Over the years, Christmas-themed horror films have fruitlessly tried to imbue the altruistic joy of the holidays with terror and discomfort.
Santa chopping off a tobogganer’s head with an axe in 1984’s Silent Night, Deadly Night? That’s just a reindeer game. A wheezy, 68-year-old Bob Dylan recording an album of Christmas standards? Backed by singers whose overt enthusiasm makes the Andrews Sisters sound moody? That’s not how you deck the halls:
The proceeds of Christmas in the Heart will go to food charities, which makes one want to say something nice about the whole affair. And to be honest, there is something fascinating about hearing the perennially dour Dylan let go and sing silly Holiday carols with casual glee.
His loose approach to singing is also what gives this yuletide offering its most bone-chilling moments, however—hearing Bob hack out the words “With angelic host proclaim/Christ is born in Bethlehem” reminds one of grandpa clearing his throat after finishing a glass of eggnog.
Is the whole album a Christopher Guest-esque self-parody? Is this just Dylan doing whatever the hell he wants? Most importantly, will you listen to Zimmer-Claus when you’re decorating your Christmas tree? Weigh in below.
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Comments (1-15) of 30 Add your comment
IT sounds weird…I will listen but those peppy backup singers don’ mix with Dylan’s wheezt, old-guy voice at all!!!
I know it’s for charity, but this is the most unlistenable Dylan album since Self Portrait.
I think at this point, Bob Dylan has earned the right to do “whatever the hell he wants.”
And the fact that he’s giving all future proceeds to charity is a very good thing, because there are a lot of people out there who will buy anything he puts his name on.
As for me, while I’m on board with much of what Bob Dylan does, and thought that “Together Through Life” was his best album of the 2000s, I doubt I’ll be listening to “Christmas in the Heart” while I trim the tree.
For some strange reason, though, I really dig the retro-inspired album cover.
Jameson, I completely agree with you. I don’t expect to be listening to this, but I gotta say that this youtube preview is really making me smile!
I never thought I’d ever hear anything that makes Mannheim Steamroller sound good.
I had to laugh, I won some awesome Mannheim Steamroller tickets a few ago for my wife and I…. I thought while sitting there…I would much rather have root canal than listen to this…
Considering American Christmas Standards are some of the most popular and well recorded songs in US music, I think it is pretty unfair to dismiss as Dylan just having fun and messing around. For more info, and an actual article on the issue I would suggest The Daily Beast (dot com), which has a Well-Informed article as opposed to this, well I’ll just leave it at “this.”
I like it … a lot. So Happy Holidays to all you haters.
I agree, it’s actually damn good, imo.
Whether you feel it’s great or horrific, you have to admit that this will be the most-talked about Xmas CD this holiday season.
I for one am relieved that Bob has given me a definitive Christmas record, and freed me from the chains of the Bing Crosby/Nat King Cole records that have heretofore been the unwelcome but inevitable sounds of this holiday for me and my family, due to historical familial memories, traditions, etc. As he has since I can recall, Dylan has redefined the landscape. He has reaffirmed and reinvented American music once again. Don’t like his voice? There’s lots of holiday albums you can put on your iPod instead. For me, it’s gonna be a very happy holiday indeed, and I will be trimming my tree to these seasonal strains. Ho ho ho, Bob.
Oh please. Dylan hacking his way through Christmas standards is not reinventing American music.
I HATE CHRISTMAS MUSIC! WE’RE ALL FORCED TO LISTEN TO IT IF WE GO OUT ANYWHERE IN DECEMBER OR IF WE WORK IN RETAIL.
Thanks for posting this. It sounds reaaly great. I’m gonna buy this Christmas CD tomorrow. What an excellent addition to Dylan’s catalogue. He came around full circle again. That’s Bob for ya – miles ahead of everyone else.
I picked up my copy today…and it’s GREAT. Dylan clearly cared about the songs; there is nothing disrespectful or trite about his arrangements. While some (“Here Comes Santa Claus”) are so slight as songs that his weary voice is incapable of bringing to them either the gravatis one might except, others are masterful. “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” a song written from the view of a WWII solider missing his family at Christmas, has never sounded more heartfelt…or heartbreaking. In short, I could not disagree with this review more. I’ve already got the best gift I’ll get this Christmas. Thanks, Santa Bob!!!
Matthew:
Agreed. 100 %. I have only one Xmas CD and this is it. Ditto your sentiments completely.
Yes… Its totally awesome
it’s bobalicious!
i love it
This is his best album since Blood on the tracks
I think I might even buy a Christmas tree this year just so I can listen to Bob caroling away. I’m also thinking of changing my bad attitude. Merry Christmas, everybody.