Holiday CD Reviews: Navigating the stars

Stars light and stars bright cast their own kind of glow through this year's Christmas CD collection, as reviewed by our staff.

KC the Sunshine Band's album barely flickers, while several other stars shine so brightly you might have to ask Santa for sunscreen.

A trio of artists in our list have recent connections to Eastern Iowa. If you were among the soggy, disappointed masses scurrying for cover at the start of Sharon Jones' rained-out Hancher/Iowa Soul Festival concert in August, her 'It's a Holiday Soul Party' will soothe your soul. Ellis Marsalis, bringing his holiday show to the Englert in Iowa City on Dec. 11, gets a nod for his piano solo in The Count Basie Orchestra's swingin' set. And Kenny Rogers, who performed Dec. 1 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids, shimmers through 'Once Again It's Christmas.'

Here's our guide to the galaxy of holiday star-makers and breakers.

STELLAR STARS

 

THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA 'A Very Swingin' Basie Christmas' (Concord Jazz) Rating: ★★★★

'A Very Swingin' Basie Christmas' opens with a big band version of 'Jingle Bells.' As the trumpets and saxophones wail away, you feel like you've arrived in a tuxedo or evening gown for a swanky holiday party from the 1930s.

The CD features a Basie-like piano solo from jazz great Ellis Marsalis to open 'Let it Snow,' as well as some serious crooning from longtime Basie vocalist Carmen Bradford on 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.' Johnny Mathis also contributes some playful vocals on 'It's the Holiday Season.'

As the liner notes suggest, The Count Basie Orchestra has lost none of its 'sweet swagger' with this collection of holiday classics. Many of the songs contain bits and pieces of your holiday favorites, while others like 'Little Drummer Boy' are re-imagined into something completely new.

Best song: 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' or 'Jingle Bells' (listen to a sample of "Jingle Bells" below)

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— Mike Wagner, KCRG-TV9

SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS"It'sA Holiday Soul Party' (Daptone Records)Rating: ★★★★

Sass up the season with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' new holiday album, 'It's a Holiday Soul Party.'

You'll want to slip on your best boogieing shoes when the music hits your speakers.

It's a refreshing, toe-tapping twist on the 'same old, same old' standards we hear every year, with spiced-up classics like 'Silent Night' and 'White Christmas,' as well as some unique originals like 'Big Bulbs' and 'Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects.' We even get a little religious diversity with the album's first track, '8 Days of Hannukah.'

As always, Jones awes listeners with an incredible vocal range and powerful pipes — especially in 'Silver Bells' and 'Silent Night.' Even if you can't match her, you'll want to sing along.

Best song: Truly, it's hard to choose just one. 'Silent Night' is my favorite Christmas classic, but when it comes to originality, it has to be 'Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects.' (Listen to a sample of "Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects" below)

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— Liz Zabel, The Gazette

LEANN RIMES

'Today is Christmas' (Kobalt)

Rating: ★★★★

LeAnn Rimes, 33, has been surprising listeners her whole life. At age 13, she powered her way into the country scene with 'Blue,' and has snatched up every major music award since then.

So it should be no surprise that she scatters unexpected little gems throughout 'Today is Christmas.' It's a blend of her new tunes, snugly seasonal favorites and joyous carols.

She launches it with some jingle jangle on the first track, 'Today is Christmas). Rimes teams up beautifully with Aloe Blacc on her kicky country celebration of 'The Spirit of Christmas' and with Gavin DeGraw on a melty 'Celebrate Me Home.' And some Hammond B3 organ sounds add a splash of old-fashioned shimmer to her jaunty 'Holly Jolly Christmas/Frosty the Snowman' mashup.

She's at her creative best turning up the majesty for her carol fusion, 'Joy,' and when slowing down 'We Need a Little Christmas,' turning this jaunty tune from Broadway's 'Mame' into a romantic slow dance. She gives a similar twist to 'Christmas Time is Here,' as well as the final track, 'Auld Lang Syne,' adding an a cappella coda that's equal parts meditation and reflection.

