Sounds Like Christmas [Extra tracks]

December People | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 30, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Magna Carta
• ASIN: B00005MJW5
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,519 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After handing out electric guitars and 17-piece drum sets to a mop-top generation sometime in the 1970s, science-fiction icon Santa Claus ditched all the century-old carols in favor of progressive rock. At least, that's the premise of this strange Robert Berry-helmed project. Berry tweaks the tender and mild "Silent Night" until it sounds like a hazy Pink Floyd romp. Likewise, "The First Noël" imitates King Crimson, and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" sounds like something from Queen. "We Three Kings" recalls Tina Turner and Sting. Beating Berry to the eggnog, special guests Kansas offer "The Light," a new chestnut for roasting on a hot Hammond organ. --Ian Christe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smells Like Christmas Spirit, November 5, 2001

By 

Doug Taepe (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sounds Like Christmas (Audio CD)

I first heard the sound samples up on the Magna Carta website of this album. It sounded like a very fun album, fun seems to be something lacking from many of today's Progressive and Rock bands. This album explores the question: `What If . . . our favorite rock bands recorded Christmas Carols ?'.

Taking themes from each of these great bands, the December People weave through riffs and fills that echo, but never plagiarize their heroes.
Highlights for me include the interpretation of Genesis performing `What Child Is This?'. From the `Lamb Lies Down .' opening, we are brought through themes from classic Genesis to fill out this carol. Nice full keyboards, and full lush arrangements. As a bonus, Trent Gardner (Magellan, Explorers Club), has a nice warm voice, and never tries to imitate Peter or Phil.
The Led Zeppelin-esque take on `Twas The Night Before Christmas' builds from `Stairway To Heaven' right on through to `Kashmir'. `Silent Night' by Pink Floyd builds off of `Dark Side . .' and `Wish You Were Here' era. The King Crimson inspired `The First Noel' builds from the `Court Of The Crimson King', layering mellotrons, and even featuring Crimson alumnus John Wetton on vocals.
Kansas vocalist, Steve Walsh, sounds incredible on the two carols `We Three Kings' and `Angels We Have Heard On High/Christmas Lullaby' ; as well as the Kansas song' `The Light", written exclusively for this release.
Some songs take a bit more time to decipher the influence, but it is fun playing it for people, and seeing the expressions on their faces when they recognize both the styles and the carols.
The album holds up well as a Christmas album, a tribute album, and an enjoyable listen. Grab something new for the holidays, you'll get a kick out of this album.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What if all Christmas Music was this fun?, December 14, 2001

By 

Harold Angell (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sounds Like Christmas (Audio CD)

With such a compelling concept and such talented musicians to actually pull it off, Robert Berry has produced an imaginative journey which transports the listener not only to an era in which the greatest music of our time was created, but to an emotional serendipity that can exist only at Christmastime. The title of this recording gives us the key as to how Berry and company have accomplished this. By incorporating the premise of "Sounds Like...", the December People usher us into this improbable dimension of hearing our heroes of classic rock prresenting us with a very special Christmas gift. The music is performed with a technical precision that is assuredly reminiscent of the bands to which this tribute is directed. While the listener is never intentionally fooled into believing that these bands have reunited for this project, the signature sounds are accurately reproduced in such a way that I was constantly saying, "Wow, that really sounds like...".

To fully appreciate the impact that this recording can have, it is best to listen to it without knowing which artists are being emulated ahead of time. For me, this only heightened the serendipity. Later, as I looked at the Magna Carta website, it was fun to see which artists I had guessed correctly. (Actually, with the quality of this project, it isn't all that hard to tell if you are a true fan of classic 70's rock.)

As a fan of classic rock and a lover of Christmas carols, this recording truly touched me in many ways. I hope that you will take the opportunity to experience the childlike wonder of Christmas as seen through the vision of Robert Berry and the December People.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY INTERESTING, December 21, 2002

By 

"purplexed" (Bendigo, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sounds Like Christmas (Audio CD)

What I got from this CD is pretty much what I had expected , great versions of Christmas songs proged up with some very interesting and inovative extras. While listening to this disc you can here bits and pieces from many different older prog bands. I`m a big Kansas fan and I loved Steve Walshes version of We Three Kings Of Orient Are and the Jake Livgren (Kery`s nephew I believe) sings a great version of Up On The House / Christmas Lullaby , it has bits of Carry on Wayward Son`s music and is fantastic. But the song I loved most was I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day sung by Robert Barry its done the way Queen in there hey day sounded and is super cool. Basicaly if you have ever sat around watching the carrols and thought to yourself musicaly "I WANT MORE" in a progressive sense this is the CD for you. The bonus song by Kansas is a good song however its not the high point of this CD and I couldn`t hear Robby Steinhardt`s violin in the mix ? The CD finishes on what I would personaly consider to be a average Christmas song Merry Christmas (War Is Over) but the singers do a good job of this fairly over played modern Christmas song, apart from a few small complaints its a brilliant Christmas CD. Kudos go to Robert Berry the hard work paid off, Trent Gardner your Voice sounded great on What Child Is This and Steve Walsh for singing the way you do. I hope you enjoy this CD as much as I do its worthy to add to your collection and good (due to its fresh aproach and progressive nature) to play all year round, enjoy !