Boy, the Americana sector of the music business has turned out strongly for Christmas 2018, what with JD McPherson, the Mavericks, Rodney Crowell and these guys all out with new original holiday albums. Nine originals, including the 2007 single "Here It Is Christmastime," join five classics on this album. Things kick off with the title song, a fast shuffle with nostalgic lyrics, and swing into the bluesy "I Believe in Santa Claus," the driving "Gotta Love Being a Kid (Merry Christmas)," the ballad "Snow Angels," and the countrified "Hobo Christmas Song." Horns kick off a rocking variation of the reindeer story, "Rudolph Was Blue," "Wintertime in the City" is another reflective ballad, and "Christmas Is Coming" is a remake of Rhett Miller's solo single from a couple years ago. There's a version of "Auld Lang Syne," too. The 97's also knock out a driving "Angels We Have Heard On High," a syncopated "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," a rootsy "Up On the Housetop," and a straightforward take on "Blue Christmas." These last four songs are identified as bonus tracks; apparently, they're not included on the physical media versions of this album, but they can be downloaded separately. Before we go, I should call out their song "Lonely Holiday" from 1999's Fight Songs, which doesn't mention Christmas but its story of being dumped on the holiday might just resonate on a mix or two.
Love the Holidays, Old 97's (ATO)
Boy, the Americana sector of the music business has turned out strongly for Christmas 2018, what with JD McPherson, the Mavericks, Rodney Crowell and these guys all out with new original holiday albums. Nine originals, including the 2007 single "Here It Is Christmastime," join five classics on this album. Things kick off with the title song, a fast shuffle with nostalgic lyrics, and swing into the bluesy "I Believe in Santa Claus," the driving "Gotta Love Being a Kid (Merry Christmas)," the ballad "Snow Angels," and the countrified "Hobo Christmas Song." Horns kick off a rocking variation of the reindeer story, "Rudolph Was Blue," "Wintertime in the City" is another reflective ballad, and "Christmas Is Coming" is a remake of Rhett Miller's solo single from a couple years ago. There's a version of "Auld Lang Syne," too. The 97's also knock out a driving "Angels We Have Heard On High," a syncopated "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," a rootsy "Up On the Housetop," and a straightforward take on "Blue Christmas." These last four songs are identified as bonus tracks; apparently, they're not included on the physical media versions of this album, but they can be downloaded separately. Before we go, I should call out their song "Lonely Holiday" from 1999's Fight Songs, which doesn't mention Christmas but its story of being dumped on the holiday might just resonate on a mix or two.
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