New Release - What I Really Want For Christmas

Review by Jeff Malicki...

First impressions on the new album, which I downloaded from iTunes earlier
this evening. Nothing's gonna keep me from hearing new BW product on release
day!!!

The Man with All the Toys - A pretty faithful reinterpretation of the rocker
from the original 1964 Beach Boys Christmas album. I like the added
harmonies, the new instrumental break is pretty cool, and the fade out
proves that Brian hasn't lost his magic touch when it comes to multi-part
harmonies to end the song.

What I Really Want for Christmas - a gorgeous a capella intro, beautiful
harmonies by the band, simply destined to become an instant classic. I'd be
surprised if this track doesn't get heavy rotation after Thanksgiving! If it
doesn't make holiday playlists, radio is truly dead and I'll let the flavor
of the second "artists" (and i use that term VERY loosely) have their way

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen - for some reason the first few seconds remind
me of "Rawhide"... *yikes!* Thankfully it gets better after that, but it's
interesting to hear a backbeat put to this hymn. Is that a Hammond B-3 with
Leslie speakers on the instrumental break? Tres cool! I could do without
Paul Mertens' Kenny G-inspired sax solo on the fade though..

O Holy Night - Surprisingly this starts out with a single-tracked Brian
vocal, no group harmonies. But when the harmonies finally do kick in... it's
worth the wait! A nice Brian-esque rendition, what else can I say?

We Wish You a Merry Christmas - a simple piano starts a very fun reading of
this classic carol. Some of the background vocals are kinda reminiscent of
something from SMiLE, which is very cool. Let me just say that the first
time I heard the track, I was blown away by "the twist" they added to end
the song. I can almost guarentee you that Darian and Nick were behind that!
It needs to be heard to be believed!! Classic.... and ya gotta love Daria
and Delanie wishing us a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year at the very
end

Hark the Angels Sing - picture this hymn given the Brian Wilson treatment
and that's exactly what you get. And that certainly ain't a bad thing at
all.

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear - more gorgeous a capella harmonizing to start
this track. Again, almost exactly how you'd imagine a Brian Wilson reading
of this tune. Almost reminds me of something from "Orange Crate Art"

The First Noel - plucked piano strings a la "You Still Believe in Me"?!? Too
much!!! More great harmonies, and Brian sounds better and better with each
release. The vocal coach, confidence gained from touring, and the completion
of SMiLE have done wonders. He hits notes on this song I thought I'd never
hear him hit again... listen to the fourth "noel" in the chorus near the end
of the song... and man, ya gotta love that plucked piano...

Christmasey - the second of two new songs on the album. Sounds like a mix
between "Fairy Tale" and "Winter Symphony" with some other song that escapes
me at the moment thrown in for good measure. Still, this song is gonna be
one of my faves. "The church bells chime (bong bong bong bong), it's the
song of Handel..."

Little Saint Nick - almost note-for-note like the original 64 recording, not
much to be said other than it's nice to hear this new version of one of my
fave Christmas songs. Wonder why they didn't cover "Merry Christmas Baby", I
would've liked that

Deck the Halls - Talk about Fun Fun Fun!!! The band and Brian really seem to
be enjoying themselves on this track. This is what Christmas songs are all
about, right here in this little ditty. Just a simple, fun song..

Auld Lange Syne - How many times have I used the phrase "gorgeous a capella
vocal harmonies" when describing Brian? Here's one more for the count.

On Christmas Day - "Be My Baby" meets "Bells of Christmas/Belles of Paris".
This song was first published in 2001 on BW.com but it's nice to have it on
an official disc. I really dig the background vocals on this track

Joy to the World - Was originally released on a next-to-impossible
compilation back in 97. The first track Brian did in his old St Charles IL
studio with Joe Thomas.

Silent Night - Another former BW.com exclusive, not bad, but I'd like to
have seen the full band tackle this song.

All in all, a great album that I'll be spinning from Thanksgiving thru New
Years. Thanks for the early Christmas gift, Bri! And thanks to my friends in
the BWBand for helping to create an album that is destined to become an
instant classic. You guys rock my world!

Merry Christmas in October everyone!!
-GoofyJeff
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