This is probably the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album Chip Davis would put out if he had too much Christmas cheer. As Christmas CDs go, I find this disc very inspirational, very well played and very different from the normal glut of Christmas muzak that seems to clog the overhead speakers in every department store in the country after Columbus Day. This is the first time I've heard an electric guitar used in that way for Christmas tunes.
Okay, first things first. I have a feeling this is something of a soundtrack to a Christmas rock opera, as there are bits of narration and such included between songs in the liner notes. It seems to tell the story of an angel sent to earth to find the meaning of Christmas (or something to that effect). As it stands, I'm not entirely interested in that aspect, it's the music that grabbed my attention. There's a fair mix of original songs mixed in with traditional; choral and vocal arrangements intermingling with some well-crafted instrumental segments hither and yon. Some of the standouts are "A Mad Russian's Christmas" and "Christmas Eve / Sarajevo 12/24", both perfect examples of classical music melded with modern sounds. The second track, "O Come All Ye Faithful / O Holy Night" is a decent instrumental; "A Star To Follow" is a rather haunting choral arrangement with adult male and children vocals that's done in a type of round singing. "The Silent Nutcracker" is an acoustic instrumental melding the Nutcracker Suite with Silent Night beautifully. "Good King Joy" is a rendition of Joy To The World with some very soulful blues rock thrown in.
To explain the rating I gave this splendid Christmas CD: as a Christmas CD itself, it would get a "9", but as something that would be considered with the usual content of Dead, I would have to give it something of a "5", so the 7.5 would be the curve rating. Christmas Eve and Other Stories is a definite must-have for those looking for not-so-traditional Christmas music for the holidays.
7.5/10
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Shari LloydTrans-Siberian Orchestra is a side-project of Savatage and producer/songwriter Paul O'Neill. Part of the album is a reworking of Christmas classics into a symphonic prog rock format. The album effectively combines the impact of both an orchestra and a full chorus with the harder edge of a rock 'n' roll band. You'll find everything from the usual rock band instruments to French horns and cellos,…The Lighthouse December 1997Reviewed by Roger AppelinskiIf I hadn't heard this project last year, I'd say this is the freshest Christmas project I've ever heard (you see, this album released last Christmas but did not receive national distribution-so it was re-released this year with national distribution and promotion). It was fresh then and hasn't gone stale in the year since I heard it either. The reason I call it fresh is that I've never heard a…Dead Zine 1996Reviewed by D_ListerI simply love Christmas. I've always been that way about it. I love everything about Christmas time. I love the fact almost the entire world recognizes a holiday rooted in celebrating the birth of Jesus (whether they celebrate it that way or not.) I love the symbol of St. Nick (I'm thinking of putting up the real history of St. Nicholas so be looking for that soon) and I don't have a problem…Similar sounding releases
2000Kerry LivgrenCollector's Sedition
1999The Artist OneA Generation of Time VII
1997Fates WarningA Pleasant Shade of Gray
2004Pain of SalvationBE
1994Saviour MachineSaviour Machine II
2001Fire FlyBeauty For Ashes
