December People - Sounds Like Christmas


Year of Release: 2001
Label: Magna Carta
Catalog Number: MA-9025
Format: CD
Total Time: 00:00:00

This is my first year covering any Christmas tribute albums. I guess I was long overdue. In the past few days I have heard country-swing, jazz, and now prog-rock gone Xmas. There is one common thread that weaves its way through the music, the glory of our God and the celebration of the life and love of Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter what style of music it is, it all means the same thing. As much as Xmas is global so is the music. The stable of superlative artists on Magna Carta join together to make this a fun filled rockin' and spirited CD.

Robert Berry, Steve Walsh, Trent Gardner, John Wetton, Jake Livgren, and Kansas are some of the honored guests on hand to lend their vigorous versions of holiday classics. You will hear some familiar riffs running through the songs. On "Up On The Housetop/Deck The Halls" you can hear a distinct likeness to the "Carry On My Wayward Son" guitar lines found on the classic Kansas tune. "Merry X-Mas (War Is Over)" is forever linked to John Lennon, and you will hear his and The Beatles' influence in the song. I was waiting at the end of the song to hear "And in the end, the love you make is equal to the love you take..." It was moment when a chill ran up and down my spine. At times this is so intense musically that you tend to forget what kind of album this is, and then when the vocals come in you are reminded of what is really going on. "Carol Of The Bells" with Robert Berry taking on the lead vocals sounds so much like Yes its scary. The progressive influence is found everywhere on each song. The theme and meaning are as strong and convincing as any holiday music I have ever heard, the only difference is that this rocks, progressive style.

I usually don't play any Christmas music until after Thanksgiving; this was a good year to play it early. I think we all need to hear the music a little earlier this year, don't you? Have yourself a merry and rockin' progressive rock Christmas.

[For more info about the project, check out the Magna Carta site -ed.]


Tracklisting:
Carol Of The Bells (as if: Yes) / We Three Kings Of Orient Are (as if: Sting) / I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day (as if: Queen) / Silent Night (as if: Pink Floyd) / What Child Is This? (as if: Genesis) / Little Drummer Boy (as if: ELP) / 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (as if: Led Zeppelin) / Up On The Housetop/Deck The Halls (as if: Kansas) / Angels We Have Heard on High/Christmas Lullaby (as if: Peter Gabriel) / The First Noel (as if: King Crimson) / The Light* (Kansas), Happy X-Mas/War Is Over (as if: Beatles) / A Christmas Poem #1

Musicians:
Guests:

Robert Berry - vocals (1, 3, 6, 12, 13)
Steve Walsh - vocals (2, 9)
John Wetton - vocals (4, 10)
Trent Gardner - vocals (5, 12)
Mike Baker - vocals (7, 12)
Jake Livgren - vocals (8)
Lisa Bouchelle - vocals (12)
Gary Wehrkamp - vocals (12)

Discography:
Sounds Like Christmas (2001)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin VA

Added: November 25th 2001
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck

Artist website:
Hits: 2222
Language: english

  

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