Customer Reviews

The Christmas Companion: Stories, Songs, and Sketches

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found the CD heartwarming, amusing, enjoyable, and only very occasionally, boring. If you're looking for perfection in musical rendition, look elsewhere. These are recordings of live radio broadcasts, after all, and don't have the polished elegance of overdubbed and edited studio sessions. Garrison is at the top of his form, however, and one man's repugnant "Twas the night before Christmas" was this man's bemused reflections on how things too often are. There's variety, wit, and enough talent to make any Christmas eve or Christmas night a happy one. Also, if you choose, there's enough content to provide family discussion starters for anyone over the age of eight or 10.

I had never listened to something by Garrison Keiler before but found that this CD was very entertaining. I found myself laughing and crying and loving my time just sitting and listening. Well worth your money and time.

If you have a sense of humor, you and your kids will like this. The twelve days of Christmas was just hilarious and cleverly done. The story about the gift for mom was really funny too.

I was disappointed that this CD contained mostly music instead of stories. The reviews I read before I purchased this led me to believe the opposite. And, the stories weren't very memorable or funny. I usually enjoy Garrison Keillor so I really wish I didn't have to give this CD a negative review.

Some of the music, however, was very good bluesy Christmas music that my husband liked so much he wants to put it on his Ipod.

Listening to Garrison Keillor makes me feel all warm and cozy inside like hot cocoa. This is basically a recorded Christmas show featuring all your fav's--Guy Noir, biscuits, and great feature performers. It's a nice change from listening to plain old christmas music all the time. a must for Prairie Home Companion fans, and a great example of the work this talented troupe does for those unfamiliar with the radio show.

Who can improve on Garrison Keillor's dry sense of humor. Purchased originally for my mother, but I've listened more than she.

I found Christmas Companion to be an 'okay' Christmas CD Compilation but not one I'm dazzled by, and certainly not something worth this price. In preparation for getting in the Christmas mood, I listened to a few of them, found myself wishing I hadn't bought the CD. Why? Most of the songs are quite simply not repeatable. Yes, some are pleasant, but others are downright annoying. I don't know about you, but one time around with the twangy mountain-man rendition of "Christmas Time's A-Coming" was quite enough for my sanity. Thank You. I also didn't care for the stories. I found "Twas the Night Before Christmas" (a parody of the original about a puritanical Baptist family), obviously meant to be funny, didn't even provoke a chuckle, and was at times downright creepy.

Some songs, such as: "The Christmas Song" by Sarah Jessica Parker, "December Waltz," by Pat Donohue, and "Count Your Blessings" by John McDonough were decent. Some songs were great: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Diana Krall being one of them. But others were quite banal. Nothing made me stand up and shout: "Wow! That's a great tune, I'm glad I bought this CD!"

Overall, I think your better off buying a ten-pack of Christmas cd's at your local super store and culling the songs you like, it'd probably cost the same, and you'd get more music that you might enjoy. 3 Stars. Average.