of releases that add fresh twists to the Christmas album tradition. Here are new releases worth noticing this year. Brian Setzer: “Rockin' Rudolph” (Surfdog) — Ten years after his last holiday album, Setzer fires up his 18-piece orchestra to rock and swing their way through this collection. While the dozen songs are covers, there's plenty of originality here. The big and brassy arrangements make the likes of “Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree,” “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Most Wonderful Time of the Year” more festive than usual. Even better are the clever reinventions of “The Flintstones” theme song as “Yabba-Dabba Yuletide” and the rockabilly transformation given to “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.” There's also plenty of sparkling musicianship to go around on this lively — and excellent — album. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: “It's A Holiday Soul Party” (Daptone) — Jones and her crack band, the Dap-Kings, shake up Christmas with their classic soul sound. And yes, they bring the party. Jones and the Dap-Kings even turn “White Christmas” into a driving Jackie Wilson-esque tune, while “Silver Bells” gets lit up with percolating funk. Just as surprising is “Silent Night,” which sounds a bit sexy with this sashaying bluesy treatment. Along with the standards, “It's A Holiday Soul Party” includes a healthy serving of originals. The highlight is “Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects,” where Jones shares her mother's story of how Santa Claus comes to visit despite not having his usual point of entry. LeAnn Rimes: “Today Is Christmas” (Prodigy Entertainment Ltd.) — Rimes takes some welcome chances on “Today Is Christmas.” She favors mostly lesser-known songs and stretching beyond her country roots for a lightly bluesy “I Still Believe in Santa Claus,” a smoky version of Kenny Loggins’ “Celebrate Me Home” (a duet with Gavin DeGraw) and a soulful take on “The Spirit of Christmas” (sung with Aloe Blacc) — three highlights on this heartfelt, hopeful and mostly satisfying effort. India.Arie: “Christmas With Friends” (Capitol) — This album may feature familiar favorites, but how the talented Arie and her guests treat the songs makes all the difference. The late Joe Sample joins Arie on several songs, notably giving “Let It Snow” a smart, jazzy touch. On “Silent Night,” all involved keep things reverential, but the harmonies Arie and Brandy sing, coupled with Sample’s tasteful piano, make the oft-covered standard shine. Arie and Michael McDonald (channeling a little vintage Joe Cocker, perhaps) throw down on “Merry Christmas Baby.” “Christmas With Friends” shows that an album of Christmas classics can be fresh and creative. Kylie Minogue: "Kylie Christmas" (Atlantic/Parlophone) — Minogue covers all sorts of ground, from Christmas classics to originals — with mixed results. She gets too gimmicky by "dueting" with Frank Sinatra on "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and pairing with Iggy Pop (huh?) on the kitschy disco of "Christmas Wrapping." But she redeems herself with the bouncy pop tune "Christmas Isn't Christmas Until You Get Here" and a couple of inspired and nicely done cover choices — Yaz's "Every Day is Like Christmas" and The Pretenders' "2000 Miles." Train: “Christmas In Tahoe” (INgrooves/Sunken Forest/Universal) — Train gives the holidays a contemporary twist, favoring Christmas songs by contemporary artists to go with several original tunes. Some song choices are inspired, such as "Christmas Must Be Tonight," by The Band's Robbie Robertson, and the swinging "What Christmas Means To Me," done most famously by Stevie Wonder. But there are a few misfires. The Pat Monahan co-write, “Christmas Island,” tries to go Jimmy Bufffett, but lacks the lyrical wit of the parrot master, while the version of The Pretenders' "2000 Miles" lacks the vocal nuance and ache of the original. Add in perfunctory versions of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "O Holy Night" and it makes for a mixed bag of a holiday album. December People: “Classic Rock Christmas” (www.decemberpeople.com) — This group of classic rock musicians converts 10 Christmas tunes into something entirely new by borrowing big chunks of iconic classic rock tunes. “Silver Bells” is based on Tom Petty's “Running Down A Dream” and “American Girl.” “Oh Come Emmanuel” checks into the Eagles' “Hotel California” for a cool makeover. And would you believe a version of “Jingle Bells” with Van Halen guitar gymnastics and bombast? It's enough to make you hot for egg nog and jump for Christmas cookies. Rhonda Vincent: “This Christmas” (Upper Management Music) — While Vincent’s versions of several holiday standards are fine, the best moments on “This Christmas” come on the four Vincent originals, which include the lovely “Dreaming of Christmas,” the ballad “Christmas Time” (which captures the ache of loved ones who are gone or away for the holiday) and the spunky bluegrass of “Christmas Time At Home.” Bluegrass enthusiasts will especially like “This Christmas,” but this album should have appeal beyond that genre. The Hit Men: “Holiday Hits” (self-released) — This group, featuring a couple of ex-members of the Four Seasons, filters a collection of familiar Christmas tunes through the stylistic trademarks of the Four Seasons, with the occasional touch of other influences — such as the Phil Spector-ish production on “Little Drummer Boy.” The formula here makes for a good-natured, if innocuous, seasonal collection. Danny Gokey: “Christmas Is Here” (BMG) — The former “American Idol” turned Christian music artist doesn't overdo the spiritual messages on this album, splitting those sort of songs pretty evenly with tunes such as “The Christmas Song,” “White Christmas” and a Gokey co-write, “Christmas Is Here.” The latter song celebrates getting the Christmas spirit — even in places where a balmy climate makes it feel decidedly unlike winter. Gokey's sound isn't unique — modern synthetic pop mixed with touches of soul and gospel — and the production is sometimes heavy-handed on instrumentation and backing vocals. But “Christmas Is Here” is a pleasing, well intended holiday effort. The Wizards of Winter: “The Magic of Winter” (self-released) — This group, started by several former members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, follows the TSO musical blueprint of mixing edgy progressive rock and classical on its debut holiday offering. The Wizards, though, deserves credit for creating original music, and by and large, the songs are solid enough — if a bit grandiose. But the wish here is that Wizards of Winter would carve out more of its own musical path. One Trans-Siberian Orchestra is enough. Etienne Charles: “Creole Christmas” (Culture Shock Music) — With his opening tune, “Father Christmas,” it’s clear Charles didn’t make the typical holiday album. It’s a tale of the police showing up, warrant in hand, on Christmas Day. Not exactly chestnut-warming fare, but then again, enough other albums provide that. Instead the trumpeter gives listeners several varieties of jazz — “Go Tell It On The Mountain” and a sometimes nearly unrecognizable “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” — plus bits of calypso and Caribbean stylings — “Make a Friend for Christmas”. It all makes for perhaps the year’s most unconventional and sophisticated Christmas album. Rocknoceros: “Happy Holidays from Rocknoceros” (Rockno) — Christmas is a kids holiday, so here’s one for the youngster in all of us, with nine originals that run from Halloween — that other great kids’ day — through New Year’s Eve. Songs like “Halloween Masquerade,” “The Dreidel Song” and “Snow Day” actually have enough musical heft for adults, and stay simple enough to entertain the kids. By Alan Sculley Last Word Features DailyTidings.com By Alan Sculley Last Word Features Posted Dec. 24, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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