Customer Reviews

Christmasville

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

Let me start by saying I've always enjoyed Steamroller's Christmas albums. The first two were brilliant, the rest were, at the very least, enjoyable. But something about this latest one is just lacking.

The first thing you should know is that this is NOT a typical Steamroller Christmas album, and maybe it's not even fair to compare it to the previous ones. Unlike those earlier albums, almost every song on this CD has lyrics, and the styles of music occasionally depart drastically from what we've come to expect from a Steamroller album. There's a big-band number, for example, and a screeching electric guitar solo on the finale. There's also an R&B song, and even a bizarre kiddie song ("Humbugs.") On one hand, I'm glad they're stretching themselves creatively, but sadly, it stills ends up feeling very half-hearted.

The biggest problem with the album is the length. This CD is barely half and hour long... WAY too short to be charging full price. This should be priced as an EP. With the amount of money Chip Davis rakes in from fans for these albums every year, it's practically offensive that he can't take the time to release a proper length album. Three of the 12 tracks clock in at under 2 minutes, which is ridiculous. Adding insult to injury, two of the longer songs are recycled from previous albums ("Messengers Of Christmas" appeared on "The Christmas Angel" CD, and "The Sign Of Love" appeared on both "Impressions" and "Romantic Melodies." The only difference this time is that they added schmaltzy lyrics to it.)

There ARE a few highlights, though. Even though "Messengers Of Christmas" is recycled, it's a good piece, and since it wasn't from one of their more popular Christmas albums, a lot of people may have missed it the first time around, and it will be new to them. "Where Are You Christmas" is a really touching song, beautifully arranged and sung. "The Man With The Bag" is a very successful attempt at the big-band sound (so successful, in fact, that it feels out of place on a Steamroller album.) The rest of the tracks range from "okay" to "forgettable" to "cringe-worthy".

Bottom line: This is the first time I bought a Steamroller album and really felt cheated. If you're a diehard Steamroller fan, there may be just enough good stuff on here to make it worthwhile, but ONLY if you can find it for very cheap. I regret paying full price for it.

If you're new to Steamroller, start with one of their first two Christmas albums ("Christmas" or "A Fresh Aire Christmas"), or buy yourself a copy of "Christmas Celebration", which offers a solid collection of the best tracks from their first four albums.

Full price for a cd that's not even 31 minutes long, and a half-hearted effort at that. Chip Davis and Co. are coasting big time on this release. I have listened to the cd one time and cannot think of a single reason to listen to it again.

Terrible, disappointing, I am sorry that I bought 3 of these cd's for Christmas gifts. I am a 10+ year Mannheim fan, have almost all their CD's/DVD's and driven 3 hours to attend concerts. I give all new CD's to my 2 sons and their families when they are released. Thus when I heard about Christmasville, I ordered 3 cd's. Today I listened to it and was very disappointed. I do not think that I will give them to my sons. Money
and time wasted.

OK , I admit I bought this without an preview because I basically have loved for the most part all their earlier releases. Or maybe I was caught up in the "gee its Nov 1, it's time to start adding to my Christmas catalog. The official Amazon review makes me suspect the reviewer is paid for not listening to the actual cds? but to transcribe fiction.Even being generous or die hard fans will be hard pressed to enjoy this. Am I voicing my dissatisfaction just to trash Steamroller?, no I really love their music but this just falls short in so many ways.
Buy their Christmas box set or any earlier cds and you will be pleased. Just stay away from this one. And one last pet peeve, Buy the original soundtrack to the Jim Carry/ Ron Howard movie and you will be very pleased. The versions here of songs from the movie are horrible. maybe Chip Davis should of saved these for their Halloween Vol. three release. Nuff said

Having purchased Mannheim Steamroller since the original Fresh Aire series on record albums of the '70s--I probably have every Chip Davis creation since. THIS album entitled "Christmasville" should NOT have been produced and sold under the "Mannheim Steamroller" name. Call this effort "Chip Davis' Singing Christmas" or "Chip Davis at Christmasville"; but to have labeled this uncharacteristic collection of non-instrumental music under the traditional Mannheim Steamroller brand is a serious if not dishonest misrepresentation.
Try to defend this effort if you want, using whatever twisted logic you chose, but this Christmasville Album was horrible. It was as if I had purchased what was traditionally a bottle of fine wine from a classic winery packaged in a manner that I had trusted over many years, to shockingly discover "Mannheim 2008" was a sickenly bitter lemonade instead. Buyer Beware! Chip Davis has sadly lost his way.

If you love Mannheim Steamroller like my family and I do, avoid this album at all costs! There is only one Mannheim Steamroller performed song on it and it belongs with Chip's other greats. The rest are a bunch of Universal Studios singers with non-Mannheim Steamroller music behind them. Chip may have produced this for universal but he made sure that none of the songs(except Messengers of Christmas) even remotely sound like the Steamroller. I wasted $20.00 and will never play it again!

Purchased, played once, and then thrown out. Nothing like previous delightful compilations by Chip Davis, this quirky product contained little, if any joy for the season.

Yes, this music was written for a theme park. I will not diss on Chip Davis or Mannheim Steamroller. Just a word of caution; as other's have mentioned, this is not typical Mannheim Steamroller. If you are looking for more of that, avoid this album. It will appeal to some, and that's fine. It does sound to me like an album more suited to the kids; I may buy it just for that reason. My kids loved Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse; they are sure to like this as well. Long time Steamroller/Chip Davis fan, and will continue to be. This one won't be going on my iPod though.

Yikes! Don't waste your money!! The only reason I gave it ONE star is because ZERO wasn't an option!!

I've been a Mannheim Steamroller fan from the beginning and I even enjoy listening to some of their older Christmas CDs when it's NOT the holiday season, but this one is SO dreadful I felt like frisbee-ing it right out the car window!

I know people are complaining about how SHORT it is (about 31 minutes total), but the content was so horrific that I would argue it WASN'T SHORT ENOUGH!! After last year's mediocre Christmas album release, I can't help but wonder if ol' Chip & the gang have ridden this gravy train as far as it's capable of going. At the very least, I won't be rushing to spend my money on their next release unless I've heard it first.

My favorite Christmas music came from some of their earlier work. And even with some wordiness in some CD's, I kept the faith. But this is more than a disappointment. I feel like someone is milking a reputation. A fanfare? Try about a half a thought of one! Where did the steam for this group go? I learned my lesson on this disaster. No more Mannheim Steamroller for me!