Customer Reviews

Sounds Like Christmas

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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 !

As a big fan of progressive rock groups like Yes and Kansas, I thought this sounded like a very interesting concept. Now that I 've listened to it a couple of times, I'm not sure what to make of it. It IS interesting, but also a bit disappointing. Part of the problem is that I expected it to sound like the actual groups were performing Christmas carols. What they've done, however, is cop some signature licks/sounds and adorn the songs. You'll be able to pick most of the songs that are borrowed from. In other words, they're not trying to sound like the BANDS, they're trying to sound like the SONGS. Not that it's bad, but it sometimes comes off almost like a parody, as opposed to a tribute.

The musicians are quite good, as are most of the vocalists, but I do have a couple of complaints. In some cases, the vocalists just don't sound enough like the singer they're imitating. Not that they sound bad, they just don't sound "right." My other complaint pains me to point out. Even though several other reviewers have singled out Steve Walsh's vocals, to me they're almost painful to listen to. At one time, Steve Walsh had a great voice, but the years have taken a toll. If you liked how Steve sounded on Somewhere to Elsewhere, you'll probably be happy, but if you're expecting Leftoverture vintage sounds, you're likely to be disappointed.

I'm still glad I bought this, but it's not as good as I was hoping.

First off, let me say that I love eclectic Christmas Music. My collection encompasses Brian Setzer, Chicago, Bob Rivers Comedy Corp, Andy Williams, Mannheim Steamroller & Trans-Siberian Orchestra, among others. But of all my CD's (30 plus so far) this is DEFINITELY my fave. I won't spoil it by telling you all the artists that are paid tribute to. Half the fun of this disc is figuring it out on your own. But even standing on its own merits, the music is impressive. I know alot of Prog fans find some of Trent's productions tedious, but I think this is some of his most creative work. And bottom-line it's just plain FUN ! If you a fan of Prog, Christmas music, or just want something different to play while sitting in front of the fireplace this season, by all means BUY THIS DISC !

I love this cd!Up on the rooftop is my favourite track on this cd.I also like the song the light.Great Xmas prog!

Leave it to Magna Carta to putout a rock holiday album. Excellent renditions of old favorites at Christmas time. I recommend the Steve Walsh tunes. I look forward to every release from Magna Carta. That's MUSIC!!!!!

If you are not a fan of classic rock (say Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, etc...) you may only find this a mediocre CD. I absolutely love this CD, it is great. The emulations of the bands are great, but they're not actually trying to "copy" the band... which is a good thing. There is not a song on there that I do not like, even if I didn't like the band emulated. I am very pleased, and I would highly highly recommend this CD if you like anything remotely similar to Classic Rock.

Let me start by saying that this is one of the most unique, awe-inspiring, and creative holday albums that I have ever heard. Robert Berry has arranged a Christmas album like no other. The concept: This is how Christmas Carols would have sounded if they were performed by classic rock bands. When I first read about this album, I assumed that Mr. Berry had drawn upon these bands to come up with one all-encompassing style which would be represented throughout the album. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this was not the case. In fact, each song represents a different band, and the styles are so accurately represented that you sometimes actually believe the original group is performing. I also like the fact that, although the music and arrangement are well-imitated, the vocals are fresh and original. This adds a twist to the album which is very modern and enjoyable. My one piece of advice, before listening to this album, is to not go to Magna Carta's website or to read any reviews that tell you which bands are being represented with which songs. I think half the fun of the album is trying to figure out which band is being represented. Although most styles are fairly obvious, figuring out the influence added an extra element of surprise and enjoyment for me. And, after all, isn't that what Christmas is all about? Happy Holidays!

I really enjoyed this unique take on Christmas music. Robert Berry has done a very nice job arranging Christmas classics into the styles of various Progressive/Art rock giants. This works surprisingly well and is very entertaining without being overly cheesy (of course, you might need a little bit of cheese with any holiday music). My favorite is Steve Walsh singing Angels We Have Heard on High in the style of Peter Gabriel, incorporating the world beat prevelant in Gabriel's In Your Eyes. The arrangement is perfect and Walsh's vocals are flawless. Just great fun for the holidays.