Customer Reviews

The Reindeer Room Volume II: A Christmas Chillout

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

 

 

It's easy to cheese covers of classics into the stratophere of painful kitsch, especially when you're talking electronic grooves or Christmas standards. Combine the two and you have the potential for disaster -- a disaster which has been fully realized time and time again. But this collection avoids the kitsch and overdone synth lines to come up with reinterpretations that are simultaneously cool, playful, rich, and festive.

The Billy Paul Williams feat. Nicole Henry tracks and Charles Afton's Sugar Plum Ferry are the best of the bunch, and are already in danger of getting worn down after a week in my car. Some of the tracks are forgettable, but none will leave you embarrased if you put them on during the holiday party or while opening presents with the family.

I didn't notice this when I first bought it, but Reindeer Room 2 has a bonus DVD with most of the songs from the album playing over a fireplace with a blazing Yule log! Reminds me of when I was a kid in New York and we would tune the television to channel 11 (WPIX) on Christmas eve when the station would broadcast the Yule log for 24 hours.

Anyway, the music on Reindeer Room 2 is as good as volume one with several surprises like "Sou Gan" and "Hard Candy Christmas". And the Yule log DVD makes it a great package.

I love Christmas music. I love downtempo music. Who would have thought of combining traditional Christmas music with modern, chic downtempo music? I recently discovered THE REINDEER ROOM Vol. II this week. It is a fusion of chillout music and traditional Christmas music. The results gives a unique twist on holiday music. I have to admit it was a bit of a shock to hear my favorite Xmas songs re-interpretated into slick, modern downtempo music perfect to play while sipping on my favorite martini. The songs sounded different but I totally dug what I heard. I never heard of any of the artists on this compilation. Despite the lack of name recognition, the artists did a wonderful job at tweaking at traditional Christmas classics like "Good King Wencelas" and "She Won't Be Home". There are quite a few instrumentals as well as songs with vocals. I particularly enjoyed the songs that included Nicole Henry and Harmony on vocals. No matter what time of year it is, THE REINDEER ROOM VOL. II is great to relax tol

I would definitely purchase more music from this group--great sounds and music that gets you in the Christmas spirit! Nice change.

If you're looking for Christmas lounge music, this is the one to buy. We have listened to Reindeer Room II over and over each holiday season, and it's fantastic: Relaxing, without falling into the easy-listening, lighter-than-air trap.
Recently we played it a corporate holiday party while the band was taking a break, and people loved it. The bonus DVD is fun, too: Slide this one into your DVD player and snuggle on the sofa with someone you love.

New to the chill-out phenomenon, I've spent the last year accumulating various compilations. I have to admit, however, that it never occurred to me that there might be a holiday chill compilation out there, until I stumbled upon this in a local store. I took a chance, and picked it up. Now it's my favorite holiday album! Great for driving, relaxing by the fire (and if you don't have a fire, it comes with a DVD of a roaring fireplace!), opening presents, and generally enjoying yourself, this is a very well-paced compilation, with enough energy to keep you going, and some great new and interesting interpretations of the classics you've already heard thousands of times. Great for all audiences, I highly recommend this to anyone who likes chill, or just wants something other than the same-old same-old to play this holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

Not for the traditional Christmas music lover. It's hip and is a neat spin on some classics but nothing I would listen too beyond a cocktail Christmas party.