Customer Reviews

VOL. 2-CHRISTMAS REMIXED

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
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With the glut of remix albums flooding the market these days, it should come as no surprise that there are a slew of them showing up in the Holiday music bins... two of the more promising new ones (despite the awful cover art on both) are Merry Mixmas on Capitol/EMI and Christmas Remixed 2 from Six Degrees. Will either of them have you hip-hopping arond the tree?

Turns out the real party is happenin' on Christmas Remixed 2 where our holiday mixmasters seem to know how to make something new and fresh out of a familiar tune. This new collection lives up to (and perhaps even improves upon) the original Christmas Remixed from Six Degrees released in 2003. Each track has a distinct personality, and there's a good mix of vocal and instrumental selections (unlike the all-vocal Merry Mixmas). Highlights include:

*Bombay Dub Orchestra's jazz/funk wah-wah guitar drenched "Jingle Bells" perfectly blended with Joe Williams' vocal
*tasty twists on Jimmy McGriff and Charlie Parker by TONAL and King Kooba
*the head-bobbin' beat of "Frosty the Snowman" remixed by the Rondo Brothers (with Patti Page's hilariously looped "thumpity-thump-thump" refrain)
*Charles Brown's "I'll Be Home for Christmas" mutated into a strange retro-synth hip hop ballad by Ohmega Watts
*the sinister funky drumming superimposed upon "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" by Red Baron
*46bliss' ethereal, spooky "Silent Night" with the echoing vocals of Mahalia Jackson and backing choir (this one would have been even better without the backbeat, though...)

Sure, there are a few tracks that coast and go on a little too long, but overall this is a perfect example of what a good remix album should be: originals reimagined in interesting, creative ways with plenty of stylistic variety and thoughtful track sequencing. Hey, I bet grandma would even get a kick out of this stuff (especially after a couple Tom and Jerrys...) [Note to Santa: How about a Christmas Remixed 3 in my stocking next year?]

Decision: Christmas Remixed 2 (break)beats Merry Mixmas, y'all... word (and so forth...) [see my Amazon review of Merry Mixmas for more details...]

I got this CD a couple of years ago and there are about 6 songs on here that I could not do without during the Holidays. Some mix albums seem to completely wash out the traditional songs. Most of the music on Christmas Remix 2 has the right balance of traditional and hip/funk to please a broad range of listeners.

The only word needed here! Too bad that the majority of listeners will never hear the original cuts (other than White Christmas by Bing). But this CD at least brings these artists back to the forefront. Who'd have thought we'd hear Patti Page THUMP THUMPING with a real beat behind her on FROSTY THE SNOWMAN or the totally other worldly sound of Rosemary Clooney's HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. This is a Christmas season must. It will be in our 400 CD changer for New Year's eve dancers!!!!

This is a nice infusion of trip hop and acid jazz to some great holiday classics. I thought the tracks were nicely produced and not overly produced. These are great tracks to add to your holiday collection, with a nice modern twist to some holiday oldies. Sure to be enjoyed by both young and old alike and perfect for any holiday function.

I bought this CD and a couple of others like it last December, as a DJ booked for Christmas parties. A few of the songs don't really work with the added beats, but most of them are really fun and different. If you're sick of the same songs played over and over again every Christmas, you will definitely appreciate this CD in your player.

I have a ton of Christmas music and am always looking for new.This is new.

LIKE SPICE IN YOUR EGG NOG? THEN YOU'LL LOVE THIS CD.IT HAS MANY OF YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS AND SONGS INCLUDING MAHALIA JACKSON AND HER JAZZ COUNTERPART, ELLA FITZGERALD!PUT A LITTLE TWIST IN YOUR HOLIDAY AND BUY THIS CD...IT'S A BLAST!