You're Getting Silver Hulk Hands For Christmas!
Posted December 07, 2009
By art10,
It seems that every year I hear yet another person expressing their hate for Christmas music. After all, it's the same classics spelled the same different ways, by the same voices. For these people, there's a sub-genre called 'Dysfunctional Christmas,' which is home to classics such as 'Yingle Bells' & 'Christmas In Hollis.' Family Force 5 is clearly aiming for this, and for these people, because you can bet that Christmas Pageant is nothing like anything you've ever heard. You'll either love it or hate it, but there is no middle ground here. You may just stare blankly in confusion the first few times you listen to it.
Highlights Include:
Christmas Time Is Here
Angels We Have Heard On High
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Twas The Night Before Christmas
It's Christmas Day
Musically, this falls somewhere between a toned down 'Dance or Die' and a more electronic 'Party In the Back.' You'll find an assortment of electronic instruments on this album, the crunk quasi-rapping of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' and even a chipmunk finds its way onto here. Some songs like 'Do You Hear What I Hear' like to find itself in a canyon of weirdness only to find itself get out for the chorus, while others like 'Wonderful Christmastime,' play it pretty straight.
As for the original songs, 'It's Christmas Day' wins the award for highlight of the album with a totally laid-back pop direction that's completely new to the band. And surprisingly, they pull it off very well, appropriating the perfect mood of the chorus. It's not a new classic, but it is a very solid song. 'Baby' on the other hand is the lowlight of the album. Evoking the wrong mood, and wallowing in a sense of inappropriateness, this goes beyond the call of weirdness... the less listened to, the better.
Overall, it's not what I was expecting from the band, but if it's one thing you can expect with FF5, it's that you'll get the unexpected. So, if you're one to burn Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album when you get it in Secret Santa, or you're just a fan of the band, then by all means, at least give it a try. If however you're rocking out to David Archuleta's Christmas album, then by all means, stay far away. FF5 will scare the Frankincense and Myrrh right out of you. View All Music And Book Reviews By art10 | View art10's Profile
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