eMusic Review
Many artists — particularly those of the country, soul and pop persuasions — record at least one Christmas album in the course of their career. They're a sure-fire seller, guaranteed to move units. “Mom likes Tim McBride and he's made this holiday album, so OK, I know what I'm getting for her stocking this year.” The way most of these are made, you can knock one of these out in just a few days. Who doesn't know the music backwards and forwards already? All you need are the right people to sing your little “crossover duets” with. It's like making your own money.
Low's Christmas album is just called Christmas. It was made well before Sufjan made Christmas safe for indie-rockers, and is far more original and less cloying than Sufjan's holiday recordings, likable as those may be. There are four originals and three cover songs on here. It's just under 30 minutes — Beatle length — but it's surprisingly diverse. Some of the songs sound like they were recorded live in a living room while others employ a total, Spectorific, wall-of-sound approach. Instruments employed include an organ that sounds like a flute, guitars both strummed and fuzzy, and,… read more »
