Staring: André Rieu

Christmas with Andre Rieu, 2010-01-20
I must admit that I hadn't heard of Andre Rieu until I saw him on the Royal Performance on tv and straight away bought his latest disc and dvd. I have since purchased a few more including Christmas with Andre Rieu where he tells the story of his chilhood christmasses and thoroughly enjoyed it. When I listen to his cd's I can almost see his face and how he enjoys his music. Looking forward to buying more

Artist: Low

To the casual observer, the holidays are the happiest, jolliest time of the year: the blinking lights, the merry carols, the parties, the good cheer on every street corner and in every shop. However, the statistics tell us that, for many, the holidays are the time of year when depression reaches its annual peak. It is for these people, then, that American slow-core three-piece Low have released Christmas, their collection of heartbreakingly downbeat holiday songs. The eight songs on this mini album are a mix of new compositions--"If You Were Born Today", the sparkling "Just Like Christmas"--and traditional favourites--"Silent Night" and their sublime take on "Little Drummer Boy". Their version of Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas" is particularly gorgeous: Mimi Parker's vocals drawing out the pain of holiday loneliness over the sparsest of arrangements, the whole thing sounding like Mazzy Star on tranquilisers. This is not an album for festive gatherings; rather, it's the perfect escape from the mania of the season. Quietly compelling, touching and, above all, perhaps the most moving and sincere Christmas album you're likely to hear. --Robert Burrow
For Christmas Past Present and Future, 2007-12-24
Christmas again - what better time to review Low's superb festive album which portrays a more common Christmas experience for many than the forced jollity of your Slade or Wizzard mega-hit.

This eight-track CD is a beauty. Four original Low songs show great variety - from the pure pop of `Just Like Christmas' with its sleigh bells ringing to the hauntingly spiritual telling of the Nativity in `Long Way Around the Sea'.

The cover versions of old (roast) chestnuts are simply inspired. `Silent Night' has wonderfully simple acoustic arrangement whilst `Little Drummer Boy' has never sounded like this before. It is drenched in guitar reverb and feedback a la My Bloody Valentine but is incredibly moving.

`Christmas' obviously has special resonance at this time of year but the CD can be enjoyed as much in July as December. It is by turns melancholy, thoughtful, reflective and beautiful. Can you ask for more for Christmas?

Artist: Beatles

Brilliant!, 2010-02-12
Very pleased with this. Can't believe how great these sounds are still after 40 years. Great value I must say, even in these days of cheap CDs

Artist: Jethro Tull

Fantastic alternative christmas album, 2010-01-01
This is an excellent album for those looking for an alternative to the endlessly repeated christmas pop music.

Artist: Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley's Christmas recordings, 2009-09-07
In chronological order, this album comprises the eight Christmas songs that Elvis recorded in 1957, the one he recorded in 1966 and eleven tracks that hr recorded in 1971. I'm not absolutely sure if this is every Christmas song that Elvis ever recorded, but if there was much missing I'd know about it. The eight 1957 tracks were made into a twelve-track album by the addition of four gospel songs recorded at around the same time but which aren`t included here; while those tracks wouldn't be out of place on a Christmas album, they are easily obtained elsewhere, especially on compilations of Elvis' gospel music. Indeed, when this particular Christmas compilation was first released, I remember it being available as part of a double album, with the other part being a compilation of Elvis' gospel songs. I didn't buy it then because I already had a double CD of Elvis' gospel music and had the 1957 and 1966 tracks, together with one of the 1971 tracks, elsewhere. However, I eventually bought this compilation, some time after it appeared as a single CD, to get the other ten tracks.

The 1957 tracks mainly comprised Christmas classics, though not everybody appreciated Elvis' interpretation of some of them. If those critics were shocked then, they got an even bigger shock when they heard the Phil Spector Christmas album six years later. At this distance in time, those 1957 recordings don't sound all that radical but they still sound distinctive. At least one original song (Santa Claus is back in town) was included, while another (Santa bring my baby back to me) sounds as if it could have been an original, but I don't think it is. I believe the solitary 1966 track (If every day was like Christmas) is also original.

The 1971 tracks offer a more adventurous selection, with just four well-worn classics (O come all ye faithful, First Noel, Winter wonderland, Silver bells), plus Merry Christmas baby (a classic, but not so well-worn) and a lot of tracks that may be original, but are in any case rarely recorded by other singers (On a snowy Christmas night, Wonderful world of Christmas, It won't seem like Christmas without you, I'll be home on Christmas Day, If I get home on Christmas Day, Holly leaves and Christmas trees). Some of the obscure songs are brilliant and deserve to be better known.

This is a great Christmas album that has plenty of familiar classic songs (about half the songs here overall) but also a fair number of obscurities, all delivered superbly by Elvis Presley.

Artist: The Moody Blues

DECEMBER MAGIC, 2009-02-07
The more times I played this music, the more I liked it and cosequently
I found that I had to keep playing it!
Just relax and listen to some new songs, some classics and some you liked by somebody else but have never bought.
I only play this at Chrisrmas time and it is purely wonderful.
my only complaint is how can the Moodies better this!

Artist: Bob Dylan

Best Christmas album of all times, 2010-02-22
This is the best Christmas album ever - or maybe it's an album ABOUT Christmas. Anyway Bob's enthusiasm is so genuine its only parallel would be Elvis grinning hysterically on the famous live version of "Are You Lonesome Tonight", which of course could not be labelled intentional, when speaking of emotion coming through on vinyl/CD. Arrangements straight out of the 1950's incl. wonderful male and female choruses plus steel guitar although sometimes slightly more modern guitar riffs mingle effortlessly. A masterpiece of musicality and good will towards Mankind.

Artist: Various Artists

This lavish holiday set has been called the greatest rock & roll Christmas album of all time. That's an opinion that's tough to argue with when you find yourself immersed in the massive sounds painstakingly crafted by legendary producer Phil Spector. His "wall-of-sound" technique is perfectly suited to the music of the season, as he proves with layer upon layer of piano, sleigh bells, buoyant percussion, and, of course, those legendary Spector sound harmonies. The Crystals turn their sassy interplay into sheer magic on "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town", The Ronettes stroll sweetly through numbers like "Sleigh Ride", while Darlene Love delivers areal knockout punch with her yearning version of "Christmas (Baby, PleaseCome Home)". Sure to become the soundtrack for your holidays. --DavidSprague
great CD, 2010-01-24
It was good to be able to replace my old LP, which i always enjoyed, but times move on and i need to convert to CD some of my better records. this a great CD with some memorable songs, that you still hear every year in the shops.

Artist: Count Arthur Strong

SPLOSH AT ITS VERY BEST, 2010-03-09
As wonderful as ever, Count Arthur delivers the good`s yet again. I have been a fan of his for the past four years and every time I hear of his crazy life I laugh so much. He never fails to raise a laugh in my house just fantastic. Long live Count Arthur !