lifestyle MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2015 MUSIC & MOVIES A review of holiday albums released this year

1- Kenny Rogers, ponies punctuate the hook with a few well-placed the comedic “Twelve Days of Christmas” by Bob “Once Again It’s Christmas” (Warner) yelps and go off the grid from the traditional lyrics & Doug McKenzie, with the notable refrain, “On If country legend Kenny Rogers sticks to his guns, just enough to keep the listener guessing. A fair the first day of Christmas my true love gave to “Once Again it’s Christmas” will be his sixth and final warning for parents: You probably won’t know which me ... a drink.” holiday album, and bittersweet nostalgia infuses all pony is singing which song without a cheat sheet or 11 tracks. The 77-year-old crooner recently help from your kids, which is probably half the fun. 11- Various Artists, “Christmas Queens” announced his retirement and farewell tour, so this Your little ones may have to give you a heads up to (Killingsworth) mix of mostly classic carols with traditional arrange- remind you that is Fluttershy singing “Silent Night,” If you’re the kind of person who thinks the ments is one fans will savor. Highlights include “Some and not Pinkie Pie. There’s some original material holiday season is a lot of bunk and rolls your Children See Him,” with Alison Krauss adding angelic here as well. The Phoenix Chamber Carol does a nice eyes at the very mention of Santa Claus, this is accompaniment, and “Children, Go Where I Send job backing the ponies on “The Heart Carol,” which is Thee,” featuring country a cappella band Home Free all about friendship, glowing hearts and the loyalty likely the album for you. “Christmas Queens” is and a rousing clap-your-hands gospel beat. creed by which the ponies of Equestria all live. an irreverent ‚?? and sometimes pretty rude Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles adds heat to “Baby It’s Fathers everywhere moonlighting as Bronies may get take on holiday classics, from drag queens with Cold Outside”; Rogers is backed by a choral arrange- a little choked up as the ponies sing out valuable life names like Ginger Minj, Sharon Needles and ment on “Little Drummer Boy,” and soaring strings on lessons under the guise of a Christmas song. “A Pony one that is not fit to print in a family publica- “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” His voice is a little softer Kind of Christmas” is about as syrupy sweet a holiday tion. Minj, calling herself a “cross-dresser for and raspier than on his first Christmas album 34 years album as you’ll find. It’s clean fun. Christ,” sings a song about the amalgamation of ago, but it fits with selections that make you want to holidays like Christmas and Kwanzaa with deri- curl up by the fire with a bourbon eggnog and the sion; Detox sings “This Is How We Jew It” about ones you love. Hanukkah; “A Very Cozby Christmas” skewers the sex assault allegations against the embat- 2- Kylie Minogue, “Kylie Christmas” tled Bill Cosby, putting a very druggy spin on (Warner/Parlophone) “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” For some, “Christmas Kylie Minogue’s first Christmas album is a very Queens” will likely be a riot. But save this one for mixed bag of big band arrangements, awkward your friends with that warped sense of humor duets, better-than-expected novelty originals and otherwise, be prepared for some holiday jeer evergreens hardly suited to her vocal limits. Frank instead of cheer. Sinatra is back for a shared “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and his input really does sound recorded in 12- Count Basie Orchestra, “A Very Swingin’ the great beyond. Iggy Pop croaks through The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping,” a very British- Basie Christmas!” (Concord) sounding, quality American pop tune, while James The 80-year-old Count Basie Orchestra is out Corden lifts Yazoo’s “Only You,” hardly a holiday song. with its first holiday album, although the band “Every Day is Like Christmas” echoes “Viva La Vida”- was prominently featured on Tony Bennett’s “A

This CD cover image released by Sunken This CD cover image released by Killingsworth shows “Christmas Queens,” an irreverent - and Forest Records shows “Christmas sometimes pretty rude - take on holiday classics, from drag queens with names like Ginger Minj in Tahoe,” by Train. and Sharon Needles. — AP photos 5- Train, “Christmas in Tahoe” Salvant displays her vocal artistry on three other ers know best, while instrumental closer “God Rest Ye (Sunken Forest) tracks, including the winter-themed “It’s Easy to Merry Gents” adds a classical touch by quoting from Train’s 15-track holiday album jauntily careens Blame the Weather,” on which she channels Billie Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” through six-plus decades of sometimes obscure Holiday and scats smoothly with the JLCO playing in Another original, the stripped down, mischievous Christmassy songs, from covers of Elvis’ “Santa Bring a swing