Best song: 'We Need a Little Christmas' (listen to a sample below)

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— Diana Nollen, The Gazette

KENNY ROGERS'Once Again It's Christmas' (Warner Bros.)Rating: ★★★★

If you're a Christmas song traditionalist, or are looking for some new favorites, Kenny Rogers' 'Once Again It's Christmas' is a great pick for your holiday playlist.

This album features many of the songs you know and love, like 'Little Drummer Boy' and 'Winter Wonderland,' if you're looking to sing along.

If you're searching for that new and different holiday tune, this album has that, too. 'Children, Go Where I Send Thee' and 'There's A New Kid In Town' are new and unique songs I found myself going back to over and over.

When you think Kenny Rogers, country music immediately comes to mind. You definitely don't have to be a fan of that genre to add this one to your holiday rotation.

Best song: 'There's A New Kid In Town' (listen to a sample below)

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— Erin Rooney, KCRG-TV9

SHINY STARS

 

KYLIE MINOGUEKylie Christmas (Warner Bros./Parlophone)Rating: ★★★

Princess of Pop Kylie Minogue likely isn't the first singer who comes to mind when you think of Christmas — 'La la la/La-la, la la-la,' after all. But with this CD, she tries her perky best, paying homage to a gift bag of sources.

It opens with a seemingly MGM-inspired 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' — big orchestra, lots of voices. '100 Degrees' is more disco than roasting chestnuts o'er an open fire.

'Winter Wonderland' brings to mind Lena Horne, and a breathy 'Santa Baby' channels Marilyn Monroe. 'Santa Claus Is Coming to Town' sounds as if she's unearthed a Nelson Riddle arrangement — and on cue, Frank Sinatra chimes in.

Where it's best are the simpler renditions: 'Only You' is charming, as is the plaintive '2,000 Miles.' And 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' is sincere and wonderful.

Best song: (Tie) 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' (for tradition) or 'Christmas Isn't Christmas Until You Get Here' (for dancing around the tree) (listen to a sample of "Christmas Isn't Christmas Until You Get Here" below)

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— Michael Chevy Castranova, The Gazette

TRAIN'Christmas in Tahoe' (Universal Music Group)Rating: ★★★

Train sprinkles very upbeat original songs with their own twist on the classics on this new album. The band's pop sound comes through on all the tunes.

It's a well-rounded CD with sad songs and many upbeat ones.

Pat Monahan, Train's frontman, cowrote my favorite song, 'Shake Up Christmas.' Train originally released it in 2010, then Coca-Cola featured it in a commercial that year.

Listeners also can experience some original songs like 'Christmas Island' and 'Wait for Mary, Christmas.' I was surprised to like other not-as-well-known songs like 'Merry Christmas Everybody' — which sounds like it came straight out of the '80s — and 'Tinsel and Lights.'

Overall, if you like Train's music and you like it when artists don't stray too far from the original versions of Christmas songs, you'll like this collection.

Best song: 'Shake Up Christmas' (listen to a sample below)

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— Ellen Kurt, KCRG-TV9

MERCYME'It's Christmas' (Fair Trade Services)Rating: ★★★

Contemporary Christian band MercyMe offers a pleasing mixture of traditional and new holiday music.

Lead vocalist Bart Millard offers a wide musical range, shifting from a honky-tonk tempo on 'Christmastime Again' to a full-throttle rocking 'Hold On Christmas' to a gentle, guitar-driven treatment of 'I'll Be Home for Christmas.' The 6/8 time recasting of Leroy Anderson's 'Sleigh Ride' is a real treat.

'Our Lullaby' is my favorite. It provides thoughtful reflection on the anxiety that Mary and Joseph were likely experiencing on the night their son was born in a stable in Bethlehem.

For those who prefer more well-known Christmas carols, MercyMe offers 'Go Tell It on the Mountain,' 'Do You Hear What I Hear,' and 'A Holly Jolly Christmas.' I enjoyed most of them, but still prefer the Burl Ives original of the latter.

MercyMe is at the top of its game, and 'It's Christmas' would be a worthy addition to any holiday music collection.

