Tuesday, 3 December 2013

Michael Buble- Christmas Album Review


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Album- Christmas

Artist- Michael Buble

Michael Buble’s Christmas album was a major success when he released it back in 2011, but what I find hard to get my head around is that it also was a big success again in 2012, and looks like it will have renewed success in 2013. Okay so Christmas albums are those kind of records that will always spike in sales when the big day approaches, and the album’s renewed success in 2012 was undoubtedly helped by a cheeky re-release. Yet for some reason Christmas just seems to be a record that is really bigger than any other Christmas album: it doesn’t just sell well, it sells amazingly well when the Yuletide tidings start to come, and the fact is that surely most of his fans of all ready got it? Basically, my review of this record is just to see what is so brilliant about this Christmas album and why it is perhaps magical in its own way.

Track 1- It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Opening with a swirling, orchestral, hard hitting but smooth and delicate introduction, the first track signals from the outset that we are truly listen to a Christmas record. The song simply focuses on the idea of things within life signally the fact that Christmas is coming and that is so great. The message is cool but the way Buble delivers it outshines the lyrics a little, because he keeps things in his smooth and suave way, whilst also exuding warmth within his vocals that touches your heart in a way. The song is also nice in terms of the production because things are kept quite traditional with the strings and piano, showing the fact that Buble is a traditional kind of man who isn’t out to ruin Christmas classics.

3.5/5

Track 2- Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Buble up’s the impact and tempo with Santa Claus is Coming to Town. The lyrics are basically summed up in the title, but what brings out the joy of the track is melding of Buble’s charming vocals with a some big band production that will have you pining for Christmas day and also wanting to dance a bit. The band who got together for this song really have to be commending cause with the stuttering drum beats that builds to these great horn moments, the song is so impactful in a really good way that you can’t  help but feel joy. Buble’s vocals are awesome in the way that he builds up his voice to show the cheekiness of the song before hitting the high notes and showing that he is just as joyful about Christmas as you may be.

4/5

Track 3- Jingle Bells (featuring The Puppini Sisters)

Buble brings on vocal trio The Puppini Sisters for a vibrant, snappy and sophisticated rendition of the Christmas track Jingle Bells, which focuses on the idea of being merry in Christmas time as all these things are going on, particularly the ringing of Christmas bells. The two artists really meld together well, with the sisters giving us some lovely tight harmonies and adding some great old school pizazz towards the tracks latter half, whilst the play off with the male female dynamic adds a great layer to the track. The snappy percussion and fun loving brass sounds makes for a joy capturing sound to the record that keeps that Christmas spirit going very nicely.

3.5/5

Track 4- White Christmas (with Shania Twain)

Made famous by Bing Crosby and probably for many people the Christmas song, Buble was always going to have a tough job covering White Christmas. But what is nice about this version is that he remains faithful but doesn’t give you a carbon copy, upping the tempo a bit more and adding a bit of snappier rhythm to the track that keeps it in tone with the rest of the album. The brassy instrumentation and awesome backing vocals keep you intrigued and invested in the track, whilst vocally Buble is just as smooth as Crosby but is a bit more vivacious sounding. The addition of country singer Shania Twain was an awesome move, not only because the pair’s voices meld together really well and that she adds warmth to the song, but that she gives a new dimension to the track that shows it is as much a love song as it is a Christmas song. This is a stellar rendition, and whilst it probably is safe to say you can never beat Crosby’s version, this rendition should still have you wishing for a white Christmas

3.5/5

Track 5- All I Want for Christmas Is You

Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You is probably my personal favourite Christmas song of all time, so as such I was really wary of hearing Buble’s take on that classic. But, and I’m sorry to say this Mariah, I might actually like his version better. Stripping things back and taking the album down to a slower pace, Buble brings a powerful sense of love to his vocals as he coo’s and warbles about just wanting to have his girl for Christmas above all else, and he just captures the romanticism of the track so beautifully that listeners who have fallen in love with the singer will probably fall all over again. The production of the track is equally as stirring with the build from just the piano to powerful strings and drums that makes you realise Christmas is just about being with the ones you love.

4/5

Track 6- Holly Jolly Christmas

Buble goes back to a fun loving, carefree, upbeat Christmas spirit in which invites the listener to just have a good Christmas cause it is the best time of year. The short but sweet track finds the singer vocally rising and falling with a lovely effect, whilst the production features a simple backbeat with a cool electric guitar solo that is pure joy to listen to in its own right.

3.5/5

Track 7- Santa Baby

Covered by an endless array of artists, Buble takes on another big Christmas song with Santa Baby, a song all about asking Santa to leave some good stuff for you and to hurry. The message is often sensual and more appropriately sung by a woman, but Buble nicely changes ups the lyrics to be more relatable and less weird with respect to the fact that he (a man) is singing it. What is great about the track is that things are kept simple with the production, featuring a steady rhythm and some twinkling melodies that just capture the songs essence, whilst the song is great for Buble to show off his suave persona to great effect in terms of the vocals. The only thing for me is that I can’t quite decide if he does the song justice, or whether he just somehow creates a version that sounds completely new and separate from the original in its own right.

