Mojo, January 2011
Buy: CD
I don’t know how “Alternative” Mary Chapin Carpenter is considered… but there is some real traditional fare on this disc. There’s some great stuff here, which makes it a worthwhile collection to hunt down, but the boring stuff is mind-meltingly boring. Use this more as grist for your Christmas mix, rather than giving it a place in your holiday rotation.
There is a span of four tracks which create the powerhouse of the record, beginning with Superchunk‘s John Cale cover of “Child’s Christmas in Wales.” This track is exclusive to the release, and truly wonderful. The song fits Superchunk perfectly, and had this been the only song I liked on the disc, I would have been pleased with purchasing it.
Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings‘ “Ain’t No Chimneys in the Projects” gets a CD release here – for those who want a physical copy beyond the 7″ that they released earlier in 2009. Great piece of R&B/Soul that can find its place on any interesting Christmas mix.
Hannah Peel & Tunng give us “Hey Santa!,” the second of three exclusive tracks. This is an indie pop gem – truly out of left field with its lyrical content, and a groove you can get in to.
Sea of Bees‘ “Feliz Navidad” is also exclusive to this collection. Most certainly the best surprise on this disc, they take a Christmas classic (which I usually find a bit annoying) and made it something enjoyable! The music creates a warm atmosphere, and the slight variations on the vocal phrasing keeps you interested. Well done.
Bottom Line: The good stuff is certainly enough to pick this up for a few bucks. 3.4/5
Christmas Underground 