Best song: 'Our Lullaby' (listen to a sample below)

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— George Ford, The Gazette

BRIAN SETZER ORCHESTRA'Rockin' Rudolph' (Surfdog Records)Rating: ★★★

In his first studio Christmas album in 10 years, Brian Setzer and an 18-piece orchestra put their swinging stamp on 11 songs that will get you in the mood for the holidays — at least the parts of the holidays that involve imbibing cocktails, wearing sparkly dresses or ties (sparkly or non-sparkly) and dancing.

The CD includes a mix of classics, including religious ('O Little Town of Bethlehem,' 'Joy to the World') and secular ('Here Comes Santa Claus' and 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree'). There's a Brian Setzer original, 'Yabba-Dabba Yuletide', set, as you could probably guess, to the tune of 'The Flintstones' theme. A 12th track has an extended version.

The more frenetic songs match the energy of Setzer's 1998 'Jump Jive an' Wail'.

But I prefer 'Rockin' Rudolph's' quieter songs, like 'O Little Town of Bethlehem,' which is less solemn than what you'd hear in church, but equally beautiful. During 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' I imagined drinking a highball by the fire or slow dancing with the husband while the kids sleep upstairs.

Best song: For evoking those pleasant images, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' gets my nod for best song on the album.(listen to a sample of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" below)

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— Erin Jordan, The Gazette

FLICKERING STARS

SARAH MCLACHLANThe Classic Christmas Album (Arista)Rating: ★★

Sarah McLachlan's latest CD, 'The Classic Christmas Album,' is what it says, classic. And while I love McLachlan's voice and music, I was very disappointed in this CD.

While McLachlan does a hauntingly beautiful job on many songs, including 'Happy Xmas (War is Over)' and 'River,' the entire CD had a sadness to it, which doesn't line up with my excitement at Christmas. Throw in some upbeat songs, please.

The most upbeat song was 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings' that she sang with Barenaked Ladies. Think you've heard their take on this classic song before? You have. It was recorded in 1996.

In fact, you've probably heard almost all of these takes before because 11 of the 17 songs came from McLachlan's 2006 'Wintersong,' which for me is a disappointment. I usually buy a Christmas CD because I'm looking for a new take on some of the classic songs by artists I like. It's a bonus if it contains a new song or two.

In this case, I say save your money, especially if you already have her 'Wintersong' CD. Nothing new here.

Best song: 'River' (listen to a sample below)

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— Janet Rorholm, The Gazette

FADING STARS

KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND'A Sunshine Christmas' (Sunshine Sounds)Rating: ★ 1/2

Children of the 1970s will undoubtedly recognize the distinctive funk-disco sound of KC and the Sunshine Band, as heard in megahits like 'That's The Way I Like It,' 'Get Down Tonight' and 'Shake, Shake, Shake.' It seemed like every day was a party for lead singer Harry Wayne Casey and his Florida-based bandmates, and it was hard not to dance to that jive beat.

That was then, this is now. And 'A Sunshine Christmas' is a cosmic sign that the best has come, and long gone, for KC and company.

Something unfortunate has apparently happened to Casey's voice. It seems his range has been reduced to, perhaps, a single octave. Maybe it's just the inevitable aging process, but it leads to an album full of tunes that, while still instrumentally upbeat, are vocally monotonous and generally lack a certain joy.

The CD's first song, in particular, was a real head-scratcher: 'The After Christmas Song.' Why lead off a holiday CD with a song that celebrates the season's departure? And if that's really why the song was written, why include it at all?

There's also a funk-infused version of 'Little Drummer Boy' that's as jarring as you might expect it to be.

The one song that got me to hit the repeat button was 'Let's Go Dancing With Santa.' The thumping bass and bright horns were a good fit for the lighter subject matter, and it was what I expected from most of the album. But consumers don't generally buy a holiday album for a single song.

I was anticipating a high kitsch factor from this disc, which would have at least made it entertaining. Even in that vein, I was dramatically disappointed. This one won't be lighting up my season.

Best song: 'Let's Go Dancing With Santa' (listen to a sample below)

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Richard Pratt,— The Gazette Digital Team