Christmas Kind of Town

Marah | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 18, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Yep Roc Records
• ASIN: B000B5KRSE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #260,417 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Hark! The Philly Brothers Sing! Introducing a 20-song holiday feast that, while it's as out of right field as Mannheim Steamroller remaking White Light/White Heat, is the perfunctory accompaniment to your Bing Crosby and Johnny Mathis wintertime mash. Prolifically concurring with its fifth record If You Didn't Laugh You'd Cry, Marah integrates E Street soul and 6 Train rock-and-roll into a stew of old-time favorites and newly composed originals, toasting the celebration with friends and family in a loose-knit routine of music and parodies. Centered on their adopted hometown of New York, the Bielanko brothers liken the Big Apple to a "yuletide merry-go-round" in "New York is a Christmas Kind of Town" and offer up "a glass of cheer" in "Holly Jolly Christmas," a chug-a-long number that practically begs for the Pogues to cover. "Baby It's Cold Outside" is a seductive back-and-forth duet (with guest Christine Smith) and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas" turns into a Peanuts-like sing-a-long, and by New Year's, when your "Auld Lang Syne" is an instrumental Dublin pub romp, you'll thank Marah for making this the most wonderful time of the year. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars WPIX Yule Log Rules!, December 25, 2005

By 

Boxodreams "[e-mail]" (district of columbia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas Kind of Town (Audio CD)

Some of this happy album sounds recorded live, but I would have loved to have seen Marah actually doing it up, maybe in a beery little dive bar, because it's got a great concept and good, cheery Christmasy stuff. But, I'm afraid, something, as so often happens, gets a little lost in the studio. It's a little dry, a little forced, plenty of good will, but could have used just a wee bit more. I like Marah, and I'm digging this as I clean off a table I haven't cleaned off in years so I can put down some food for my girlfriend, who wouldn't know my house straightened up if it dropped on her head. Marah is carrying me along here and I'm getting into the feel a little bit more for the holiday. I got some good booze and some cheese and salami and some more booze and some sweet treats and we should have a pretty good time. Merry Christmas to these guys and thanks for the fun album. Just wish you had recorded it live at Lauterbachs, an old Brooklyn hole back in the 80s that is the true ghost of rock n' roll christmas' past.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun music, February 6, 2010

By 

Moomin&Mutti (Washington State) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Christmas Kind of Town (Audio CD)

Great service, great product. If tired of the same old music at Christmas, try this

5.0 out of 5 stars Cup full of Marah Christmas cheer, November 17, 2009

By 

lojo (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas Kind of Town (Audio CD)

Great album. Shows amazing range for the Bielankos and friends. Particularly amazing is Christine Smith on "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Wow. And, they wrote two bonafide original, great Christmas songs "Christmas Kind of Town" (New Yorkers all about you) and "Christmas with the Snow."

Yes, Serge sounds a little cheesy as announcer but it is fun cheesy. The guy is nuts for Christmas. And, getting to listen to Dave sing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas" and "Holly Jolly Christmas" is a real Christmas treat.