Customer Reviews

Dig That Crazy Christmas

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Brian Setzer Orchestra has done it again. The big band orchestra has made one of the ulitmate Christmas records, and DIG THAT CRAZY CHRISTMAS needs to be part of any Christmas and music collection. Professional guitarist and singer Brian Setzer, along with his professional big band puched out yet another great piece of work. These cats can swing like no other musicians out there, and they definately know the swing genre on a professional level. Setzer adds flare to this musical art with his own amzing guitar licks of classical, jazz, and rockabily. The horns and woodwinds provide the big band with most of the pieces' melodies, but Brian and his female singers perform beautiful musical lines as well. The bass player is one cool cat, for he keeps the melody and harmony moving as he and Setzer make quick and perfect transitions of passing chords all over their bass and guitar necks. The songs off this swing record are old and new hits arranged to Setzer's unique take on the swing genre. It gives all tracks just a fun and up beat feel to their sound and makes me wonder why there aren't any Mainstream bands performing this musical art. Definately pick up DIG THAT CRAZY CHRISTMAS for the next holiday season or of course, for those out there who also celebrate Christmas In July.

Stand out tracks include:

"Dig That Crazy Santa Claus"

"Angels We Have Heard On High"

"Gettin' In The Mood (For Christmas)"

"Zat You Santa Claus?"

"My Favorite Things"

"You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch"

"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"

Setzer's first Christmas CD was below par. This one REALLY ROCKS! There are a lot of Christmas CDs out there, and I own quite a few, but this is the most upbeat and innovative by far!

Setzer gives it his all. Guitar playing is creative and what his fans have come to expect from this stray cat.

Get this CD if you want to really enjoy this season, and have the rockingest Christmas you ever had!

This is Brian Setzers second Christmas album.

This CD in my mind is not quite as good but has songs that really catch my attention.

We re-writes the Glen Miller classic In The Mood with Christmas words to come up with a very lively Christmas song.

I have to admit it gets me tapping my toes. Then again Glen Miller did that too.

Jingle Bell Rock is another classic that he tears to pieces. This is the hottest version on the planet with lightning fast guitar licks, just they way you expect to hear them from Brian.

Let it Snow is another great rocker that he ups the tempo on.

Mr Grinch is another song he has a lot of fun with.

Brian Setzer has really come up with 2 very good Christmas albums and I would recommend them both to you.

Both of his Christmas CD's will have you rockin time and time again. Merry Christmas

Finally, after the disappointments of his first Christmas CD, the lackluster hillbily/honkytonk of Ignition, Nitro Burnin' Funny Daddy and his tame CD of Sun Records Covers, Mr. Setzer has put out a disc that is actually worth purchasing. While there are a couple of "clunkers" on this sophmore Christmas offering from the King of Retro Revival, namely Santa Drives A Hot Rod and Hey Santa, the overall package is very well done, with Setzer adding his signature guitar sound to some great Christmas themed songs. Standout tracks include the two instrumentals, Angels We Have Heard On High and My Favorite Things. His version of White Christmas starts out sounding like a tired Hank Williams retread but picks up nicely about halfway through. He slips in his signature Stray Cat Strut guitar solo nicely on Zat You Santa Claus, and holds his own covering Bobby Helms Yuletide Classic, Jingle Bell Rock. His cover of You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch is classic BSO. Given Setzer's recent weak track record, I wasn't expecting much from this new Xmas release, but, thankfully, I came away pleasantly surprised with no regrets in the decision to purchase this. If you liked his first Christmas CD, you'll love this one, if you were disappointed with his first, he has redeemed himself. Merry Christmas!

Brian Setzer has created a Christmas CD that not only inspires the season, but may very well define the Christmas Big Band genre. There's not a cut on this recording that doesn't elicit some sort of joyous response to the season and exhibit the huge amount of fun that the band seems to be having.

A few favorites include "Hey Santa", if only for it's "Hot Buttered Rum" line, "Gettin in the Mood for Christmas", his rewrite of "In the Mood", and an amazing boogie version of "Angels we Have Heard on High".

But All the tunes here are fantastic.

This is a MUST have for fans of rockabilly, Big Band, or of course, a truly fun Christmas season.

The former Stray Cats frontman had sure made a second career out of his making CD's that feature that 'big band' sound.I usually don't care for Christmas albums,of ANY kind.But,I thought I'd borrow a friend's copy to see what it was like.Sort of took notice on cuts here like "Dig That Santa Claus","Let It Snow!Let It Snow!Let It Snow!","Hey Santa" and his holiday tribute to Glenn Miller,with "Getting In The Mood"-even though I thought this track was a bit corny,it still showcases Setzer's talent.Heard that his 'Christmas Extravaganza' DVD is really good.Obviously,Stray Cats die-hards and Xmas music completists should get more out of this CD than I did.Might make a nice gift for an old school fan.

Setzer does it again. There are a "baker's dozen" cuts for you hep cats and chicks just in time for the holidays. Personal favs include: "Gettin' In The Mood (For Christmas)" which is a reworking of the classic Glenn Miller "In the Mood", and a Setzerized version of the Louis Armstrong '52 classic "'Zat You Santa Claus?". (And listen for a "Stray Cat Strut" solo in that one.) For those in a mellow mood try "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve". All in all, some choice Christmas cuts.

Mr. Setzer's new Christmas album, sadly, is not as exceptional as his earlier "Boogie Woogie Christmas". Still, it is certainly better than many of the holiday albums that are turned out, especially if you like the Brian Setzer Orchestra's swinging/rocking big band sound. "Angels We Have Heard On High" was, perhaps, a poor choice for demonstrating this band's style, but they do a good job with several of the other tracks. However I, for one, will be sticking with "Boogie Woogie Christmas" as it still is one of my favorite holiday collections.

Fun, rock-Christmas songs. Keeps you in the Christmas spirit when you you want a break from the slower stuff!

Let's just get to the point. Is this new Christmas cd by Brian Setzer any good? Well, in a word, hell yes! This cd is an absolute good time. Good luck sitting still listening to this. It's impossible. Brians playing has always been great and he knows on these songs when to tear it up and when to lighten up. After hearing the first track "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" I knew my money was well spent. The second song "Angels We Have Heard On High" is very impressive. A nice arrangement and catchy rhythm guitar backed by some great drumming. This song has a beautiful sounding choir and is goose bump inducing. Track 3 "Gettin In The Mood For Christmas" musically seems to sound exactly as the original. It's the lyrics that are completely new and very fun. I wondered why he might do this song again but after hearing the first few lines I was mistaken for thinking that way. Throwing a Christmas spin on this song really works. "My Favorite Things" is a highlight on this disc and "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is perfect for the orchestra. This cd, as well as Brians first Christmas cd, should be spun every year to put a big dollop of swing in your Christmas. The arrangements are great and the orchestra knows how to belt it out. I think I'll be giving this cd out to many people this year. Too bad it doesn't come with some spiked egg nog and a dance partner.