In 2008, over 30 major recording artists released Christmas albums.
Here, in my opinion, are the most unnecessary:
1. Elliott Yamin - My Kind of Holiday - The former American Idol contestant is releasing his second Christmas album, following 2007's Sounds of the Season. Here's the catch: Yamin only has ONE other album. So, thus far, his holiday records outnumber any actual recordings he's ever done.
Los Lonely Boys - Christmas Spirit - I suppose the gents in Los Lonely Boys, having failed to remotely crack the Billboard charts in quite some time, decided a Christmas album might be their ticket back into the spotlight. But, if a stale music act releases a CD and there's no one around to care, does it still make a sound?Update: I've been informed by many of the rabid LLB fans out there that the band actually does quite a bit of charity work. I can only hope that some of the money generated by this album's sale goes toward these causes that they support. If so, then they get a pass. A suspicious pass, but a pass, nonetheless.
The Archies Christmas Album - Really? Do we even need to debate the need for this?
Elvis Presley - Christmas Duets - This album is actually a huge hit right now, currently sitting at #14 on Amazon's music bestseller list.
The Archies Christmas Album - Really? Do we even need to debate the need for this?
Elvis Presley - Christmas Duets - This album is actually a huge hit right now, currently sitting at #14 on Amazon's music bestseller list.The man has been dead for 31 years people! Is listening to his old recordings being mauled into "duets" by the likes of Gretchen Wilson and Carrie Underwood really going to help bring Christmas cheer? Why not buy one of the King's actual holiday albums? You know, the one's he made while he was alive and capable of thought? The ones that he had at least some control over?
Oh, the list goes on and on. Harry Connick Jr. is releasing his third Christmas CD this year, as is Tony Bennett. Amy Grant has what appears to be her 4000th collection of Christmas songs on the shelves just in time for stocking stuffers to gobble it up. Enya has her first Christmas CD out.
When does it end?
Honestly, the reason these artists, and in some cases I use that word loosely, release these albums year after year is because we, the public, buy them by the truckload. Are there good intentions? Perhaps here and there. But, the question remains, how much is too much? Should every musician get one free pass to try their hand at a holiday classic? Should there be some sort of regulation enforced to prevent the destruction of carols by one-hit-wonders? Will any of these albums matter thirty years from now, or will Bing Crosby still warm our hearts with "White Christmas?" Will future generations instead substitute his tones with Elliott Yamin's new "Let's Be Naughty (And Save Santa the Trip)?"
Only time will tell.
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8 comments:
Sorry, but thousands of us totally disagree with you on your take of the Garza brothers (LLB)! If you knew anything about them you'd know what they're really about - and it's not how many #1's they can sell. Their fans have been begging them for a holiday (Christmas, please) album for a long time and they finally did it. And, we're thrilled with their two originals and the covers are fabulous. Carol of the Bells with guest, the Del Castillo brothers is gorgeous as are Silent Night, Away in a Manger, all the rest. So, Bah Humbug to you. Sorry.
Hope you find a new career soon, and may it not be as a music critic.
Happy Holidays!
A LLB fan up here in Vermont
Truly, even as the most die hard fan of Los Lonely Boys, Nan, you must question the tactics involved in releasing such an album. Since topping the charts in 2004 with "Heaven," the Boys have consistently lost the interest of the public at large, with their most recent single failing to even appear on any major U.S. charts.
They still release albums for those who do care, which is great. They should continue to do that. I am all for musicians being musicians. The truth is though, more often than not, the holiday album genre is a cash-in for popular artists who are either riding the wave of success or watching that same wave crash ashore without them.
And to say that LLB aren't about staying on top is absurd. You say that what they're really about is "not how many #1's they can sell." If this is the case, then please explain to me the constant pimping of their brand from the moment anyone seemed to give them the time of day. They were nothing if not ubiquitous for a solid two years. How many compilations did they sell themselves off to after becoming famous? How many television appearances did they make after becoming famous? How many movies did they sell their hit song to? I mean, we ARE talking about the band that performed on "Dancing With The Stars," aren't we? Oh, and the same band who, according to IMDB, has appeared on talk shows 8 different times in the past four years? Oh, and the same band that sang the national anthem this past October at game two of the World Series?
