Christmas Cheers

Straight No Chaser | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 3, 2009)
• Original Release Date: November 3, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Brothers/Elektra/Atlantic
• ASIN: B001TRDPB4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (109 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,591 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #32 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > Opera & Vocal
  • #36 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > General AAS
  • #36 in Music > Miscellaneous > Holiday > General Christmas

Editorial Reviews

2009 holiday release from the 10 member vocal group. Sticking to the formula that made them both a novelty and a sensation, Christmas Cheers is a collection of both new and classic holiday songs with smooth harmonies and a comedic twist. With the holiday coming up fast, it's time to bring on the cheer and get ready for another round of Straight No Chaser! 15 tracks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW !!!, November 3, 2009

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Christmas Cheers (MP3 Download)

Straight No Chaser's latest holiday album is full of brand new recordings by this group and it's all about Christmas. Indeed, this is going to be a terrific stocking stuffer this year! Everything about the track set is brand new except that we get the album version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" instead of a live recording of "The 12 Days of Christmas" that was on their album entitled "Holiday Spirits." Moreover, Straight No Chaser sound wonderful; I could listen to this CD every day and never tire of it! They are exceptionally gifted performers. The quality of the sound is very good and the artwork is excellent, too.

"The Christmas Can-Can" starts the album with a fun tune that has Straight No Chaser squarely in the spotlight and I love the way they do this one to perfection! Great! "We Three Kings" is very well done; and the members of Straight No Chaser handle the tempo and key changes like pros. Other very good numbers include "Christmastime Is Here" which I first heard in "A Charlie Brown Christmas" television special; and "Let It Snow" charms me with its natural beauty. Listen also for "Dónde Está Santa Claus" which adds a lot of mirth to the album and the incredible "I'll Be Home for Christmas" which was my mother's favorite Christmastime song. There are also outstanding renditions of "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "O Holy Night" while "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" gets a particularly creative arrangement to let Straight No Chaser put their own stamp on this classic holiday ballad. "The 12 Days of Christmas" is also extremely well done to the theme of "Africa" which was recorded by Toto.

But Straight No Chaser adds even a few more fun, secular tunes to add a special kick to this CD. I really like that electric "Hey Santa;" "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch;" and "Who Spiked the Eggnog?" Excellent!

Straight No Chaser fans will love this holiday album; and this is absolutely perfect for anyone who enjoys a mixture of classic holiday music with songs that are more secular but every bit as special. I highly recommend this fine album.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent SNC Offering, November 4, 2009

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas Cheers (Audio CD)

Straight No Chaser is hands down one of the most entertaining groups to come along in years. And the fact that they were "rediscovered" decades after first performing makes their trek all the more amazing. Last year they released their first official CD Holiday Spirits which soon soared to the top of the charts. Their latest release, "Christmas Cheers," comes on the heels of the excellent EP Six Pack [Amazon Exclusive]. The songs are a mix of timeless classics and entertaining comical songs mixed with original material. They are definitely the holiday go-to guys.

Kicking off with the peppy "Christmas Can-Can" which includes original lyrics featuring melodies from several traditional holiday songs (as well as the "Can-Can" from "Orpheus in the Underground"); in an arrangement only they could come up with. Other stand out songs include "We Three Kings" which is performed to the melody of "Mission Impossible," the fantastic Vince Guaraldi tune "Christmastime is Here," the always pleasing "I'll be Home for Christmas," a funky version of "Let it Snow" listeners won't recognize, and a great version of "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" which allows the bass singers to finally sing... lyrics. The album concludes with a studio version of "12 Days of Christmas," a medley of numerous songs and garbling of the lyrics - and the song that made them famous. It is a nice crisp alternative to the live version released last year.

Fans of the a cappella group will not be disappointed. And it doesn't have to be the holiday season to enjoy the songs. And if you are fortunate enough to see them live, you will be amazed - they sound exactly like they do on their CD's, with the added bonus of their interactions with the audience and each other.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cappella Harmonies Splashed With Christmas Fun, November 22, 2009

By 

prisrob "pris," (New England USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Christmas Cheers (Audio CD)

Straight No Chaser is an acapella group from Indiana University. This 10 man group was founded in 1996. Their video clip of "The 12 Days of Christmas," posted by a group alum, became a YouTube phenomena in 2007. It was the best.

Christmas Cheer is the second Christmas collection. The 21 songs in this CD are a mix of straight and fun. The subdued 'Holy Night', 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' and Christmas Time Is Here. The CD gets off to a rollicking start with 'Christmas Can-Can'" a hot 'We Three Kings', a brilliant parody of 'Donde Esta Santa Claus', a wonderful 'Hey, Santa', a sleazy 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch', a priceless Elvis lead on 'Santa Claus is Back in Town', a crazy 'Jingle Bells', a drunken 'Who Spiked the Eggnog'. And, this all leads into the song that started it all. 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. Each song has unexpected surprises. The arrangements are entertaining. And the CD has 5 extras, not necessarily Christmas songs but fun never the less. Amy Winehouse's 'Rehab' was never sung better. Jack Johnson's rollicking 'I'm Yours' and 'Over the Rainbow'. To the divine 'Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You'. This is a Christmas CD for everyone, the young will love the fun songs and the traditional songs are there for everyone. A Capella brings tone and a myriad of sounds to music- this grou[ of ten men has set the music world on its ear, let's listen!

This CD demonstrates the group's talents and skills and marvelous voices. They blend and meander and finally come in to their own. CHEERS!

Highly Recommended. prisrob 11-22-09

Holiday Spirits