Review: Bob Dylan’s Christmas Album
by Matt PattersonOn October 13th, Bob Dylan released an album of Christmas standards entitled Christmas in the Heart. The reaction from critics, and much of the public, has been: Is this some kind of joke?
“Hearing Bob hack out the words ‘With angelic host proclaim/Christ is born in Bethlehem’ reminds one of grandpa clearing his throat after finishing a glass of eggnog,” wrote Joseph Brannigan Lynch at Entertainment Weekly. It’s no joke, writes Andrew Ferguson in The Weekly Standard; it’s worse than that – Christmas in the Heart is a deliberate “affront, a taunt,” to fans and downright “embarrassing.”
–
So, is it really that bad? Not really. Dylan’s work tends to inspire either over-praise or over-criticism, and this album is no exception (though receiving far more of the latter).
My reaction upon hearing the record lurch to life with “Here Comes Santa Claus ” in my ear buds was first to laugh; whether a joke or not, this shit is funny. Mostly because Dylan sounds so uncharacteristically jovial and (yes, I’ll say it) jolly, even. My second reaction was relief – it’s nice to hear that from Dylan for a change.
The songs as a collection are hit and miss. “Here Comes Santa Claus” is all kinds of strange fun; “Do You Hear What I Hear” sounds eerily perfect for Dylan, as if he could have written it; “White Wonderland” is, well, unfortunate; and “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” is, to my ears, unlistenable.
But that’s not the worst moment on Christmas in the Heart. That dubious distinction goes to “Must Be Santa,” a hideous polka-shaped monster that terrorizes the eardrums with psychotic glee. I shiver at the memory.
The high point of the album comes midway through, with a splendid “O’ Come All Ye Faithful” and a spot-on “The Christmas Blues” that practically begs for a spiked, spicy drink, an ablaze fireplace, and a sweatered loved one with whom to sway in the shadow of a tinseled spruce.
The standout track is “Little Drummer Boy.” Dylan’s barely-sung hush is perfect here in a way that is hard to fathom; the band does not so much as play as suggest the music; and the backup vocals hang dutifully above it all. The effect of the whole is a sliver of angelic light pouring into a darkened manger – beautiful.
The rest of the album is comprised of middling tunes, neither awful nor great, but perfectly in keeping with Dylan’s late career re-exploration of traditional American music. All in all, you could do a lot worse for a disk to spin on Christmas Eve, which is exactly what I (minus one or two tracks) intend to do.
Christmas in the Heart is not Dylan’s best album, but nor is it his worst (Self Portrait, anyone?). But it is his most explicitly Christian record since his late-70’s, early ’80’s born-again phase, which produced the Christian themed triptych Slow Train Coming, Saved, and Shot of Love. Critics hated those, far beyond what the music merited, just as they hate Christmas in the Heart.
Draw what conclusions you will.
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59 Comments
If you listened to Dylan's "Theme Time Radio Hour" on XM, you know he's got a playful side when it comes to music, so a CD of Christmas songs isn't that out of line.
The interesting thing on the reviewers is how many of the negative ones are disappointed/hurt/offended by the subject material more than the presentation. My guess is (and kind of like just mentioning the name Sarah Palin to many on the left), just the idea of a 60s icon like Dylan doing songs based on a western religious holiday set a few critics' teeth to grinding before they every hit 'play' on the first track.
a polka christmas party? wow, I kept waiting for Dylan to morph in to a demon and start some carnage. But no, he was playing it straight!
That was entertaining.
he mentions a list of past presidents, with out a mention of President Hocus Pocus.
( you canalmost hear the screams: DYLAN IS AN EVIL CONSERVATIVE!!, lets all pan his album on amazon!)
and in a preemptive block i am buying that album today
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Dylan is a national treasure..that program- Theme Time Radio Hour- on XM is just great.
Music for the fan who is looking for that special Christmas CD where the lyrics are undecipherable?
Let no man criticize Dylan until he has heard Billy Idol's Christmas record.
Bob Dylan should never sing his own songs until he can learn not to sing through his nose.
Well, the video accompanying this review was a lot of fun. And yes, it is good to hear Dylan being jovial. He is, and always has been, an artist above all , not necessarily an "entertainer" like most singers. So, if this is where his art is taking him, great. It looks and sounds like he is having a good time.
Coffee + keyboard + your joke = one huge mess!
My Christmas catalog is already complete. All five of Manhiem Steamroller. There's enough disks with enough variation to last our entire family Christmas party.
Firstly, Bob Dylan is beyond all reproach.
Secondly, the album, and this posted song and video in particular, are receiving wide acclaim.
Thirdly, it is probably worth noting that 100% OF ALBUM SALES GO TO CHARITY!