style. Grammy-winner Gregory Porter belts “Big Bulbs,” has a sprinkling of naughty without for- My Baby Back (to Me)” to British pop singer Tracey out the R&B holiday standard “Merry Christmas Baby,” getting to be nice. With barely a dash of sleigh bells, Thorn’s “Tinsel and Lights.” In between are a soaring while Rene Marie goes from soft to growly on the this rhythmic soul party is recommended not just for version of the classic “O Holy Night,” with frontman Pat Louis Armstrong-associated “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?” Christmas but Groundhog Day, Mardi Gras, the 4th of Monahan sharing vocals with a background chorus, with its New Orleans spices. JLCO’s first-ever holiday July or just about any other celebration. and three Train originals ‚?? all with a contemporary CD, culled from its festive annual holiday concerts, Top 40 feel. On Joni Mitchell’s “River,” surely the most offers familiar and unfamiliar songs arranged by This CD cover image released by Warner beautifully melancholy holiday tune, Monahan’s voice band members in a variety of jazz styles with a rich This CD cover image released by Concord Bros./Parlophone shows Kylie Minogue’s soars almost as high as hers; the opening keyboard is palette of instrumental colors, including Ted Nash’s Jazz shows “A Very Swingin’ Basie holiday album, “Kylie Christmas. also reminiscent. Less well-known holiday fare modernistic Coltrane-style arrangement of “We Three Christmas,” by The Count Basie Orchestra. includes The Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight” and Kings” and Victor Goines’ more up-tempo version of era Coldplay, no surprise as it’s by the consciously Slade’s “Merry Christmas Everybody,” with arrange- “White Christmas.” Swingin’ Christmas,” released in 2008. Director uncoupled Chris Martin. The Pretenders’ stirring ments sticking close to the originals, punctuated by and trumpeter Scotty Barnhart has kept the sig- “2000 Miles” gets a lush arrangement but Minogue’s Monahan’s distinctive croon. Train’s own “Christmas nature feel-good, blues-based Basie sound, but no match for Chrissie Hynde. It would have made Island” has a calypso beat and catchy vocals “Give me this is no mere ghost band. Barnhart, Basie vet- more sense to include the tunes Minogue helped Christmas on an island, see me smilin” and will be the eran Sammy Nestico and Big Phat Band leader write ‚?? “White December” and “Christmas Isn’t one fans can’t stop humming. The album’s digital ver- Gordon Goodwin have penned new arrange- Christmas ‘Til You Get Here” ‚?? and maybe a couple sion is an Amazon exclusive; Amazon and Walmart ments for such holiday classics as “Jingle Bells,” more as bonus tracks on her next pop album are selling the CDs. “Silent Night,” “Sleigh Ride” and “Little Drummer because under the glossy gift wrap that’s all “Kylie Boy” on which drummer Clayton Cameron con- Christmas” has worth keeping. tributes some masterful brushwork. Johnny Mathis smoothly swings through “It’s the 3- The Braxtons, Holiday Season,” Ledisi mixes jazz and R&B on “Braxton Family Christmas” (Def Jam) The Christmas album from Toni Braxton and her “The Christmas Song” and longtime Basie vocal- ist Carmen Bradford gracefully swings on “Have sisters will only make you wish they were working on This CD cover image released by Sony a proper, full-length R&B project. “Braxton Family Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” New Orleans Legacy shows “The Classic 80s Album,” family patriarch Ellis Marsalis channels Basie’s Christmas” is soulful and warm and the sisters’ har- performed by various artists. monies are the album’s highlight. They sound like understated piano solos on “Let It Snow” and angels on “O Holy Night (A cappella)” and “This 10- Various Artists, “The Classic Christmas ‘80s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” which features Christmas,” which opens the 8-track album. And Album” (Sony Legacy) tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson, best known for Tamar Braxton, the youngest of the family clan, hits a This compilation brings together some of his “Pink Panther Theme” solo. high note so beautifully on “Mary, Did You Know?” This CD cover image released by Motown the most memorable Christmas rock songs you’ll have to reply it again and again. Even on the shows “Christmas With Friends,” by from the 1980s, including some you can’t get 13- LeAnn Rimes, original songs like “Every Day is Christmas” and india.arie and Joe Sample. enough of, and some you’ll probably be able to “Today Is Christmas” (Kobalt) “Under My Christmas Tree,” Toni, Tamar, Towanda, tolerate again only after hitting the egg nog LeAnn Rimes mixes spirited songs that show- Trina and Traci sound epic and classic. The sisters’ 7- India.Arie, “Christmas With Friends” hard (I’ll leave it up to you to decide which is case the holiday cheer with more serene, voices are so similar sometimes it’s hard to tell who’s (Soulbird/Motown) which.) No Christmas compilation, particularly thoughtful songs of the season on “Today