Nat's Must-Have Christmas Albums - 2012

I don't think I've ever written about my favorite Christmas albums; but if I have, I'm doing it again and if I haven't, well, today is your lucky day! I love Christmas music, but I am a stickler for only listening to it from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day, and then no more. On December 26th, the Christmas music goes back in a box and is stored away under the guest bed, or in the vault of my iTunes account. So, during those 30ish days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I try to cram in as many Christmas songs as possible. Here are four of my favorite Christmas albums:

100% Christmas - Various Artists

 

I came across this album recently on the Amazon MP3 page and after taking a look at the song list, I immediately purchased it. This album has 100 songs on it, most of which you will recognize from your childhood. A sampling of the artists includes Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Etta James, Dean Martin, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and Brenda Lee. It has all the Christmas favorites such as White Christmas and The Christmas Song (AKA Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) as well as I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and my all-time favorite Christmas song, The Christmas Waltz. the album also has some of those rather unorthodox favorites such as I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas, All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth and also contains a few you may never have heard such as Dominick the Donkey (The Italian Christmas Donkey). The MP3 of this album was just $4.99 when I purchased it from Amazon a week or so ago and it was money well spent. I am so glad I bought this album and it has officially become my favorite Christmas album. Seriously - 100 songs - there's something for everyone.

Christmas With The Rat Pack - Various Artists

Who doesn't love the Rat Pack? OK, probably every one of you, but I do and the Rat Pack singing Christmas songs? Well, be still my heart! I bought this album probably five years ago and have loved listening to it each Christmas season since. I can close my eyes and imagine Frank, Dean, and Sammy putting on a Christmas show and it makes me wish it was 1950 and I'm all dolled up with a mink stole, a cocktail and a smoke with my man. Some of the songs on this album are also on the 100% Christmas album; in fact, they may all be now that I think about it. However, if you have a Rat Pack lover in your family and they also enjoy Christmas music then I would highly recommend this album. It also has The Christmas Waltz - seriously, who doesn't love the Christmas Waltz? It's the best - if only I had a dancing partner.

Christmas Card - The Statler Brothers

 The Old Look

 The New Look

I am, by no stretch of the imagination, a Statler Brothers fan. I'm sure I would recognize a few of their songs because my parents were crazy about The Statlers in the 1980s and so it is inevitable that I would know some of their songs. Their Christmas album, however, I love dearly. Nothing takes me back to my childhood more than this album. Every year at Christmas when we ventured to and fro from this event to that event, this cassette tape was inevitably popped into the player and all four Parkers would sing along. My parents, in fact, still have the original LP and it was played many, many times, in our home during the Christmas season. Some of the songs on this album are traditional and some are originals and each one is just as lovely as the one before. A few years ago I was thinking about this album and decided to do a search for it in CD format. It has a different look than it did in the 1980s but it is still as wonderful as it was when I rode in the backseat of the car and argued with my brother about hogging up the seat. If you are looking for something a little different with a soft sound, then you will like this Christmas collection and perhaps it will also remind you of simpler times.

Michael Buble - Christmas

So, obviously I am a lover of jazz; but, you probably already knew that, especially if you have been reading for any number of days or years. Most people would probably have expected me to go with a Harry Connick, Jr. album as my final pick. Admittedly, I do love his Christmas albums, but I don't really prefer any one over Michael Buble's 2011 album simply titled Christmas. I know; it is shocking. The Buble album includes a lot of Christmas favorites sung in the old jazzy style I love, or maybe it's just Michael Buble that I love. Either way, even though it was only released last year it quickly became one of my favorites.

Music Review: Born and Raised by John Mayer

I've got a music review for you today, which probably makes no one happy because it's rare that anyone comments on a music review here at The Chronicles of Nat. I'm okay with that. I understand you may not like the same music as me or may not have yet listened to an album if you do like the artist and therefore have nothing to say. Listen, there's just not a lot going on in the life of Nat these days. It's the dog days of summer so to speak and I haven't been doing much other than going to work, going to the gym, and coming home. So, you are stuck with a music review. I hope you are okay with that and will stop back by on another day when the subject may be more to your liking.