Dylan could throw up on vinyl and it would be better than 99.9 per cent of the dreck out there.
The "Must Be Santa" tune sounds more like zydeco than polka inspired.
Pyschotic, but still entertaining!
I have never understood any of the gushing over Dylan. I find him unintelligible at the best of times. There are far greater talents out there and I am mystified as to how he has had a successful career for this long.
God bless Bob!
Libs would destroy Christmas if they could (and they have tried).
They deserve no holiday cheer.
think self is serious
That's even funnier.
And I just got my keyboard cleaned. Thanks.
Billy Idol really did put out a Christmas record not long ago. It is called "Happy Holiday" in the UK, "Happy Holidays" in the US. I laughed out loud when I chanced upon it recently with its cover featuring festive Billy surrounded by Christmas dreck. I bought it and it's not that bad.
John Self
Need I remind anyone about Pat Boone's "In A Metal Mood"??
No need to remind *me* because I was listening to it yesterday. Boone's mini-duet with Ronnie James Dio in the chorus of "Holy Diver" is more metal than anything Jack Black has ever recorded.
EVER.
Dear Lord, are you guys serious?!?!?!
Don't you understand I have to listen to him at work?? I could slit my wrists!
Here I am, engaging with a customer and my ears instinctively perk up at the nasally-whine of Uncle Bob. I have to fight back the gag reflex and pray that someone runs to the back to our music player to skip the song. Or potentially throw up. Whichever comes first.
Personally, my Black Helicopter Conspiracy theory is that Uncle Bob is a secret owner of SBUX. PS: I find it terribly funny that the man, an elitist snob, is under fire for the way he mistreats his employees. Maybe I should sing like crap and make him listen to MY music!
Bob's new Christmas album is perfect. *<[;o)~~
Is he a conservative? Really?
I believe you, and I think the fact he did is even funnier than the punch line he did.
Exactly who in the entertainment industry sits around on a big pile of money and makes the decision "This is an idea who's time as come!"?
Here here! Bob Dylan can't sing, can barely play, but writes great songs.
I've seen him about 7 or 8 times over the years. I have to admit, it's a pretty special moment when you're in the middle of 8,000+ people all belting out "Blowin' In The Wind" together.
I think what appeals most to me about Dylan is simply his guts. The guy has brass ones the size of church bells. His first semi-electric tour he got booed off stage all across the US. So, does he sit back and rethink his idea of going electric? Hell no, orders his agent to set up a world wide tour where he gets booed at around the globe.
I have admiration for some one who basically tells his entire world wide audience "too f******* bad if you don't like. I do!"
I'm with you. I've seen Dylan a few times over the decades–his lyrics are what do it for me. Subterranean Homesick Blues, Tangled Up in Blue, It's All Over Baby Blue–amazing! And he does have guts. I like the way he refuses to be buttonholed, either in his musical style or his ideology.
The album is delightful. It has a couple of clunkers but all in all, fine stuff. Bob Dylan and his terrific band deliver something that is actually better than most of these seasonal efforts. I mean, who even listens to Christmas albums? Since all profits are going to charity, in perpetuity, I'll be buying extra copies to give to my kids.
He, in my estimation, evinces traditional, conservative American values and principles in his work and through his public statements.
Bringing it all Back Home, Blond on Blond, Highway 61 and Blood on the Tracks are all masterpieces.
Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61."
If you haven't heard this one yet, I highly recommend it. It's from the wold leg of the tour where he got booed off stage. It's also a great sounding recording.
http://www.amazon.com/Bootleg-Vol-Dylan-Albert-Co...
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Ahhh refreshing fare! Bob Dylan''s comin to Christmas Dinner this year! I've been trying for 15 years to get those people to stop choosing my house to eat in – I think I've found the prefect repellent —BoB
Pat Boones "In a Metal Mood" is the best CD he has ever done, musically it is Big Band at its' best & it has a since of humor. The shame of it was the negative reaction he got from his own fans when it came out. Anyone who read the liner notes could see how excited he was about its release, and his chance to speak to his "guest musicians" about Christianity. Short sightedness of Pat's fans was their loss. I count it as a great CD, and I'll bet deep down Pat does too.
I bought 20 of Uncle Bob's Christmas CD to fill stockings and as gifts. That's 90% of my shopping done. At least he knows what music is. The mystery of figuring out this album is most of the fun. He always gives you a puzzle in a box – and you get to put the puzzle together exactly how you like. The remaining 10% of my shopping is for my wife, and I will buy her a Swifter, a shiny new frying pan and a snow shovel. She'll love it.
