Isaak has been milking that rockabilly crooner schtick for more than 20 years with great results, parlaying it into the quirky eponymous Showtime sitcom filled with hip cameos from fellow mid-list semi-celebrities. If you're a fan, this 2005 album will come as no surprise, brimming as it does with Chris's patented mix of pre-Beatles pop, rock and country moves. It's mostly trad carols but Chris bulks up the mix with five fairly sharp originals. "Hey Santa" is a smooth shuffle with Latin horns, "Christmas On TV" is a walking country lament about getting bounced by your sweetie for the holiday, "Brightest Star" is reminiscent of a Roy Orbison ballad, "Washington Square" is a waltz about lost love, and "Gotta Be Good" honky-tonks the thing you tell the kids into something you tell a faithless lover. "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" features a duet with Stevie Nicks, "Blue Christmas" is a straight lift of the Elvis arrangement spiced up with a little organ, "Pretty Paper" again recalls Orbison, a ballad version of "Mele Kalikimaka" thankfully picks up the tempo halfway through, "Last Month of the Year" is a twangy gospel version, and the other carols on the CD emphasize Chris' mellow balladeer side. I wouldn't call this a must-have, but if you're favorably disposed toward the Isaak sound you won't be disappointed. UPDATE: Bob Bailey points out the version of this album sold at Target includes a cover of Elvis Presley's "Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me," which also appeared on a Best Buy compilation. This song and another, "I'll Be Home For Christmas," were bonus cuts on the Japanese version. They appear to be unavailable stateside to this day, however.
Christmas, Chris Isaak (Wicked Game/Reprise)
Isaak has been milking that rockabilly crooner schtick for more than 20 years with great results, parlaying it into the quirky eponymous Showtime sitcom filled with hip cameos from fellow mid-list semi-celebrities. If you're a fan, this 2005 album will come as no surprise, brimming as it does with Chris's patented mix of pre-Beatles pop, rock and country moves. It's mostly trad carols but Chris bulks up the mix with five fairly sharp originals. "Hey Santa" is a smooth shuffle with Latin horns, "Christmas On TV" is a walking country lament about getting bounced by your sweetie for the holiday, "Brightest Star" is reminiscent of a Roy Orbison ballad, "Washington Square" is a waltz about lost love, and "Gotta Be Good" honky-tonks the thing you tell the kids into something you tell a faithless lover. "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" features a duet with Stevie Nicks, "Blue Christmas" is a straight lift of the Elvis arrangement spiced up with a little organ, "Pretty Paper" again recalls Orbison, a ballad version of "Mele Kalikimaka" thankfully picks up the tempo halfway through, "Last Month of the Year" is a twangy gospel version, and the other carols on the CD emphasize Chris' mellow balladeer side. I wouldn't call this a must-have, but if you're favorably disposed toward the Isaak sound you won't be disappointed. UPDATE: Bob Bailey points out the version of this album sold at Target includes a cover of Elvis Presley's "Santa Bring My Baby Back To Me," which also appeared on a Best Buy compilation. This song and another, "I'll Be Home For Christmas," were bonus cuts on the Japanese version. They appear to be unavailable stateside to this day, however.
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