I've been a John Mayer fan since his first album which feels like it came out 100 years ago but really it was only 2002. It was at the Conference USA softball tournament in Tampa while I was sitting in the press box that the announcer played a John Mayer song, I asked who it was and the next day he had a burned copy for me. Ah, to be young and pretty again. Anyway, since that few days in Tampa (which coincidentally was also the first time I ever ate at a Jason's Deli) I have been a fan of John Mayer's music and his guitar playing - he rocks, y'all!

I really couldn't say which of his albums is my favorite, but I can say I do not think it's this one; maybe because I don't yet have any memories tied to this particular album; whereas the others I do. The lyrics on this album are very meaningful and my word, it seems like dear John has really done a lot of soul searching and poured his findings out onto the music sheet. One song in particular, Shadow Days, which is the first release off of the album, he sings about being, "a good man, with a good heart," and you know what? I believe it! He speaks about the mistakes he has made and how he learned from them and if you can't relate to that then you must be perfect, or at the very least, not learning any lessons in life. I think this song might be my favorite off the album which seems a little cliche considering it's also the first release, but c'est la vie!
This album has a different sound than any of John's (yes, we are on a first name basis) other albums; but, then when you really think about it, each of his albums has a different sound as his music grows and his mind matures. This album has more of a folksy feel too it, which I happen to like quite a bit.

Sadly, John won't be touring any time soon as he is having some issues with his vocal cords and had surgery a few months ago but apparently the problem is back - I read all of that on Wikipedia; sadly, he didn't call to tell me about it. I did see him in concert when he came to Huntsville back in 2007. I went by myself - I had gotten a ticket for Christmas - which let me tell you was quite a lonely experience. Anyway, I won't wallow in self pity. This album is worth purchasing if you a John Mayer fan. If you had never heard of it, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as the first one you should listen to, but it is still good and admittedly, I've listen to it probably 10 times or more since purchasing it. I, however, will listen to an album until I'm sick of it and you may not be like that. If John's vocal problems don't clear up, this may, sadly, be the last album he ever sings on. I feat the thought!

Available on iTunes, Amazon, and wherever you pick up your music favorites!

Music Review: Jason Mraz - Love is a Four-Letter Word

I've been a fan of Jason Mraz since probably 2002 when I was first introduced to his music by my lovely friend Dave from Staten Island. How are you, anyway, Dave? Do you stop be here from time to time? Haven't heard from you in a sweet forever. Anyway, moving on, this isn't a letter to Dave, it's a music review, or something of the sort. So, Jason Mraz, I've liked his music since around 2002 when he wasn't well known and all American women weren't swooning over him. To be honest I'm not swooning over him right now. I'm not digging his long hair. His looks much lovelier with trimmed locks in my opinion. Sorry - I'm really getting off subject today.

So, Jason (yes, we are on a first name basis) released a new album a few weeks ago and I've got to say, I think it is my favorite of his and it much better than the last album, which I also liked. This album has a bit of a different sound that you may be used to hearing from Mr. Mraz and is a lot different that his first albums, but I think we can chalk that up to his maturing and becoming and older and wiser and more soulful person. (I'm just assuming, don't we all get that way with age, or at least we should). I bought the bonus album off of iTunes which has 17 tracks (I think), which includes a few bonus tracks which are some of my favorite of the album. After you listen to it a couple of times, you will want to sing along with each track, well, I do anyway; but, I really like to sing. If you listen to the radio, you've probably heard the single, "I Won't Give Up", it was also sung on Glee last week. It's a really great song with nice lyrics and a very moving video if you happen to see it. It came with my iTunes download. Do they even show videos anymore? I don't watch the video channels like I did when I was younger.

I really like each song on the album and have listen to it probably 15 times or more since I downloaded it. I think it has become my favorite Mraz album as I love every song and on previous albums, there are a few songs I wouldn't mind skipping over. The bonus tracks as mentioned, are great. A couple of them are from live shows and I kid you not, I laughed out loud at work at some of the things he said on stage. Clearly, Mr. Mraz has a great sense of humor if he's anything like the live cuts on the bonus tracks. Listening to it made me want to find a show close by and go see it. Sadly, Jackie and I have already spent our concert budget for the year on other tickets (look out September 2012, we're coming for you!)

If you like pop rock, then you will probably like this album. I think it's one of the better albums that has come out recently and have no doubt it will stay on steady rotation on my music playlist.

