Alternative Rock Compilations music reviews

Anyone else sick of the old rock and roll christmas mixes with the Smithereens and Queen? Finally some modern ones.

This is a good compilation for those who like this genre (meaning indie). Fairytale of New York was a descent cover, but I prefer the original Pogues version. The Maybe This Christmas... trio is definitely worth the money. None of the 3 are solid all the way through - somes songs are lacking a bit, but on the whole you could make 2 really good CDs from the 3 combined.

I haven't heard the earlier volumes in this series but I'd certainly like to. The copy I've been listening to doesn't include the cover of the John Lennon classic (Happy Xmas war is over) that everybody else seems to have so I can't comment on that track although I'm familiar with several other versions of the song. As far as the rest of the album is concerned, I wasn't impressed on first listen but the album grew on me with each play. It just gets better and better. I like hearing different interpretations of familiar songs but some work better than others.

Highlights include Death Cub for Cutie with their cover of the Phil Spector classic, Christmas (Baby please come home), Royal Crown Revue featuring Vicky Tafoya with their cover of the forties classic, Baby it's cold outside, Pilate with a cover of the Pogues and Kirsty MacColl classic, Fairytale of New York and Jars of Clay with a cover of Christmas for cowboys, which I first heard on John Denver's album, Rocky Mountain Christmas. However, my favourite is Lisa Loeb's superb version of Jingle bells, whe she sings at a slower than usual tempo in a really sexy voice. Tom McCabe's version of the Paul McCartney classic, Wonderful Christmastime, is very melancholy contrasting sharply with the bright and cheerful original. Personally, I don't think this song suits such an interpretation but I know that others think it's brilliant. You must make up your own mind.

If you're looking for standard versions of Christmas classics, you are advised to look elsewhere. If, however, you enjoy hearing familiar songs given (for the most part) very distinctive interpretations, you should seek this out. Even if (like me) you find that one or two don't sound quite right, you'll find that the others provide plenty of compensation.

This CD has happy Christmas songs, the first songs Happy Christmas (War is Over) is a very nice song, the fresh beat and the strong singing, altough the person who wrote this song I like better, this is a well done song! My personal favorite is Christmas in New York, if you really listen to the words, it was every lover wants in a relasoinship, it kind of showed me to put yourself out there, and not to be so shy. It was a beatiful song. Great CD!!

Me, my husband and my daugther all HATED this CD. The artist line-up seemed so good, but the very creepy & morose first track, "Pure Imagination" only led to further disappointments as the CD progressed. The only track worth listening to was the "Rainbow Connection" by the Dixie Chicks, but it really wasn't worth skipping through all of the other heavy and uninspired tracks. I wasted my money on this one!

While I like many of the artists on this album, not all of the songs seem real "kid friendly". I agree with the previous reviewer that the Maroon 5 song is just too dark. If you are looking for a great kids album that you can tolerate listing to over and over again, I recommend buying the original "For the Kids" instead; that CD didn't leave my car disc player for 5 months! No joke!

I have bought more of this cd to give as gifts than I can count - no elmo in my car! I admit to listening to some tracks without my daughters! really! highly recommend it for any age...