Is who. But it doesn’t matter because though there are India.Arie shows a smooth maturity on her first Christmas.” The album features fun takes on fam- five of them, they sound united ‚?? like a real group This CD cover image released by Sony one from the ‘80s, would be complete without Christmas album, which benefits greatly from the The Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping” and ily carols like “Must Be Santa” and “Frosty the should. Legacy shows “The Classic 80s Album,” jazz expertise of the late pianist and Crusaders Snowman” with original songs “I Still Believe In Wham’s “Last Christmas,” and both show up ear- performed by various artists. founder Joe Sample. Every track has one or more Santa Claus” and the title track. There’s also a ly here. Run-DMC’s crossover holiday hit 4- Various Artists, well-fitting guest artists, from Brandy on “Silent beautifully classic rendition of “Little Drummer “Christmas In Hollis” was one of the first season- “A Pony Kind of Christmas” (Sony Legacy) 6- Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Night” and Take 6 baritone Khristian Dentley on “God Boy” and Rimes sings a cappella on “Auld Lang To the delight of Fluttershy fans everywhere, the with Wynton Marsalis, “Big Band Holidays” Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” to instrumental backing al songs to be embraced by both rock and rap Syne,” a decision she says she made because she “My Little Pony” Christmas album, “A Pony Kind of (Blue Engine) from the likes of Trombone Shorty and Dave Koz. fans, and “Christmas Is the Time to Say I Love wanted to bring out the song’s heartbreaking Christmas,” has arrived. The mythical land of Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Sample, who passed away in September, features on You” remains one of the better songs Billy sadness and loneliness. Rimes duets with singer- Equestrian can now be filled with whimsical yuletide Orchestra open and close “Big Band Holidays” with four tracks, including “Favorite Time of Year,” an Squier ever recorded. Whitney Houston (“Do songwriter Gavin DeGraw on “Celebrate Me songs of yore, sung by cartoon ponies that essential- two songs from the Count Basie repertoire Ernie India.Arie original with family-centric lyrics by her You Hear What I Hear?”), Hall & Oates (“Jingle Home” and R&B singer Aloe Blacc on “That Spirit ly burp rainbows and chase each other on cable for a Wilkins’ arrangement of “Jingle Bells” and Basie’s origi- mom and a supportive vocal by Tori Kelly. A bluesy Bell Rock”) and Dave Edmunds (“Run Rudolph of Christmas.” The latter just makes you want to living. It’s all in good fun as Rainbow Dash handles a nal “Good Morning Blues” with its holiday-themed take on “Merry Christmas Baby” is a great showcase Run”) are part of every pop-rock Christmas, as is dance. — AP decidedly rock-tinged rendition of “Jingle Bells.” The lyrics sung by breakout star Cecile McLorin Salvant. for India.Arie and she warmly echoes how her grand- mother sang the song, ably assisted by Michael McDonald, even if he ends up going over the top. The album closes with an intimate take on “Auld Lang Syne” with saxophonist Kirk Whalum, which ris- es and falls perfectly. India.Arie has put together a winner with “Christmas With Friends,” choosing her relations wisely.

8- Brian Setzer Orchestra, “Rockin’ Rudolph” (Surfdog) At this point, it takes some doing to stand out in the world of Christmas rock albums (particularly when this is your second one), but the Brian Setzer Orchestra succeeds with a remake of the “Flintstones” cartoon TV show theme, with Christmas lyrics substi- tuted. “Yabba-Dabba Yuletide” is as quirky, bizarre and just plain out-there as anything you’ll hear in December, and it features the former Stray Cats leader’s fast-picking guitar solos, backed by a kicking horn section. “Joy to the World” shows up here as “Swingin’ Joy,” a rollicking big band instrumental that defies you not to dance to it, followed by a guitar- heavy “Carol of the Bells.” For the Flintstones-themed song alone, this is worth getting. But there’s enough alongside it to keep this album in your annual go-to holiday playlist.

9- Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, “It’s A Holiday Soul Party” (Daptone) Every day can be a holiday if you allow Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings’ jubilant new album past your threshold. Poignant, funny and able to create the perfect holiday mood in their own inimitable style, Jones and the band stay true to the soul sounds which they have helped rejuvenate over the past 15 years. They even make “Little Drummer Boy,” one of the most tiresome Christmas songs ever, into a delicious funky workout. James Brown would have This CD cover image released by Legacy Recordings shows, My Little Pony’s “It’s a Pony endorsed “8 Days (of Hanukkah),” the Jones-penned This CD cover image released by Surfdog Records shows “Rockin’ Rudolph,” by The Brian Kind of Christmas.” “Ain’t No Chimneys In the Project” proves that moth- Setzer Orchestra.