Music Review: Tuskegee

My college roomie, Melissa, left a comment earlier this week asking me to post a book review; and, while I would love to oblige her, today is not the day. I haven't really read anything as wonderful as The Hunger Games lately, but I am reading something right now that is getting better by the day so I may have a review of that book before too long. I will try to put something together for Melissa and the rest of you before then on some books I liked and maybe haven't reviewed on here.

In the meantime, however, I did want to tell you all about a really great new album I purchased from iTunes this week. The name of the album (I have a hard time spelling and typing that word) is Tuskegee and it's by none other than Tuskegee native, Lionel Ritchie - love that guy! This album is a remix, if you will, of some of Lionel's (yes, we're on a first name basis) greatest hits. However, instead of Lionel singing along by himself or with some anonymous back-up singers, he sings with some well-known country music stars. Well, they may be well known to you; not all of them are well known to me.

I'm not a fan of country music by any stretch of the imagination, but I must admit, I really love this album. It's got a classic Lionel sound, but also a new twist and it brings these old classics to life once more. My favorite song I think is probably "Stuck On You" with Darius Rucker, which may not surprise many of you that know I am secretly a big time fan of Hootie and the Blowfish. Blake Shelton and Lionel open up the album with “You Are” which is also a good one.

Other artists include Jason Aldean (who my little cousin Sydney likes) singing “Say You, Say Me”, and Tim McGraw singing on “Sail On”. There are also songs with Kenny Rogers and Willie Nelson.

If you are a lover of Lionel like I am, then I really think you will like this album a lot. I would almost venture to say I love it more than the originals…almost. It is truly great and I have been listening to it ever since I downloaded it. If you are looking for some good music, then give Tuskegee a try and then try not to sing out loud while listening at work – it’s not an easy task!

RAIN: A Tribute to The Beatles

So, on Tuesday night, Jackie and I went out for a night on the town to see RAIN, A Tribute to the Beatles. I had seen RAIN a couple of years ago when they were last in Huntsville. Tony and I had tickets and enjoyed the show immensely. So, when I heard they were coming again, I emailed Jackie and asked her if she would be interested in going. She said yes and so when the tickets went on sale, I rushed down to be one of the first people in line, which paid off as we ended up being on the third row.

Jackie picked me up around 7:00 and we went to the VBC where we parked and quickly made our way in, it was raining after all. My parents were at the show as well and were the first people we saw as we made our way into the seating area of the concert hall. As we made our way to our seats, we saw another couple we know, Randal and Janice, who are both lovers of The Beatles.

When we sat down I immediately put a cough drop in my mouth which helped a little but the black lung prevailed and I did a lot of coughing too, which unfortunately prevented me from singing along to a lot of the songs. My fellow concert goers were probably happy about that fact. The lady next to me probably thought she was going to catch some kind of terrible disease from me.

When Tony and I went to the show a couple of years ago, there was a man on the front row who wrote down the set list from the concert. Each time the group started up a new song, he would pump his fist, slam his hand on the stage, bring out his pen and write down the name of the song. We got such a kick out of watching this guy. I had emailed Tony earlier in the day and we both wondered as to whether or not Set List Guy would be there. Sure enough, when Jackie and I sat down, I looked to the front and there he was, Set List Guy. I was thrilled as I knew he would provide me with a night full of laughs. He did not disappoint.

The show started a few minutes after 7:30 and it was every bit as wonderful as I knew it would be. As a lover of The Beatles, this is as close as someone my age, or any age at this point in time, can get to a Beatles concert experience. They played a wonderful line up of Beatles songs and I wanted to sing along to each one. A few times during the show, they panned the audience with a camera and put the images on the screens at the front. I looked to see if I spotted anyone I knew. The only face I recognized was the mayor, Tommy Battle. I did not see him waving a copy of his battle plan, but he was clapping and maybe singing along. When Tony and I used to go to a lot of shows and what have you, we would always see my favorite Huntsville mayor, Loretta. Jackie said maybe being the mayor means you get tickets to all the big shows and events in Huntsville. Nice perk.

Set List Guy and his crew of crazy drunk friends did not write down the set list this year, but you could tell from the expression on his face that he was completely mesmerized by the guys on stage. He kept pointing at them or giving them spirit fingers and when he wasn’t doing that, he was just starring at them ands rubbing his beard. I wish ya’ll could have seen the expression on his face. I told Jackie that his expression made him look like a stalker as if those guys on stage were going to be his or else. I have never seen an adult so mesmerized by anything like that before. During the second act, I started pointing at the stage too and it gave me and Jackie a good laugh. We cracked up each time I did it. I would point and she would do the spirit fingers. If only we had someone with us to stare and rub his beard.

