New Christmas CD's? *PIC*

[Bruce]

The other day, my wife picked up "Wintersong", Sarah McLachan's new Christmas CD.

When some artists attempt to put their own "take" on classics, it can sound contrived and ill-conceived.

Not Sarah.

She serves-up some very different musical nuances that simply "work" and she puts her voice to the test on a number of tracks.

For example, her arrangement of "The First Noel/Mary Mary" includes a melange of jazz, rock and Middle Eastern musical elements that combine to make this a very listenable piece.

On the last track, accompanied by Diana Krall on keyboards, "Christmas Time Is Here" Sarah unveils her here-to-fore unheard "jazzy-side".

Credit must also be given to the Modula MT's for their accuracy and listenability.

Ahh.... time for a warm fire, a hot-buttered rum and more of this CD!

Any other suggestions for "holiday music" CD's or DVD's?

[Pete Schumacher ®]

> The other day, my wife picked up
> "Wintersong", Sarah McLachan's new
> Christmas CD.

> When some artists attempt to put their own
> "take" on classics, it can sound
> contrived and ill-conceived.

> Not Sarah.

No collection has touched my heart more than "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
> She serves-up some very different musical
> nuances that simply "work" and she
> puts her voice to the test on a number of
> tracks.

> For example, her arrangement of "The
> First Noel/Mary Mary" includes a
> melange of jazz, rock and Middle Eastern
> musical elements that combine to make this a
> very listenable piece.

> On the last track, accompanied by Diana
> Krall on keyboards, "Christmas Time Is
> Here" Sarah unveils her here-to-fore
> unheard "jazzy-side".

> Credit must also be given to the Modula MT's
> for their accuracy and listenability.

> Ahh.... time for a warm fire, a hot-buttered
> rum and more of this CD!

> Any other suggestions for "holiday
> music" CD's or DVD's?

[blair]

Trans Siberian Orchestra. I think they used to be Savatage of the 80s. Regardless, their work is pretty nice, and well recorded. Unfortunately I am at work, and can't remember the name of the CD I own, but I can convince the significant to let it hit 95db or so every now and then with it playing.

[Bruce]

Trans Siberian Orchestra

This one?
They've done five Christmas albums.

[blair]

I'm not sure, but that looks familiar. Been a while since I bought it. Way too much egg nog since than. Egg nog is clear right

[david_l]

Hey thanks for the heads up about the Sarah McLachlan CD....big fan saw her 4 times so far. The Charlie Brown Christmas CD is one of my faves too. If you like traditional Christmas music with a country flavour the Emmylou Harris "Light of the Stable" is great. Has her two singing buddies Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt backing her up. Normally I don't care for country but I make exceptions for Emmylou =]

[davidvwebber]

> The other day, my wife picked up
> "Wintersong", Sarah McLachan's new
> Christmas CD.

> When some artists attempt to put their own
> "take" on classics, it can sound
> contrived and ill-conceived.

> Not Sarah.

> She serves-up some very different musical
> nuances that simply "work" and she
> puts her voice to the test on a number of
> tracks.

> For example, her arrangement of "The
> First Noel/Mary Mary" includes a
> melange of jazz, rock and Middle Eastern
> musical elements that combine to make this a
> very listenable piece.

> On the last track, accompanied by Diana
> Krall on keyboards, "Christmas Time Is
> Here" Sarah unveils her here-to-fore
> unheard "jazzy-side".

> Credit must also be given to the Modula MT's
> for their accuracy and listenability.

> Ahh.... time for a warm fire, a hot-buttered
> rum and more of this CD!

> Any other suggestions for "holiday
> music" CD's or DVD's?
I like this one :

<A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...409315-8729552">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...409315-8729552</A>

[davidvwebber]

> I like this one :

>
> <A HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...409315-8729552">http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...409315-8729552</A>

" Silent Night " is first sung in the original
German . DVW

[unknownuser]

Amy Grant's Home For Christmas is becoming a classic (if not already). Very well produced CD. Nice variety of style and sound. Love this CD! Also have an earlier Christmas album of Amy's that is almost as good.


(Originally posted by: Are you using the RS12&quot; HiFi)

[unknownuser]

Bing's "White Christmas" is all you need !!!


(Originally posted by: George K)

[Max_Andrews]

She has such an amazing voice, there are several songs of hers that make me cry just because they are so beautiful. I think I'm in love with her. Please help!
On another note, I'll definitely pick up this CD when I get a chance. Even though I'm Jewish I have a secret affinity for christmas tunes and religious music of other faiths. Rock on Sarah!

[unknownuser]

Amy Grant is a favorite of mine. This album is very well produced and is becoming a classic (if not already). I love the variety of styles and sound. There are a good number of accoustical tracks with recording venues that are very intimate as well as quite large. Love this cd.

Toby


(Originally posted by: Are you using the RS12&quot; HiFi)

[scottanderson]

Great tunes from Germany for testing your max spl with. You can pretend its holiday music if you want.

Scott

[Max_Andrews]

Also, I'd reccommend anything by the Dixie Chicks...

[chevyman440]

I don't like traditional Christmas music...so Punk Christmas it is...

<A HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oi_to_the_World">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oi_to_the_World</A>!

I own and treasure this album. If you are offended by ANYTHING..don't bother listening. It sounds best on a crappy system cranked to about 50% THD

[AJ]

[Wolf]

> Great tunes from Germany for testing your
> max spl with. You can pretend its holiday
> music if you want.

> Scott

If you're into incest, than this is for you! I had a family member who is fluent in German translate a little bit. I took four years, but it isn't enough to know it all. I think the track, "Die Zunge" is the one in question. I'm not positive though. I *DO* know it's off Sehnsucht. "Du Hast" actually means, "You have", not "you hate." I also do not like the song they wrote in recognition of the Columbine-shootings. "BANG BANG" is the main line in that one. They glamourize the killings of the innocent children. The only reason I'm stating this, is that maybe you didn't know what the content was. It's a different language, but that doesn't mean it should be accepted.
Regards,
Wolf

[Wolf]

$20 for METAL bands doing Christmas songs!!! Not all are great renditions, but most are listenable.
Kekal,
Wolf

[biff]

Squirrel nut zippers - Christmas Caravan

Al Dimeola - Winter nights

A Rythm and Blues Christmas

James Taylor (hallmark) Christmas Album

Leon Redbone - Christmas Island

[scottanderson]

Sorry Wolf but you're mistaken about the band. My wife is a German and she tells me that any references you refer to are generaly in the context of condeming those acts not glamorizing them. The band is very misunderstood in this regard. Much the same way Ozzy Osbournes lyrics are misunderstood by the mainstream. Regardless I think they have alot of talent and are on par with Metallica in that regard.

Just a few examples, the song "Du hast" is basically about a marriage proposal denied, the song "Die Zunge" is a wicked song about kisses and love and you have to read very between the lines to see anything evil and linked to child abuse in it (but i think you can see misfit in any song if you read long enough between the lines ), the song "Mein Teil" is a highly critical song about a german cannibalism case that happened a few years ago, the song "Ein Tier" attacks and criticizes child abuse and the social habbit to look away and so on and so on. Its one thing to be able to translate german, its another thing to see and know the backgrounds and lyrical meanings in the light of stories that affected the band. Everything can be misunderstood i guess, but thats in another song of them mentioned very well, the habbit of humankind just to see and hear what they want to see and hear so they can feel angry and righteous in whatever cause just a few mementos to think about.

Scott