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Our Review

Weird does not begin to describe The Holiday Party, and we've all been to holiday parties that qualify as "strange." This relatively brief (under 30 minutes) instrumental album features six "hipsters" assembled by Vitamin Records, which formed in 1999 to generate tributes to major pop and rock artists. On this raucous and occasionally atonal effort, the goal is to redefine the holiday party, and that goal is met. If you're looking for holiday standards that warm the heart, hurry in another direction. This CD is definitely not for you. If you're sick of sweet Christmas classics, and you long for something a tad bizarro that will shake up your stick-in-the-mud family or friends, then stay tuned.

The ten tracks are largely contemporary Christmas favorites, presented as lounge music for electro-synth sadists. Oh, that's not quite right. This style is just very hard to explain. In some respects, it's totally retro--a throw-back to easy-listening lounge music, except that this music is NOT easy on the ears; the scratchy synth treatment creates a discordant, sometimes intensely cool, but rather uneasy atmosphere on some numbers (especially on the first two tracks, "My Favorite Things" and "Winter Wonderland"). So The Holiday Party is largely for adventurous souls who can't stand one more sappy rendition of "Silent Night."

That being said, some cuts did fascinate me; for example, the old-time radio backdrop on "Blue Christmas" was a neat creative trick. My favorite numbers are probably "Baby, Please Come Home for Christmas" with squealing car tires as baby pulls away (and ultimately a crash at the song's end), and the bossa nova-rich "I'll Be Home for Christmas."

Weird, really weird! Sometimes, however, weird is just what you need. If that's the case, then join The Holiday Party.

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Hey, kitten, glad you made it! Wall to wall mistletoe, baby--it's that kind of party. Let's get you into a tall glass of Christmas chill. How's about a tastebud-swingin' sugar plum martini. Mmm, frosty. Hey, check out all the hipsters making the Yuletide scene. And dig those elves. Santa's little helpers in fishnet and leopard skin. Is this a ring-a-ding Noel bash, or what? The decorations? Just tossed a little tinsel on the Tiki head and decked the hi-fi with boughs of holly.

So I really gotta hip you to. . . the music. The Holiday Party from Vitamin records is the re-invention of the bachelor pad. Strictly Coolopolis, right? Lounge-ville on the night before Christmas. "Winter Wonderland", "My Favorite Things", "Baby, It's Cold Outside"-- it ain't your grandma's eggnog, it's a down tempo, dash-of-bossa nova, jigger of jive X-mas cocktail. This platter just sends me into orbit! Up on the roof. . . sounds like His Royal Hipness Old Saint Nick just parked his Coupe de Cool. He must've heard the smoothest sounds in town. Flip the disc, would ya, kitten? While I fix the Jingle Bell daddy a libation, and mingle to the rebirth of Christmas cool. Oh. . . and Merry Christmas.

Hipsters:
Mike Armstrong: Tenor and Bari Saxophone, Clarinet, Organ and Mandolin
Russell Cook: Recording, Engineering, Optigon and Memory Man
Chat Matt: Electric Guitar, Trace
Jason Gonzalez: Lap Steel
Brandon "The Deacon" Marrquin: Drum kit
Marcello: Bass, Melodica

Mastered by Brian Chapman at Stone Skipper Sound

Various Artists

The Holiday Party: Christmas Music Redefining the Holiday Party

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Track List