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If you’re not familiar with McPherson, his three previous albums have revealed him as operating at a genius level in his ability to recreate the exact sonics of the great records of the late 1950s - specifically, that wonderful nexus where R&B met rockabilly - while crafting clever new material that never falls into the realm of rank nostalgia.
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All tracks are originals, every one of them a keeper. It’s not really much of a contest, in the end: McPherson’s album is so far ahead of the rest of the 2018 pack, everyone else is having to eat his Christmas dust. As an album, “Shatner Claus” makes a great single. But a little of this goes a long way, and by the time he’s joined by Judy Collins for “White Christmas” or Iggy Pop for “Silent Night,” you will probably have long since lost interest in knocking around the eternal “kidding, or earnest?” questions.
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It’s an approach that extends throughout “Shatner Claus,” as he overdramatizes familiar carols as if every thought and emotion were occurring to him in real time instead of being read from a songbook. It’s almost as much fun as Cecily Strong’s version, with Shatner racing through the archaic language as if he really were narrating the action live from an out-of-control sleigh, surprised, frightened and delighted all the way. The “Star Trek” actor’s opening rendition of “Jingle Bells” is performed as a duet with Henry Rollins if this were a hip-hop track, you’d say that Shatner’s recitative verses are the rap and Rollins’ sung choruses are the hook. William Shatner, “Shatner Claus” (Cleopatra) Major props, anyway, for the most unusual pick here: Marvin Gaye’s rarely covered “Purple Snowflakes.” Over the course of 14 upbeat and brassy odes to home and hearth, the relentlessly eager-to-please “Legendary Christmas” starts to feel almost oppressively cheerful. The celebrative, chirpy, old-school-soul mood never lags from there, for better or worse. Vocally, it’s surprising how much of a dead ringer Legend can be for Nat “King” Cole at times, but the idea is more like, what if Cole made a Motown Christmas record? That idea is literalized right at the outset with a cover of “What Christmas Means to Me,” with a harmonica outro from Stevie Wonder that sounds practically sampled from his ’67 original. (Legend’s bow tie is not made of mistletoe, like Bing’s was, but close enough.) Beyond the cover, it’s not Crosby that he’s chasing in the grooves here. I’m certainly excited to listen to it while spending time with family and friends this holiday season.John Legend, “A Legendary Christmas” (Columbia)īig points, first of all, for the album cover, which has Legend paying direct homage to a famous illustration of Bing Crosby in a Santa hat and bow tie on one of his iconic album covers. If you missed it, I suggest picking up the album. Ingrid Michaelson’s “Songs for the Season” show was a great way to get in the holiday spirit. She had a bunch of Minnesota’s own Thymes Candles onstage, which provided a hilarious segue between songs and filled the venue with the aroma of pine.
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Ingrid’s ten-minute rant about Thymes’ Fraiser Fir scented candle was a highlight of the set. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who reminisced about high school relationships and all of the fun, joy, and innocence associated with them. Since she was playing a holiday show, that she played fan favorite “Be Okay” was somewhat surprising. She opened the set with a mashup of “Looks Like a Cold Cold Winter” and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” Her stripped-down performance brought life to the venue with its gorgeous, three-part harmonies and choreography. Her “Songs for the Season” tour blended everything that we love about her into a beautifully executed holiday concert. Ingrid Michaelson is known for heartwrenching love songs, quick wit, and humorous live performances.