3/5

Track 8- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Made famous by Frank Sinatra, this lovely Christmas tune all about the singer wishing you some Yuletide joy is the song of the record so far that Buble has remained most faithful to the original. In a way this could be seen as Buble playing things annoyingly very safe, but with such a classic you could really ruin the Christmas spirit, and Buble doesn’t just give us a boring rendition. His vocals are equally as smooth and warming to the heart as Sinatra’s were, whilst the simple arrangement of strings and drumming makes for a twinkling, light and lovely melodic feel to the track that makes Buble's wish seem all the more sincere

Track 9- Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Buble brings back the romantic elements of Christmas with his cover of a Darlene Love classic. The sentiment of the song is very much summed up within the title, and what is great is that Buble has that vocal tone and natural charm that makes his rendition of the song very believable compared to if other artists were singing this song, and he also nicely stretches his voice a bit more within the song and adds some nice gospel flourishes near the end with the use of a choir, giving the track this extra layer of passion. By now the sound of the big brass band is a signature part of this record, and whilst it may at this point feel a little samey within the record, it is a sound that is full of spirit and a vivacity that is perfect when focusing on such a period of time as Christmas.

3.5/5

Track 10- Silent Night

One of if not the most popular Christmas carol, Silent Night is a calm and soothing number that is all about the true spirit of Christmas and simply expressing the idea of love and peace. The message is still as powerful today and with this song Buble’s natural vocal tone really benefits the song. He has such a soothing texture to his voice that the words meaning is so powerful, and the gorgeousness of the track is further typified by the fact that he remains so true to the original carol and keeps the production simple, with the light, acoustic guitar keeping a simple energy to the track. The use of a children’s vocal choir further elevates the power of this song, and so this is a great addition to the set in bringing back the simplicity of Christmas against all the hustle and bustle, powerful energy that really makes the album.

3.5/5

Track 11- Blue Christmas

A tale of unrequited love during the holidays, Blue Christmas is a soulful song made famous by Elvis Presley. The song isn’t one of the biggest Christmas songs (at least not for me) but it reminds us of different elements of Christmas, whilst Buble’s voice lends itself well to the genre. The band is awesome within this song because they are really let loose and build up within the track, with the crazy solo of the bridge being so great it really makes the song, making this a Christmas tune where the sound really takes centre stage.

3.5/5

Track 12- Cold December Night

Co-written with long-time collaborator Alan Chang and Bob Rock, Cold December Night is an orginal composition within the set that sees Buble reflecting upon the different elements of Christmas and reflecting that is year he just wants this person to fall in love with him. The song is a nice Christmas ditty that is a bit lighter and sweeter in tone against the big band numbers, and this is definitely a great original tune for the singer’s female fans. The song finds Buble putting on his charm and using the higher register of his voice very nicely to give the song a lovely romantic feel. The only issue I feel with the song is that the production is a sound that would fit on another Buble album and feels a bit too safe, and so whilst it is a lovely Christmas tune, it doesn’t quite have that magic that would make it a Christmas classic.

3.5/5

Track 13- I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Another Bing Crosby classic that Buble remains faithful to, the inclusion of I’ll Be Home for Christmas on the record nicely acts as kind of an answer to the track Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). The smooth sound of the track with the glittering, swaying piano melody and lush string arrangement just makes you fall in love with the singer and the song’s sentiment, whilst Buble exudes that class and loveliness that Crosby did so well, and the track works well in showing that Buble is a bit of an old soul who can really bring back some of the charm in music that some of the past generation had, whilst he also maybe shows a love Crosby that many listeners will perhaps identify with.

3.5/5

Track 14- Ave Maria

Not necessarily a Christmas tune, but a song that still captures the warmth of the season ad which also brings to light the religious foundation of Christmas against all the fun commercialism, Ave Maria finds the singer showing us a bit of sophistication in a cool Latin way and bringing the foundation of Christmas brilliantly to light. The gospel elements of the song are powerful and resonating and Buble sings the song in such a lyrically emphasising way that whilst you may not understand what he is saying, you still totally get the tracks sentiment. The production once again works really well in keeping things brilliantly understated and lovely.

3.5/5

Track 15- Mis Deseos, Feliz Navidad (with Thalia)

Incorporating a classic Christmas song in the Spanish speaking world, this track is a cool Spanish number with a clinking, swaying rhythm that sees the singer nicely melding together great with vocal guest Thalia. The song is simply the two artists wishing you a merry Christmas, and this message is simple but effective and brought off great by the light vocal performance and build in energy of the songs sound with the use of strings and guitar, making this a nice track to end on.

3.5/5

Track 16- Michaels Christmas Greeting (Hidden Track)

A special hide message where the singer simply wishes you a very Christmas, this final moment of the album is just the perfect signing of message that should have your heart melting with the joy of the season and just wanting to enjoy every moment of the holidays.

Final Review

So after listening to the record in its entirety I totally get why this is such a stellar Christmas album and why so many people will still being buying it every holiday season. It is so traditional and fun yet doesn’t just produce carbon copies of the original songs. Buble’s voice is so brilliantly charismatic and he sounds like an artist who does actually really believe in the spirit of Christmas. The guest features are great and big band production value of the album is awesome, with a shout out to the greatness of the musicians being something that has to be done, whilst each tune is also great in that the sound is really in tune with the spirit of each song. Christmas is a classic holiday album that thoroughly deserves the success it has and will continue to get.

9.5/10

Best Track- All I Want for Christmas Is You

Worst Track- Santa Baby

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