Old 97 s – Love The Holidays (LP)(Red White Swirl) For Cheap

Nearly a quarter century after they released their first album, Old 97 s have covered a lot of ground in the course of their career, but they ve finally crossed one bit of unfinished business off their bucket list by releasing a Christmas album. Released in November 2018, Love the Holidays leans a bit to the pop side of this band s sound, as if they struck a midpoint between their classic attack on Too Far to Care and the more artful approach of Rhett Miller s solo work. Snow Angels, Wintertime in the City, and Here It Is Christmastime are rather contemplative by the band s standards, and Miller s lyrics often have as much to do with broken hearts as Santa and the holiday season. But the chatter and growl of Ken Bethea s guitar are more than enough to brand this as Old 97 s, and bassist Murry Hammond and drummer Philip Peeples aren t afraid to put some muscle behind tunes like Gotta Love Being a Kid (Merry Christmas) and the title track. Hobo Christmas Song should please those who want a bit more twang in their mix. The more rollicking numbers also have a strong undercurrent of humor, and if Rudolph Was Blue (about a certain reindeer looking for his true love) is awfully goofy, it s also fun and kids will doubtless love it. And while Yuletide albums are often a bit lazy, mostly dealing in the same familiar melodies, the band wrote nine original numbers for Love the Holidays, and if they re not all classics, they give the album a sound and a voice of its own. (The vinyl edition includes one cover, Auld Lang Syne, while another four — Angels We Have Heard on High, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Up on the Housetop, and Blue Christmas — close out the CD and digital releases.) Alt-country fans throwing a Christmas party will find Love the Holidays every bit as welcome as a big batch of spiked eggnog. ~ Mark Deming

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Christmas Chanukkah
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