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Someone has 'borrowed' my signature image. I mean, I don't mind if people use it. In fact, it's nearly flattering. I just kind of wish she'd, I don't know, asked if it was okay (like novarren did heart ), or even told me she was using it. It seems a silly thing to be feeling upset about. It's just text on a background, took me maybe three minutes to make, but still, I made it, it's mine! I'm feeling very petty. But I also have much more sympathy for people who have had their artwork stolen (not that I didn't sympathize before).
PS
No, I haven't finished my reviews. I'm all Christmassed out. Give me time.
 falln_angel · Thu Dec 30, 2004 @ 09:45pm · 2 Comments |
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# 1 - Harry Connick, Jr.: When My Heart Finds Christmas |
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Rating: 9.9
Comments: Another spacer. I know. I suck.
Note to self: The next time you decide to review an album a day, do the reviews in advance.
falln_angel · Sat Dec 25, 2004 @ 07:30am · 0 Comments |
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# 2 - Mediaeval Baebes: Mistletoe & Wine |
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Rating: 9.7
Comments: Lord I'm falling behind. Darn holidays!
falln_angel · Fri Dec 24, 2004 @ 07:41am · 0 Comments |
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# 3 - A Charlie Brown Christmas |
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Rating: 9
Comments: I'll do this one tomorrow.
falln_angel · Thu Dec 23, 2004 @ 07:43am · 0 Comments |
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# 4 - Harry Connick, Jr: Harry For The Holidays |
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This is Harry's second Christmas album. Overall, the sound is more consistent than his first one. And the sound it pure Jazz. There are a few ballads - O Little Town of Bethlehem is simply lovely, as is Harry's own I Come with Love - but the general feeling is more upbeat.
Personaly, I like a little more gentleness in my Christmas music. While well executed, there's something mildly disconcerting about listening to I Wonder as I Wander being sung with a swing beat. Still, it makes for good party music, and he has thrown Nature Boy into the mix. This song still reminds me of watching Moulin Rouge for the first time (that was a night), but adds a nice dimension to an album which, by that point, has become nearly predictable.
Harry has also written I'm Gonna Be the First One, sung from the point of view of a child determined to "be the first one up on Christmas morning". I love this song. When I was six, I spent my December listening to Raffi's Christmas Album. His On Christmas Morning inspired me to "be the first one out of bed" - at 4am to be precise - and introduced me to The Headache. I was back in bed before lunch.
This is a good solid album, but try as I might, I can't keep myself from comparing it to the first one. I think, if there wasn't that comparison, this would be higher up my list. As it is, number four isn't that shabby.
Rating: 8.5
Comments: If the winter chill is getting you down, this album will bring in some of the spice of New Orleans to warm you up again.
falln_angel · Wed Dec 22, 2004 @ 07:54am · 0 Comments |
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# 5 - George Winston: December |
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This is not, technically, a Christmas album. That is, you'll probably find it tucked away in the Classical Music or New Age section of your local record store instead of with the selection of Christmas fare. And in fact, I didn't purchase it as a Christmas album, but as a George Winston album. But with music like Carol of the Bells and The Holly and the Ivy, it's not quite the album for those quiet summer evenings.
This is another solo instrumental album, this time piano, and lends itself more to background music than something to throw on at a Christmas party. It's another sitting-by-the-fire album. The music is never imposing, and always beautiful. Some of the pieces are quietly haunting, evoking the mood of a lonely winter's night. Others are uplifting, and some simply are. The album flows along seamlessly and ends peacefully.
There's not much else to be said about it, or else I'm not much in a reviewing mood this evening. It's unobtrusive and delightful, and a prized piece in my collection - such as that is.
Rating: 8.2
Comments: Not strictly Christmas, but full of the spirit of the season.
falln_angel · Tue Dec 21, 2004 @ 01:22am · 0 Comments |
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# 6 - How The Grinch Stole Christmas |
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And the question becomes, how could this not be on my list of Christmas Favourites? I've always had a soft spot for it. Maybe it's because, as a child, this was my favourite Christmas tape. (Copied from a record my parents borrowed from the library. Yes, boys and girls, music theft was a problem even way back in the early 80's. It's just that no one really made a big deal out of it. Still I am indirectly responsible for robbing Dr. Seuss' estate of tens of cents in royalties. I've made up for it though. I bought the CD eventually.) I've seen versions of this narrated by Walter Matthau. Why would you even bother? Give me Boris! Even if the late Mr. Karloff's Little Cindy Lou Who used to scare the begeezus out of me.
This CD is a classic. It starts with the entire presentation as you know it from countless years of TV specials, music and all. If you're as familiar with the show as I am, this is almost as good as watching it. No, you're not technically seeing the movie, but you know what it's supposed to look like, and your subconscious can take it from there. The feature presentation, so to speak, is followed by a recap of the four songs. Well, three songs actually, if you want to think of Welcome Christmas and Welcome Christmas (reprise) as the same thing. They're not. The reprise is nearly twice as long. And then you hit the repeat button and listen to it over and over again, until the people you know and love, in true Grinch spirit, come over and turn it off.
(Oh, and just for the record the line is, "Trim up your uncle and your aunt with yards of Whofut Flant." Not that other thing, you sick, sick, person. You know who you are. stare )
Rating: 8/10
Comments: If you don't own it, buy it. 'Nuff said.
falln_angel · Mon Dec 20, 2004 @ 07:28am · 0 Comments |
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# 7 - Liona Boyd: A Guitar For Christmas |
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#8 - Women & Songs Christmas |
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The obligatory "various artists" Christmas album. And like most such albums, it has its ups (Sarah McLachlan's Song for a Winter's Night), its downs (Damhnait Doylw & Dayna Manning's underwhelming Silent Night), and its weirds (Sarah Slean's What Child is This?). Because this is a Canadian-produced album, it is subject to CanCon rules. This is likely the explanation for the lovely, but decidedly un-Christmassy Get Me Through December. (Hey, it's Natalie MacMaster!)
There are a few other odd selections. 2000 Miles (Pretenders) is one of those songs that must be a Christmas song, because it contains the word Christmas. It's a Marshmallow World is a weak song when done well, and I can't say that Kim Stockwood brings anything terribly special to it. Jewel offers up a "Christmas version" of Hands, although I can't really say what makes it a Christmas song. Linda Rondtadt's River is another hauntingly beautiful but bloody depressing number. And, of course, you can count on Jann Arden to make even a chorus of jingling bells sound melancholy. (That said, Make it Christmas Day is probably my favourite song on the album.)
It also has some shining moments. If you've never heard Emmylou Harris sing The First Noel, you should definitely seek it out. And the Ennis Sisters sing I'll Be There Christmas Eve with a grace and simplicity that many artists seem to strive for and fail to achieve when recording Christmas songs. While worth adding to your collection, it might be wise to wait until the post-Christmas sales before picking it up.
Rating: 7.3
Comments: Where it's good, it's very good. Where it's bad, it may grow on me.
falln_angel · Sat Dec 18, 2004 @ 07:36am · 0 Comments |
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