ROCK AROUND THE XMAS TREE WITH THESE SOUNDS.Every Christmas we look for another holiday album or two to mix into rotation alongside such classics as Vince Guaraldi's ``A Charlie Brown Christmas'' and ``A Christmas Gift for You From Phil Spector.'' This year's candidates from our staff and wire services: ``All-Star Christmas'' is a grab bag grab bag n. 1. A container filled with articles, such as party gifts, to be drawn unseen. 2. Slang A miscellaneous collection: The meeting evolved into a grab bag of petty complaints. in which the lumps of coal (Donny Osmond Donald Clark 'Donny' Osmond (born December 9 1957) is an American entertainer. He is a singer, musician, actor and former teen idol. He has also been a talk show and game show host, record producer, race car driver and author. , Wham, Cyndi Lauper) outweigh the gems (Jeff Beck, Keb Mo'). (Two stars) ``A Very Ally Christmas'' features ``Ally McBeal'' chanteuse chan·teuse n. A woman singer, especially a nightclub singer. [French, feminine of chanteur, singer, from chanter, to sing; see chant.] Vonda Shepard doing credible versions of holiday standards. But the standout tracks feature our favorite troubled soul, Robert Downey Jr., singing soulful renditions of Joni Mitchell's ``River'' and the perennial ``White Christmas.'' Almost makes up for the inclusion of cast member Jane Krakowski. (Two and one half stars) ``Martha Stewart Living Martha Stewart Living is a magazine and a television show featuring entertaining and home decorating guru Martha Stewart. Both the magazine and the television program focus on the domestic arts. : Home for the Holidays,'' not surprisingly, is a tasteful collection of mostly modern Christmas songs that would make for fine background music while those holiday cookies are baking. (Three stars) On the other end of the spectrum, there's ``Mambo Santa Mambo,'' a great collection of Latin yule songs recorded predominantly during the 1950s. Feliz Navidad indeed. (Three and one half stars) And for those who like to celebrate their holidays on Mars, former Devo leader Mark Mothersbaugh delivers ``Joyeux Mutato,'' an oddball soundscapes album ``for anyone who has ever been traumatized by the Christmas season.'' OK, but why traumatize trau·ma·tize tr.v. trau·ma·tized, trau·ma·tiz·ing, trau·ma·tiz·es 1. To wound or injure (a tissue), as in a surgical operation. 2. To subject to psychological trauma. Verb 1. others? (Two stars) Another looney effort, ``The Looney Tunes Kwazy Christmas'' will find an appreciative audience with kids who like Bugs, Daffy and Taz. Parents will cope by adding more rum to the eggnog. (Two and one half stars) After the youngsters have gone to bed with the visions of sugar plum fairies Sugar Plum Fairies is a folk band from Norway formed in 2000, consisting of six members: Øyvind Berge (vocals/guitars/bass/pitch-pipe/backing vocals), Merethe Jørgensdottir Reinskås (guitar/piano/trumpet/accordion), Birgith Jørgensdottir Reinskås (keyboards/euphonium), Gro dancing in their heads, adults can put on ``Christmas Belles,'' an enjoyable, if somewhat predictable, collection of holiday songs from the likes of Doris Day, Eartha Kitt and Rosemary Clooney. (Three stars) Acoustic guitarist Ottmar Liebert visited Winter Wonderland territory 10 years ago, so his latest holiday offering, ``Christmas + Santa Fe,'' seems a bit perfunctory. Still his playing is crisp and creative, expanding on traditional favorites with embellishments distinctly his own. (Three stars) And then there's Ella: ``Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas'' isn't as good as her ``Wishes You a Swinging Christmas'' Verve album. But she still shines on these straightforward, heartfelt readings of holiday hymns, recorded in 1967. (Three stars) - Glenn Whipp Leave it to always-dependable Dave Matthews to pen a darling ditty dit·ty n. pl. dit·ties A simple song. [Middle English dite, a literary composition, from Old French dite, from Latin dict about ``one healthy little giggling, dribbling baby boy'' named Jesus on Various/``Platinum Christmas'' (Arista/RCA/Jive). That soothing lullaby, ``Christmas Song,'' is just one of many highlights on this delightful seasonal sampler. A virtual who's-who of pop hitmakers, the album features such gems as Britney Spears asking Santa for someone to love in the jingly ``My Only Wish (This Year)'' and the Backstreet backstreet Noun a street in a town far from the main roads Adjective denoting secret or illegal activities: a backstreet abortion backstreet n Boys gushing gush v. gushed, gush·ing, gush·es v.intr. 1. To flow forth suddenly in great volume: water gushing from a hydrant. 2. yule love in ``Christmas Time,'' alongside Christmas cheer from Santana, 'N Sync and Toni Braxton. (Three stars) But there's no match for Matthews - except maybe for Dido. Her achingly beautiful voice will elicit tears when she sings of one man's promise to return for his love on ``Christmas Day.'' (Four stars) - Sandra Barrera Christina Aguilera has the looks, the hair, the voice and even the yule spirit, but her ``My Kind of Christmas'' shows just what is missing from this talented teen's arsenal: judgment. In ``Amadeus,'' the emperor complains to the young Mozart that the problem with his opera was ``too many notes.'' History proved the emperor wrong, but in Aguilera's case, I doubt that will happen. It seems that any time she can hit five different notes in one breath, she does - almost to prove that she can. Great song stylists (and we must ultimately refer to Frank Sinatra) know how to simplify their vocals in order to achieve an emotional impact. Aguilera's vocal pyrotechnics pyrotechnics (pī'rōtĕk`nĭks, pī'rə–), technology of making and using fireworks. Gunpowder was used in fireworks by the Chinese as early as the 9th cent. render ``The Christmas Song'' and ``Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'' flat. She fares a bit better on the bluesy ``Merry Christmas Baby,'' but the new songs written for the album are unmemorable Adj. 1. unmemorable - not worth remembering forgettable - easily forgotten . (Two stars) - Rob Lowman CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) no caption (CD covers) |
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