It's Christmas... Again, Albert & the Sleigh Riders (Most Cowbell)

Albert is Albert Bouchard, former drummer of classic rock icons Blue Oyster Cult, and this is his Christmas album, released for 2017. It's 12 original songs all written or co-written by Bouchard with assistance from Kathy Vargas, Dennis Dunaway, Joe Bouchard, and Andy Shernoff of Dictators fame, and recorded with help from singers Joe Cerisano and Christine Ohlman, background singers Tish & Snooky, and Micky Leigh, Joey Ramone's brother. Overall, the sound is 70s journeyman bluesy hard rock, no surprise given the artist's pedigree, so it's all down to the songs. I kind of like "Manic Panic Teknikolor Christmas," although I have to admit when I first heard it I thought they were singing "mani-pedi," and since the female background singers were repeating it I was sure that was right. Mickey Leigh sings lead on horror carol "Haunted Hollyday," Shernoff sings and co-writes the uptempo "Festivus," and Albert plays everything and sings lead on "Sweet Christmas Thyme," which has an 80s synthpop feel in the verses but throws out some 70s guitar between verses. "Come Christmas" is a fairly wordy ballad, "Another Christmas Song" is a midtempo rocker, "My Christmas Baby" is more upbeat with fake horns propelling it, Meli sings the cool shuffle "Las Vegas Christmas," and Dunaway takes lead on "Rock and Roll Scrooge." That leaves "Christmas on the Road," the stereotypical 70s song set to a holiday motif, and "You Always Hated Christmas," a sort of music hall number to wrap things up. I don't know that this will catch on with younger listeners, but those anchored in 70s sounds will find a lot to like. Only available from CD Baby.