The show lasted about two hours I guess, including intermission. I think it might have even been better than the last show. It seems like they had some different props this time. Jackie enjoyed the show as well. I’m so glad she went along and got to see the show. We had a nice time – it’s always nice to get away from the realities of life for a while and just immerse yourself in music for a couple of hours, especially music by The Beatles. If you’ve never seen the show, be sure and catch it the next time they are in town. It seems like they are usually in Huntsville every couple of years. So, be sure and get your tickets early. You may end up next to Set List Guy!

Music Review – Foo Fighters Wasting Light

I don’t know that I’ve ever done a music review on the blog; well, at least not of a CD. Concerts, sure; but CDs, not so much. I’m not really sure why that is, maybe because I’ve bought so few CDs in recent years that were actually worthy of a review. Although the last Pearl Jam CD wasn’t so bad. Anyway, on to the CD at hand…

The Foo Fighters haven’t put out a new album in a sweet forever… also known as 2007. So, needless to say, to those of us who are lovers of Dave Grohl and all things Foo Fighters, this album, titled "Wasting Light" was much anticipated – especially after Lance Armstrong tweeted that he got an advanced copy and loved it.

Wasting Light “dropped” last week. I really hate that term by the way. I suppose I just used it here so I could say that I hate it. I much prefer saying it was released last week. And so, I purchased it from my local Target last Friday.

Not wanting to forsake my French lessons in the car, I waited a couple of days before popping it into the CD player. On Sunday morning as I got in the car to go to church, I guess I felt like rocking out and put it in.

OH MY WORD! Best CD I’ve heard in a long time people. THE BEST! I contemplated how I was even going to put into words how much I love this CD because I’m really not even sure that there are adequate words to describe my love. It’s seriously that good.

All of the songs are fantastic, but so far my three favorite are Dear Rosemary, Arlandria, and These Days. Of course, this is subject to change as each time the next song on the playlist comes on, I realize that I really love it too! The lyrics are great, the music is great, it’s all great – it’s seems old school to me and I think that’s why I love it so much. I can totally see myself loving this record in high school or college. When I’m driving down the road, it’s like I can’t get the volume high enough! I want to be enveloped by this music – it’s that good!

Dave Grohl’s voice is as amazing as ever. And, can I just stop for a minute to tell you how much I love the drums on this CD. I don’t think I paid much attention to the drum beat until I dated Tony and then that’s about all I listened to. The drums on this CD are amazing, in my opinion. I don’t know if Taylor did all the drumming or if Dave did some of it as well but the drums – out of this world. I’m sure Tony knows and maybe he can leave a comment and let us know who drummed on which songs. He’s a studier of Dave’s drumming technique and usually knows right off if it’s Dave or Taylor drumming.

I’m obviously not a very good music reviewer in that I can’t tell you about the technical aspects of the album. But, coming from a lover of rock music, this new Foo Fighter album is hard to beat. I’m afraid the French lessons may take a little longer than expected to resume.

Edit: Here's some technicalinformation on the album from Tony, a stalker of Dave Grohl:

This album was the first FF album produced by Butch Vig (he produced the Nirvana Nevermind album and he was also in the band Garbage).  The new album was also recorded on tape (analog) in Dave’s garage.  When recording on tape, you have less room for error as opposed to digital.  Most everyone now days records digitally.  Pearl Jam is one exception.  With digital if you mess up, you can just punch in at that moment, correct the mistake and keep on trucking.  On tape, you can punch in but you have to either play the whole part over or start from where the mistake is and play it out.  As you may have noticed they took the master tapes that these were recorded on and sliced them into 1 million pieces which are included with the first release of the album.  This is also the first album that the FF have made with 3 guitarists now that Pat Smear is back with the band.  On Dear Rosemary, the other guy singing is Bob Mould, who was in Husker Du, one of Dave’s favorite bands growing up.  On I Should Have Known, the gritty bass line towards the end is Krist from Nirvana.  That’s the first time he’s ever been on a FF album. 

Good stuff from Tony, like I said, he's a Dave Grohl stalker and knows all things Foo Fighters.