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Our Review

Holiday Noise: Volume 2 is a sassy seasonal compilation of 11 independent Nashville artists performing distinctive renditions of (largely) well-known Christmas delights. Eclectic and exciting, the offering runs the gamut from folksy acoustic to soulful funk. The overall mood is mostly mellow, but maintains an edgy punch. Nothing boring here!

The album's title made the first positive impression. Not "Holiday Music" or "Christmas Carols," Holiday Noise fairly captures the fun and creativity that drive this project. Cool.

The blend of diverse voices is stimulating; the synergy creates an impressive package. The CD includes quite a few stand-out moments; my favorites include Stephen Gordon's melancholy, minimalist treatment of the opening I'll Be Home for Christmas, Joe Gilder's spirited, guitar-driven What Child Is This, Brooke Waggoner's incredibly delicate (and original) Christmas Moon, Ben Elkins' ethereal Do You Hear What I Hear? (his singing is somewhat reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens), and Ben Gortmaker's fine closing Still, Still, Still, a multi-layered fantasy rich in reverb and heavenly harmonies.

Nice! Holiday Noise will help listeners appreciate familiar seasonal songs in a brand new light. And isn't that what well-executed Christmas compilations are all about? Enjoy!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

Executive Producer: Ben Gortmaker
Package Design: Jason M. Ehleben
Cover Photo: Ben Gortmaker
Mastered by: Keith Moyers


From the Website:

Holiday Noise started as a way to reunite some old friends, and hasnow become an annual event. Ben Gortmaker stumbled upon a recording of a Christmas show done in 2004 in a book store in Murfreesboro, TN, which inspired the collection. All the original performers were contacted and Holiday Noise was born. Keeping with the spirit of that original performance, each song on the album is done in the artists' own individual style, including bluegrass, funk, soul and folk, making for an eclectic mix - but still fitting together seamlessly.

Now in its second volume, Holiday Noise has become a cherished Nashville tradition for this community of Nashville musicians.

Participating Artists:
Brooke Waggoner - myspace.com/brookewaggoner
Treva Blomquist - trevamusic.com
Heypenny - myspace.com/heypenny
David Spencer - davidspencermusic.com
Stephen Gordon - myspace.com/stephengordon
Ben Gortmaker - bengortmaker.com
Justin Caldwell - justincaldwell.com
Graham Stoner - myspace.com/grahamstoner
Erika Chambers - myspace.com/erikachambers
Aron Wright - myspace.com/aronwright
Joe Gilder - myspace.com/joegilder

Various Artists

Holiday Noise: Volume 2

Artist link

Track List