Editorial Reviews
Music Review:
Music Review
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Tales of Mystery & Imagination
Too Many Bricks & Not... [Import]
Twenty Degrees Below Zero [Explicit Lyrics]
Amazon.com
Borrowing arrangements and influences from Lionel Hampton, Al Hirt, Les Brown, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and even Kay Starr, Setzer's holiday disc is like a vintage car, custom-made to delight his longtime jitterbugging audience. The focal point of this hard-driving '40s retro-chic creation, however, is the bandleader's fiery guitar. As a player, Setzer is even more versatile now than during his rockabilly days fronting the Stray Cats. Granted, he'd be the first to admit that no one can top Elvis Presley on "Blue Christmas" or "Santa Claus Is Back in Town." Nevertheless, Setzer's solos on both could lead one to fantasize about how far into the stratosphere the King might've taken those songs if Setzer had been around to play guitar for him. Elvis's Viva Las Vegas costar Ann-Margret shows up to duet on "Baby, It's Cold Outside," and Setzer finally gets to release a rendition of his own "So They Say It's Christmas," covered by Lou Rawls on the Jingle All the Way soundtrack. To paraphrase another holiday hipster, it's awfully close to Coolsville. --Bill Holdship
Album Description
Get ready for a red-hot Christmas collection, taking some classic holiday tunes and revving 'em into the 21st century in Rockin' big band style. Setzer and his multi-platinum 16-piece orchestra have recorded what is destined to become an all-time favorite for the holiday season. Warner Bros. 2002.