Don't forget guys Bob is donating the proceeds from this album
I love this album. Yeah, Bob's voice has deteriorated to the point that it sounds like scratched glass, but Louis Armstrong sounded a little raspy, too. By the way, I recently gave Self Portrait another listen, and it's not bad either.
It sucks, like most of Dylan's music; but I'd rather listen to him suck at traditional Christmas music than hear Renee Fleming doing "Winter Holiday" songs.
This is really radical-especially if it sucks. He needs to take the act to Vegas with reindeers, elvis sequined body-shirt and bell bottoms. He's crying out for love, like give him some ,man.
I don't think he can be classified, crucified, ….. [sorry
]
Anyone else think his "Neighborhood Bully" from 1983 is the strongest pro-Israel song ever to hit the charts (even if the listeners may not have realized what he was singing about)?
I heard Bob Dylan became a Jehovah's Witness.
Yep, according to the story, he's knock- knock- knockin' on everyone's door.
I had no idea the Billy Idol put out a Chrismas record. My ears can just picture…..I'mmmm dreaming of a White Wedding…lalala just like the….well you can guess where this goes.
Yeah, other than Blowing in the Wind, all along the watchtower, If not for you, Tangled Up in Blue and about 200 other classics, it "sucks" like most of his music.
You obviously no nothing about music and you should keep your trap shut.
Check out a really cool politically INcorrect Christmas album at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rogerweber4
It's a Ho Ho Ho lot of fun!
Maybe this is Dylans answer to Rod Stewarts songs for the Yentas of the North Shore
Regrettably I must decline the invitation to your party. I'm allergic to both Manheim Steamroller and fruitcake.
Sorry, fan-boys, I'm calling 'Emperor's New Clothes' on Dylan as a musical artist. A bit of a song-writer, if you like that neo-beret-and-goatee kind of thing – but beyond that…
Glad you like Dylan's melodies, but don't confuse your preference for his tunesmithing with actually knowing squat about music. Voice is my speciality, and Dylan's, at his best, is still a colonoscopy for the ears.
From what I've gathered, he's conservative on some issues and liberal on others. At any rate, he's a tremendous artist and a classy gent all around.
Dylan's songs takes me on an emotional journey…quite literally. I'll go from experiencing intense loathing the first time I hear a Dylan song, to absolutely adoring it after hearing it a few times. Truly good music almost always has that effect on me.
I think the fact that millions of people have responded to his singing, performing and various other bits of his musical ability for decades now (with no end in sight) pretty much invalidates your dismissive–though surely well informed–smug comment on one of the greatest musical giants of our time.
just saw the video for "must be santa" and dylan is having such a ball in it that it warmed my cranky, old heart. i'm ordering the cd.
This album stinks, like most of Baghdad Bob's recordings. I'll give $20 directly to charity instead of bludgeoning my eardrums with this garbage. And don't give me that canned, stale "he's a national treasure" mumbo jumbo. Just because he's been around for so long doesn't make him great. Longevity doesn't equate to greatness and this album certainly won't do anything to move him into that higher bracket. He stinks, so does this album and making excuses for his "deteriorated" voice that "sounds like scratched glass" just proves the point. The '60's were FORTY years ago. Let it, and Bob, go. Please.
That was…horrendous. I'll never 'get' people who get Dylan. Never.
Sign me up for the "Dylan has always made me wanna barf" camp. However, if it turns some of you on, then enjoy. I'd rather listen to Spandeau Ballet on loop.
Or Twisted Sister's! :S
Yeah, a jew slaughtering christian holiday music while trying to make a profit… the ultimate affront to the season.
Typical of the tribe.
Give $40. Every true artist goes through constant re-creation. Picasso, Leonardo, etc. all did. Dylan isn't great because he has been around so long–to think so misses the point entirely. On balance, the world will judge Bob Dylan for a body of work across multiple musical genres that few artists have ever attempted. Along the way he has won and lost fans, but he has remained true to his artistic instincts and created and re-created music. He has grown old with his generation and I am glad to have had him as I have lived my life.
Hey Haters,
I realize the vitriol directed at Bob is motivated by a reaction to those who worship the ground the guy walks on, but you have to realize the guy really is an amazing artist. Not Dark Yet, might be the best song ever written about mortality. How about Every Grain of Sand or Saving Grace's exploration of spirituality and our relationship with God? Tangled up in Blue, Lay, Lady Lay, Dignity, Honest With Me, all amazing songs and I am barely scratching the surface. I can understand those who can't get past his voice, but you can't dispute the talent and lyrical beauty of his songs. If you doubt me, please listen to Slow Train Coming or Saved.
Here here, I agree whole heartedly! I bought the album and really love the fun side of Dylan.
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I was very touched by this entire CD. Dylan's gravely voice makes these beautiful songs much more human.
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