Customer Reviews

JDRF's Hope for The Holidays

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The CD "Hope for the Holidays: Rockin' Christmas for a Cure" is a sonic stocking stuffed with surprises. Music sets the mood for the holiday season, and if your background tuneage has grown tiresome, slap this disk on the stereo.

You'll enjoy rockers (Weezer's "O Come All Ye Faithful," Creedence Clearwater Revisited's "Run Rudolph Run" and Axton's "Joy to the World"), tender standards (Jon Anderson's "O Holy Night," emerging artist Eric Andersen and world-class keyboardist Kostia's "First Noel," and Shanti Shanti's medley "Wassailing Rose"), and contemporary takes on classics (Smooth Choppy's hip-hoppy "Let It Snow" and Collective Soul's modern rockish "Blue Christmas"). David Coverdale (ex-White Snake vocalist) reads 'Twas the Night Before Christmas" in his north of England brogue. The Beach Boys ("Santa's Goin' to Kokomo") and the Cowsills ("Christmastime") add retro star power.

The whole thing kicks off with a rousing epic original, "Closing of the Year," complete with orchestra, choir and drum line, and ends with Kostia's stirring piano instrumental "Carol of the Bells." There are 22 song tracks in all, plus a few announcement plugs for the beneficiary of this charity recording, the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. "Hope for the Holidays" is a fresh, eclectic Christmas disk that won't stale like a fruitcake this year or next.

I love Christmas music of all kind and love hearing fresh takes on classic songs. This album has so many amazing artists covering some of my favorites. Creedence Clearwater Revisited's cover of Chuck Berry's classic 'Run Rudolph Run' is my favorite track here. This album also benefits an amazing cause Juvenile Diabetes Research. Also, very cool Weezer, Collective Soul songs. The whole album is great. Thanks for putting it together!! I definitely recommend it for this year and many more.

Original and previously unreleased Christmas tunes spanning a variety of styles and tastes, and JDRF benefits from every sale. What's not to love?

This CD is an exceedingly enjoyable journey of all kinds of music from all kinds of musicians. There's something for everybody on this CD.

Weezer's "Come Ole Ye Faithull" is great take on the old standard with the Weezer flair, The Collective Soul's "Blue Christmas" would make "The King" tremble with fear, Creedence Clearwater Revisited's "Run Rudolph Rudolph" is brand new total rocker! Mike Love's "Santa's Going To Kokomo" is a Kokomo Christmas send up that's quite fun. The Jon Anderson of Yes track is a gorgeous version of "O Holy Night" that is inspiring. David Coverdale's of Whitesnake's long lost "T'was The Night Before Christmas" has been locked away for years until now. The opening number "Closing of the Year" (form the 1992 movie Toys) is features Mike Love and Christian Love of the Beach Boys, Fabrice Morvan of Milli Vanilli, a children's choir of Type 1 kids and over 100 orchestral and drum line musicians. Added bonus is film maker Bryan Singer's (Usual Suspects, X-men 1 & 2, Superman Returns, Valkyrie) PSA's along with some of the other name artists as well as a piano cameo on the Scottish Rock rendition of "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch."

Though the rest of the tracks aren't by as notable name artists, the are just as enjoyable, if not more. They run the gambit of rock to jazz, pop to folk and even a wee bit of ska, funk, americana and instrumental.

The CD was produced to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation by a group of people out of Reno, NV. Why JDRF? Type 1 Diabetes is a very different kind of Diabetes. It's where the pancreas fails completely. So you have to have multiple painful blood checks and insulin shots daily to stay alive. Once every 2-3 hours. These families rarely sleep. Type 1 is also NOT genetic. There's nothing these kids could have done to prevent getting it. This CD is to raise awareness and support for research for the cure of all kinds of Diabetes.

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Buying this CD is well worth it because part of the money goes toward research of juvenile (type 1) diabetes which my daughter has. Please support this worthy cause! Thanks, E.Rabon

We have been listening to the Hope for the Holidays over and over! It inspires Holiday spirit especially, song # 15 "Silent Night" sung by Grace Hutchison and Kate Cotter. All the songs are a great blend of the different artists and singing styles (very refreshing). We are appreciative it was produced to support such a very, very worthwhile charity.

I bought my copy of this CD a few weeks ago and I can't stop listening to it. It's the kind of disc that once you put it in your car's CD player, you just can't take it out. The music and production are first rate. I especially like the variety here - a real treat considering the lack thereof with many Christmas albums these days. Also, you'll find tasty musical and vocal treats in-between the more well-known artists. For example, Kate Cotter's rendition of Silent Night is breathtaking -- talk about upcoming talent!

In short, I recommend this CD highly - a great collection of songs to add to your upcoming holidays and even better, make a difference by helping those living with type 1 diabetes. Buy this disc and you won't be disappointed.

Dean Rossi
Reno, NV

This album is seriously awesome. Tons of people, both famous and not, coming together to support such an awesome cause. I love holiday music as it is, but some of these versions (Weezer, Creedence, collective soul....and just WAIT until you hear the Haggis Rising version of The Grinch hahahaha) are seriously fantastic. Always love hearing christmas music in new and different ways. It's October and I've already listened through it twice haha. A must have for any music enthusiast!

This is a great addition to my christmas collection! This is not the same old thing. It is a wonderful array of music from people who have the true spirit of Christmas in mind. Even if you don't like Christmas music, you can buy it to support JDRF.

I should have just given my holiday money to JDRF rather than purchase this album. Other charity Christmas albums do not 'commercialize' their cause as much as this CD does thruout the music. Adding their public service announcements right in the middle of the album, tracks 19-22, does not make this a cd to put on while trimming the tree or having friends over for holiday libations. In addition, there are really only a couple of songs worthy of listening to on this album. 'Blue Christmas' is a great interpretation of a holiday classic, Smooth Choppy also adds a unique sound to 'Let it Snow'. 'Silent Night', Jon Anderson's 'O Holy Night' and 'Carol of the Bells' are also noteworthy. Weezer's 'O Come All Ye Faithful' is uninspired while the Axton song is just plain corny. If you want to support this very worthy cause, then send a check to JDRF; don't purchase this album for the music.