This is the best new Christmas entry of 2018 so far. McPherson is an original singer and songwriter who's made his bones on the Americana/adult alternative scene with his heavily 50s-early 60s influenced rock 'n roll sound. His new album is 11 completely original songs for the holidays that will liven up any holiday party. (On CD and vinyl, that is; if you download it from Amazon or iTunes you don't get the previously released "Twinkle (Little Christmas Lights).") The title song is a bluesy lament about not getting what you want: "All I got for Christmas was a lousy pair of socks." "Bad Kid" superimposes the old Larry Williams hit "Bad Boy" on the holiday and asserts the singer isn't misunderstood, he's "just a bad bad kid." On "Hey Skinny Santa," the singer is trying to get Santa fattened up for the holiday, "All the Gifts I Need" is a nice upbeat ode to holiday togetherness, "Every Single Christmas" is a jumpy love song, "What's That Sound" is a swinging narration of the holiday's audio cues, McPherson gets sentimental on the ballad "Ugly Sweater Blues," and "Santa's Got a Mean Machine" is a car-type song that owes a debt to the Beach Boys' "Little St. Nick." Girl-watching at the holiday gets its due on "Holly, Carol, Candy & Joy," and Lucie Silvas duets with JD on "Claus Vs. Claus," in which the Mr. and Mrs. of the title hold an argument that has a happy ending.
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