Customer Reviews

Santamental

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

 

 

If, like me, you're tired of the same old Christmas songs year in, year out, treat your family to a musical feast courtesy of Luke and his mega-talented buddies. Luke's 4th solo studio album was recorded and mixed in one week during June 2002 in California - not the ideal climatic ambience to record Christmas songs but the seasonal vibe is all there in large helpings! The core band this time around, Luke, Jeff Babko, Greg Bissonette and John Pierce were augmented by an array of famous friends who dropped by to add a track or two of festive cheer. Luke scored at least two major scoops making this record; permission from Sammy Davis Jnr's estate to sample his vocals from a Las Vegas performance to facilitate a virtual duet and the contribution of Eddie Van Halen, who has not released any new studio recordings since 1998. As if Luke and EVH playing together on one album is not enough for guitar fans, Steve Vai, Slash and Mike Landau also let rip on tracks 4,5 and 8 respectively. The liner notes reveal Luke's pride as his 16 year old son Trevor accompanies him on record for the first time. Each musician's performances are quite simply brilliant - the clarity of each recorded part shines through but to me, Pierce's bass lines were especially inspired! (Edgar) Winter Wonderland is a seriously smokin' bluesy groove and the hilarious big band Jingle Bells deserve to be Christmas party classics and the more fusion-orientated songs ought to attract critical acclaim in recognition of the abundant virtuosity displayed here. Santamental features two new rocking catchy songs, Broken Heart for Christmas and Look out for Angels. Chill-out tracks are also included; the melancholic Silent Night and The Christmas Song are tributes to Luke's mentors, Jeff Beck and Larry Carlton, demonstrating a touch of which his contemporaries will be in awe. Unbelievably, Luke's vocal and guitar performances and inspiration continue to mature and impress after 30 prolific years. Order your copy and join the party - Christmas will never sound quite the same again, thanks to everyone's bro Luke & friends!

I'm always looking for interesting Christmas music, and this fits the bill nicely. I have nothing else like it...a Christmas CD that is loaded with excellent guitar solos! Steve has gathered together some renowned fellow guitarists for this project including....Van Halen, Steve Vai, Slash, and Mike Landau. The rest of the 'band' is outstanding, too. John Pierce on bass, Gregg Bissonette on drums, Lenny Castro on percussion, Jeff Babko on keys, and some real horns including Edgar Winters on Sax!

This CD covers a variety of musical styles including contemporary jazz (Angels We Have Heard on High), jazz fusion (Joy to the World, Greensleeves), rock (Broken Heart for Christmas), and even big band with vocals (Jingle Bells w/Sammy Davis Jr on vocals!).

Bottom line...if you are an electric guitar lover with a penchant for jazz...you will want this.

I've been known to play this CD in the middle of the summer. Why? Well, because it's too long to wait for Christmas. This is simply the best Christmas album to come out in, like, forever. I won't reiterate the list of fantastic musicians and their great work, all done within six days in the middle of June, was it? Others have listed the particulars, so read their reviews, too. It you are still thinking about whether or not to get this CD, don't. Simply click the button now and you won't be sorry when it arrives!

Perfecto estado y magnífico disco del gran Steve Lukather.

The CD arrived perfectly packed and the album is great.

This CD was a pleasant surprise. I didn't really know what I was getting when I ordered this disc, I just took a risk because I liked Lukather's track on another Christmas CD I have. (Merry Axemas, I can't remember whether it's vol. 1 or 2) While the Merry Axemas discs were mostly straight-ahead rock, this one has a LOT of jazz influence, and I love it! The liner notes talk about using a lot of "grown-up chords", and he's not kidding around. They tinker with the chord progressions, rhythms, and time signatures enough to make these old carols really pop, but not to the point where you can't tell what they are. I think I'd still classify it as rock, but just barely. There's more influence from John Coltrane than Ted Nugent... ;)

If you're sick of the same old Mannheim Steamroller cheesy synth nonsense and the same endlessly reheated and boring Christmas music that you hear every year, pick this one up. The arrangements are fresh, yet respectful. You'll easily recognize each track for what it is, but you still won't know what's coming next. The guest list includes Eddie Van Halen, Edgar Winter, and Steve Vai, and they don't disappoint. You even get to hear Winter play a mean sax! (I told you you won't know what's coming next!)

The only reason I give this 4 stars and not 5 is that it's a Christmas album, so I can only listen to it for 1/12 of the year. As a Christmas disc, it's definitely 5 star worthy.

I LOVE this CD! After years of elevator and new age versions of Christmas holiday music, this CD is fun and it kicks butt!! There is absolutely everything for your adult listening pleasure. Joy to the World with Eddie Van Halen... not to mention the world class guitar work of Steve Lukather and all the rest of this fantastic crew on a single CD. It just doesn't get ANY better than, well all of the cuts. Go to Steve [...] because this CD is going to be re-issued and so maybe the import version is not how you'll want to go. I'm considering buying this import, because the original doesn't have the extras. Either way, if you don't allow yourself to experience this music you will be spiritually poorer for it.
You'll find yourself singing along to Look Out for Angels and Broken Heart for Christmas. Oh, who can resist singing along with Steve Lukather and Sammy Davis, Jr?

DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!

Finally!!! Something different! Lukather really turns it up in this album! Good selection of tunes and an amazing lineup make this a must have for any Lukather fans!

Right off the bat, understand you're not going to like this album if you are looking for sappy, overly emotive music sung by the Diva-of-the-month. That said, when you listen to this album, ask yourself, "Self, if I were going to make a Christmas album that doesn't sound like every other lame Christmas album out there, how would I do it." And your answer might be to cash in every favor from every accomplished professional studio guy out there, and have some fun. If you listen to the album in that way...it's surprisingly satisfying.

I really enjoy Steve's playing. I was just listening to track 7 today, and it is April 9th of 2005. But he really gets me going on this album. All the tunes are good enough to listen to even when it isn't Christmas.
Thanks, Steve

This album is very good...i listen to it in my car on the way to work.
Now that my car has been stolen,i don't listen to his cd anymore.
I'm planning to buy a new one as soon as i get another car.