The Great Christmas Record Odyssey, Ep. XV

Welcome back to another yuletide, holly jolly jam-fest, America. . .

Album Title:  Christmas Rhapsodies for Young Lovers

Album Artist:  Midnight String Quartet

  

I'm finding out, throughout this whole album-reviewing process, that I'm a sucker for dated instrumental records.  Especially those from the '60s.

If there was ever an audible representation of 'candles,' this would be it, folks.  This whole album resonates 'candles,' which works for those people who are big into candles.

I'm really not all that into candles per se, but I do own some and therefore don't really have anything against them.

The album artwork for this album is, well. . . see for yourself:

I imagine these two models ended up hooking up after this shoot.  And they ended up doing some horrible, horrible things.  All in the spirit of Christmas, of course.

Honestly - why don't artists have weird-ass pictures like this on CDs or mp3 albums anymore?  I swear to God:  classic vinyl art is something that should have NEVER gone out of style.

Anyway, back to the music.  You wanna get a good idea of what this album sounds like?  Think HARPSICHORD.  There's a shit-ton of harpsichord on this album.  You'd think you were in Louis XIV's court or something (historical reference, what?).  There's also copious amounts of Liberace piano, dated string arrangements, and, of course, jingle bells.  Lots and lots of jingle bells.

Good ol' 'Snuff' Garrett.  Seriously. . . they couldn't have given that dude a better nickname than 'Snuff'?

Jingle bells and harpsichords.  You'd think it wouldn't work, but, like I stated before:  I'm a sucker for super-cheesy, dated instrumentals.  And this one's got it and then some.  It's a solid background soundtrack (if not a little cheesy), particularly while you're having a Christmas cocktail and rubbing your toes into some shag carpeting.

VERDICT:  7/10 - Pretty Rad (Would have been a '6,' but the cover art bumps it up a point.)

- REMAINS IN CIRCULATION -

- Brian