Brian Setzer loves the swing music…that was evident even when he was a Stray Cat…and apparently he loves the Christmas music, too. Dig That Crazy Christmas (which came out last year) is the Brian Setzer Orchestra’s second yuletide CD and it is, to coin a phrase, a gas!
This record jumps and jives and just pulsates with energy, life, and the most fun-filled aspects of the Christmas season.
From the percolating title tune to the frenetic “Hey Santa”…from the gently swinging version of “Angels We Have Heard on High” (featuring a guitar riff that sounds like it was lifted from Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue”) to the grand instrumental take on “My Favorite Things” (featuring some very tasty fretwork by Mr. Setzer)…from snappy big band workouts like “Getting’ in the Mood (for Christmas)” (a rewrite of Glenn Miller’s immortal “In the Mood”) and “Cool Yule” (which Bette Midler features on her 2006 Christmas disc of the same name)…the spirit of the season is joyfully embraced from the beginning to the end.
Even though their version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” isn’t a gloss on Aimee Mann’s playful take on her holiday CD, it’s a great deal of fun just the same…the same holds true for “’Zat You Santa Claus” (hard to top Louis Armstrong on this one, of course.)
Dig That Crazy Christmas is a fun holiday party record…and what could be cooler than that during a stressful holiday season?
2 comments:
Does the cover itself, perhaps, evoke memories of Hanna-Barbera cartoons growing up?
(I, for one, would think so. Even if it just so happens that Joe Barbera "himself" passed away yesterday @ 95 years of age.)
Always loved the Stray Cats. Glad to see Setzer is still swinging.
Post a Comment