Christmas With the Smithereens

Smithereens | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Koch Records
• ASIN: B000V8LQUY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,939 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Although it initially seems like another stopgap release to allow the Smithereens time to write a dozen new songs (especially since the band's last album was a track-by-track replication of Meet the Beatles), this Christmas set of predominantly covers, is a rousingly successful project that hopefully won't be dusted off just one month a year. Lead singer Pat DiNizio wraps his husky voice around a smartly selected collection of classic seasonal rockers such as "Run Rudolph Run" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," along with more obscure fare. It's the latter that makes this such a delight, as the band tears into rugged re-workings of the Ramones' "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)," the Who's crunchy "Christmas" (from Tommy) and even a rare Beatles track grabbed from the Liverpool band's '60s fan club only discs. Brian Wilson's "Merry Christmas, Baby" receives an appropriately sunshiny Beach Boys work-out and even the creaky "Auld Lang Syne" hops on a surfboard for arguably the rocking-est version of the clichéd sing-along ever. Three originals sound like typically rugged Smithereens songs that just happen to have Christmas lyrics. They offer further proof that this isn't just a dashed-off batch of wintery fare to keep the band's name active until an official new album. Rather, it deserves consideration as one of the finest entries in the Smithereens' already impressive catalog. --Hal Horowitz

Product Description

Genre: Christmas Music Media Type: Compact Disk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A holiday classic in the making, November 20, 2007

By 

David Kozatch "digging it" (New Yawk) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christmas With the Smithereens (Audio CD)

It seems like every season we come to accept the force-fed nostalgia of Christmas originals we've heard a zillion times or worse, treacly covers of these same done by "contemporary" artists (you know who you are - paging Sting,Celine and you "American Idols"). Not since Ray Davies and the Kinks snuck "Father Christmas" under our proverbial tree has a set of holiday tracks rocked this hard -- and good.

What if there was a Christmas record that you actually wanted to listen to for more than just teary-eyed nostalgia? Sure, there's nostalgia here with the boy's own covers of Chuck Berry, Elvis, Ramones, and Beach Boys Christmas tunes. But there are also some nice originals and surprises: a cover of the Who's "Tommy" set piece and their own take on the Beatle-fan-club-only "O.U.T. spells out" Christmas sing along. All this and great guitar riffs, thumpin' bass, killer drumming, and a chance to hear Pat and the other Smithereens show off their vocal chops.

If you are a Smithereens fan, or just a fan of great straightforward pop a la the aforementioned Kinks, the Who, Beach Boys, Phil Spector, etc. you will enjoy this record. Speaking of Phil, his other recent troubles not withstanding, he should watch his back: the Smithereens have arrived with a collection of holiday tunes to rival his '63 classic.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Smithereens Celebrate Christmas - Especially For Yule!, October 9, 2007

By 

TAS - See all my reviews

This review is from: Christmas With the Smithereens (Audio CD)

It's already beginning to look (and sound) a lot like Christmas with the Smithereens "Rockin' Around The Christmas tree" on their own "cool yule" holiday album. And they really do rock the house here. Listen to Dennis "The Little Drummer Boy" Diken "bash away, bash away all" during the intro to the Smithereens' own version of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" while Jim Babjak's electric guitar decks the halls with reens riffs, Severo's bass pumps along at full "thrilla throttle" and Pat DiNizio croons in maximum rock `n' carolling mode. This is obviously not your average piped-in holiday music at the mall snoozefest.

There is much to enjoy on this Christmas album beginning with its majestic opener "Waking Up On Christmas Morning" written by lead guitarist Jim Babjak. It is one of three Smithereens originals on this CD that also includes "Christmas (I Remember)" and a rerecording of their song "All Revved Up" that's been re-revved up and revamped as "Christmas Time All Over The World". The Smithereens also add their own holiday dressing to some Christmas classics and semi-rare covers. Pat contributes some exuberant harmonica playing to Elvis' "Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)" while the guitars chug along like a runaway "Polar Express" train. The Smithereens also surf the yule tide with an excellent cover of the Beach Boys' "Merry Christmas, Baby" and do a really rollicking version of Chuck Berry's "Run Rudolph Run". The album later takes a side trip to Who-ville when Jim Babjak sings "Christmas" from the Who's "Tommy" album "and you know that can't be bad" when the Smithereens joyously revisit fab four territory with the Beatles' "Christmas Time Is Here Again". They even salute the Ramones with a catchy punk vs. Motown re-arrangement of their holiday song "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)". The band also rocks in the New Year with their Christmas carolers on steroids version of "Auld Lang Syne".

"Christmas with the Smithereens" delivers a much needed kick in the Christmas balls to an often tired and tiresome holiday music industry. It's the perfect antidote to overly treacly Christmas "pap music" and sugar shock inducing holiday elevator music. If you like your seasonal music "sugar free" rather than piped-in and played-out, then you should spend your "Christmas With the Smithereens".

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You should all spend Chrstimas With The Smithereens!, November 20, 2007

By 

Connie Hill (Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Christmas With the Smithereens (Audio CD)

Every year, we hear the same Christmas songs and although we know them and love them, it's always nice to hear new and rare versions of even the most loved favorites. The Smithereens are giving you both new and rare! Along with Pat DiNizio, we also get Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken taking over the vocals on a few songs.

Just when you think you've heard every version you ever wanted to hear of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"....the Smithereens deliver their electric punch flavor of the classic. I love their version of Auld Lang Syne. It starts with acapella then turns into a full blown rock song. The new original songs along with the classics really make this well rounded. There is a little something for everyone on this "classic in the making" Christmas CD.
Simply put, it rocks!