Home > The M.O. > Archives > 2009 > December > 15 > Entry
Capsule review: Michael McDonald’s ‘This Christmas’
As part of our holiday CDs package, I was asked to review Michael McDonald’s ‘This Christmas.’ Naturally. Anyone who knows me, knows of my love for McD, whether it be with Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers or as a solo soul crooner. Here is what I wrote:
Is that a white wolf dressed in L.L. Bean clothing staring out from the CD rack? No. That opaquely blue-eyed beast is Michael McDonald. And while he might be part man, part legend, part mystical musical animal, he is all soulful growl and pitch-perfect howl on this holiday musical offering, in which he bellows the blue-eyed soul that laid the foundation of his legend. Opener “That’s What Christmas Means to Me” bounces around the Douglas fir-scented living room with a big bass line and a jangly country guitar that is immediately punctuated by the sensual McDonald, who is backed by some Memphis-style horns that stick to your ribs. If McDonald’s intentions were not clear on the opening track, his naughty-but-nice rendition of “This Christmas” places this album squarely in the R&B cannon, with DeMarco Johnson’s harmonica adding a Stevie Wonder mid-’70s feel. On Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” the lead dog slows the pace and throws another log on the fire. You can almost taste the cider, even if it spoils a bit with the saccharine overdose of Jonny Lang’s guitar licks. But the horns jump right back on top, pulling the song away from trite blues and finishing with an Earth, Wind and Fire flourish. As he strums his baritone ukulele, tucks in the kids and blows out the candle with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” a lush tune layered with strings, the soulful Santa Claus packs up his bag and drifts off into the snowy evening, leaving us fattened with holiday cheer to last us through the winter.
Click here for all of our holiday CD reviews.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Music
Comments
Austinites love to be heard, and we're giving you a bullhorn. We just ask that you keep things civil. Leave out the personal attacks. Do not use profanity, ethnic or racial slurs, or take shots at anyone's sexual orientation or religion. If you can't be nice, we reserve the right to remove your material and ban users who violate our Visitor's agreement. Click here to report comment abuse.