No, I don't see these guys as being very interested in staying in the spotlight. Not at all.
Listen, I'm not saying these guys are talentless. They aren't. In fact, they know what they're doing. What it comes down to, Nan, is the fact that Los Lonely Boys are part of a machine. Their holiday album is nothing more than a quick paycheck. This seems especially true considering they just released a new studio effort less than six months ago (considering it seems to take them roughly two to three years to release an album, this seems to be a bit of a rush job, no?).
And, more power to them. If they can find success this way, then so be it. I just think, with the glut of holiday albums already on the market, it seems to be a bit unnecessary.
Hope the recent ice storm didn't affect you and your family up in Vermont. Have a nice holiday season.
I find it so completely interesting, Ben, that you think of yourself as an expert on Los Lonely Boys and their 'machine' that makes them run. Funny, but the majority of the country disagrees with you on this 'Christmas Spirit' offering. The vast majority of critics, from way more impressive and respected publications, hold a completely different view than yours of this CD. They find it inspiring, as all of us who have already purchased our copy also do. Does their 'machine' hope it will sell? Sure they do. But Nan was correct in that's not the main reason they did it. Their children, their families, their fans come first to these brothers -- and always will. Everything else that comes their way -- a privileged opportunity to sing the national anthem (they NAILED it, by the way!), and any other thing they're offered -- they will put their hearts and souls into, just like everything else. Wish more groups could do a little less finagling of the almight dollar. Have a great holiday!
Yeesh. It sounds like you really pissed some people off. Good for you!
I really just wanted to say that I thought you had to be kidding about the song title "Let's be Naughty (and Save Santa the Trip). I was going to comment that you were so clever, but then I spent thirty seconds to look it up, and, yikes. It's a real title. I shake my head in disbelief.
Ben, You obviously don't know what you are talking about. You need to get another job. How about a judge on "American Idol". You'd fit right in, there. LLB did a Christmas album for the fans and their kids. I'm sure they could care less about what you think. Have a nice day.Rosie
PS- "Carol of the bells" is brilliant, BTW.
It appears Los Lonely Boys has a VERY loyal fan base. Good for them. Enjoy their Christmas offering, fans of the world. Play it for your families. If you enjoy it, then enjoy it. Don't let my cynical observations get you all so bent out of shape. Gosh, you'd think people can't have a laugh anymore. Or opinions.
And, yes, sadly, that Elliot Yamin song is for real. I only wish I could have come up with such a title. Of course, if I had come up with one, it probably would have been FAR more juvenile.
Mr. Blogger, sir, may I recommend taking a look at the images which accompany your posts? If you did so, you would see that you spelled Elliott Yamin's name wrong when it was right in front of your face. I confess that I tend to think of poor spellers as idiots. It happens to be a prejudice of mine.
I would like to mention that Elliott's second holiday album is pretty much a re-release of his first, which was available exclusively at Target last year. This year he added two new recordings (Back Door Santa and Christmas Without Carol) which have a strong leaning towards the blues.
Yamin's second non-holiday album is tentatively scheduled for a March release.
Duly noted on the spelling, Hobbes. Silly mistake. You get used to spelling a name one way, then look like a fool when someone spells it differently. Problems have been fixed.
I guess I couldn't be bothered to look at the text that closely because, the truth is, I was too busy being dazzled by Yamin's dreamy eyes from under that hoodie!
Thanks for letting everyone know that Yamin's new Christmas album is essentially a re-release. Kind of misleading to give it a different name though, isn't it? I mean, I can see a lot of confused shoppers getting duped into thinking this is a totally new album, can't you? But, what're you going to do? That's a record label, right?
Well, enjoy your repackaged and renamed Christmas album. Hope those two extra songs were worth the $11.
Oh, and don't take things to heart quite so much.
Geez.
Merry Christmas, Hobbes.
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