Christmas Songs
Charles Tapp with Alec Fuhrman and Steve Evens
Jingle Bear Boogie rocks! Which surprised me, in a way, because I was expecting more of a Boogie Woogie Bugle Bear thing. But that's how it is when we attempt to experience artists we haven't heard before by just looking at the cover and reading the track list. The product completely rocks. It rocks in a way that reminds us a little bit of Emerson, Lake & Palmer, at least in its mood. Well, there's been a dearth of cool rocking Christmas records in the past couple of years, so this meets a market need, a need for over-wrought vocals and expansive riffing. And expansive riffing and over-wrought vocals is what Charles Tapp delivers here. Early on, my favorite was Every Day's A Holiday, not only because it has some of the best riffing, and not only because it is a brand new Christmas tune, and not only because of its lyrics, which seem to capture something positive and true about the holiday season. It also has some nice pop hooks, and those I am truly a sucker for.
In fact, this is a rock trio, consisting of Charles Tapp (vocals, keys, drums), Alec Fuhrman (lead guitar) and Steve Evans (bass). Though they keep it pretty much on a rock footing, On their O Come All Ye Faithful/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen medley, they unleash the saxophones of peace (sax by Kevin Ledbetter), taking us (at least spiritually) in a smoother, somewhat jazzier direction. (Not that I'm complaining about all the rock!). But even here, the saxophone pacifies, but it doesn't break up the mood.
Half of the CD are new Christmas anthems composed by Charles Tapp, a couple of them quite catchy. After Every Day's A Holiday , my favorite is probably Christmas Plateau, the moodiest song on the disc, except possibly for Silent Night where the guitars changed from expansive riffing to an almost new age with a hint of flamenco flavor, which, I guess, is a close to doing "silent" as rockers are likely to do.
--Richard Banks
Christmasreviews.com
Review 12/2005