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First off, this is truly a Christmas album
(not just some cheeky title). Every song is somehow Christmas
themed. The arrangements run a range of eclectic to traditional
stylings (and of course sleigh bells abound!), and Cyndi sounds
as lovely as ever. These are actually nice songs, making use
of, among other things, angelic children's voices blending into
the Cajun flavored accordion of "Early Christmas Morning,"
the Casio keyboard, with what sounds like a song sung to one
of the cheesy preset "samba" shuffles in "Rockin
Around the Christmas Tree", traditional Christmas bells
and an Irish flavored hymn, "Three Ships," complete
with Irish-Spring sounding recorder.
Sometimes the heavy use of the Casio keyboard
sound gets sort of abrasive, but it somehow lends to the feel
of the family huddled around the Christmas tree and drunkenly
singing every off-key Christmas song in the library.
Some of these songs are light hearted jingles
of the season, others are an attempt at a more heartfelt expression.
The dreamy, sad "In The Bleak Midwinter" exposes the
bitter feelings of desperation the long winter can sometimes
breed. It actually reads more like a religious poem about not
having anything to give to the baby Jesus, but you draw your
interpretations, I'll draw mine.
Cyndi Lauper the musician gets extra credit
for tackling instruments like the Dulcimer, Omnichord Banjo,
Tin Whistle, Recorder, (clogging?) and Slide Baritone Ukulele
to add the flavorful sounds of more traditional Christmas music.
The disk closes with a light wispy version of "Silent Night,"
with some subtle spacey keyboards for texture, and really showcases
how special and moving Cyndi Lauper's presence can be.
Without knowing Ms. Lauper's true intentions
for delivering this piece of music (she thanks Sony top cat Tommy
Mottola for the idea to do a Christmas CD), it's a bit selfish
in it's scope, and definitely limited to it's seasonal appeal,
but after listening to my mom's "Mannheim Steamroller"
Christmas CDs every year, I'll take the quirky and Casio'd "Cyndi
Lauper" cheer happily.
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