Search - Brad Paisley :: Brad Paisley Christmas

Bruce T. (PowerPop98105) from SEATTLE, WA
Reviewed on 1/21/2022...

Four impressions:

1. The version of "Jingle Bells" is insanely great. The guitar playing is spectacular and the arrangement is creative.

2. The last song, "Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday," is the most idiotic "Christmas" song ever recorded. Paisley should be ashamed of this hillbilly persecution complex garbage.

3. "Born On Christmas Day" was originally written and recorded live when he was 13 years old. He splices in the "today" Brad Paisley, which helps make the song sound a bit less like a 1-877-KARS4KIDS K-A-R-S cars for kids radio commercial. Remarkable, though I don't need to hear it over and over.

4. The rest of the album is unremarkable. Just eh versions of Christmas songs with occasional decent chicken pickin.

The nasty aftertaste from the last song on the album just ruins the whole thing. Buy his version of "Jingle Bells" on iTunes and save yourself the yodeling and deliberate stupidity.

Pamela G. (blessed1) from WHEELER, TX
Reviewed on 1/11/2007...

Delightful! A Christmas favorite that will be played for many years to come. Anything Brad Paisley does is wonderful and this one is no exception. Get it quick if you can!

A Paisley Christmas

T. Yap | 10/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Brad since 2004 and I have eagerly awaited a Christmas album. Well after 7 years of being on the scene, here it is and I believe it was well worth the wait.

1. Winter Wonderland- 8/10 This is song is NOT my favorite Christmas song and that is the only reason I give it an 8. Brad's voice superb and any country music fan with information about the Opry members will love the Jim Ed Brown line that is thrown in there

2. Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy- 10/10 In this Buck Owens' cover, Brad shines. I have only heard the original a few times, but this version makes me think of Buck and of Brad and Buck's relationship.

3. I'll Be Home for Christmas-10/10 Brad's voice gave me chills. His voice is definitely at its best here. It's an amazing version of the this song, and even if you hate this song, you'll be sure to enjoy Brad's version.

4. Away in a Manger-9/10 When I heard the electric guitar at the beginning, I thought "Oh no...please no..." because I've had this song ruined before by another country artist. Luckily, the electric guitar fades away by the time Brad starts singing. The electric guitar does persist throughout, but it is not overally powerful and complements Brad's singing rather than detracting from it.

5. Penguin, James Penguin- 10/10 Brad Paisley and Frank Rogers penned this instant child favorite. Any adult will enjoy as well. It tells of a secret agent bird. The story line is reminiscent of Rudolph, but not too much. It definitely has some great lines in it.

6. 364 Days to Go-8/10 I have this song on an exclusive Target cd released last year (and in 2001) as well as this cd. In the Target cd, the song seems different than this version. The beginning is different and the kid's voice at the end is also different. I prefer the Target version over this version. The song is still definitely worth a listen, and to those who don't have the Target cd, the differences won't bother you at all.

7. Jingle Bells [Instrumental]- 10/10 Brad has always included an instrumental on his albums and this album is no different. This instrumental reminds me of Nervous Breakdown off of "Who Needs Pictures". So if you're sick of normal Jingle Bells, give this one a listen. It even has the "Hey!"'s.

8. Silent Night-10/10 For this one, it is mainly Brad and the acoustic guitar. I was hoping for that and Brad didn't disappoint. The song is absolutely remarkable.

9. Born on Christmas Day-11/10. This is by far the best song on the album for any Brad fan. Born on Christmas Day was the first song Brad ever wrote. He penned it as a 12 year old. The song starts out with a recording from when he was 13 making is Jamboree debut. His voice as a 13 year old is amazing. After the first chorus, it goes to Brad today as a 33 year old. Towards the end, it goes to both the 13 year old version and the 33 year old version as a duet. The song is stunning and after wanting to hear this song for so long, I cried like a baby the first time I heard it. It is truely remarkable writing for anyone, especially a 12 year old boy!

10. Silver Bells- 7/10 I don't agree with the placement of this song. Brad's voice is great, but where the song is just makes me not really listen to it. So if you're listening to this cd, listen to this song BEFORE you listen to Born on Christmas Day; otherwise you too won't be too impressed by it.

11. Kung Pao Buckaroo Holiday- 10/10 For a third time, The Kung Pao's are getting together. This one is for a completely non-offensive polictically correct holiday. This is a funny track, but it made me sad because there is so much truth to it. So it was weird, laughing and feeling somewhat sad at the same time. But really, it is quite good.



Overall this album I say gets 9.8 stars out of 10. It was great and it made me wish that this cd was like Time Well Wasted track wise. I hope one day Brad will record another Christmas cd because this one was absolutely amazing! So definitely go pick up this album. The songs are superb and hey, I have fun listening to them even in October!

"

Not a Dull Moment with Paisley at Christmas

T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 10/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Prime Cuts: Penguin, James Penguin, Santa Looked A lot Like Daddy, I'll Be Home for Christmas



Santa's secret spies, confronting Christmas addictive withdrawals, and daddy playing dress-ups: these are sacred totems associated with the yuletide for Brad Paisley. While many a Christmas CD offers punctilious readings of traditional carols stuck in a mire of saccharine sentimentality, Paisley's debut holiday effort shows personality. Ingenuity and his ingrained humor get the upper hand as this country superstar revels in the frolicsome candor of the festive season. However, not all is frivolous fun, on certain tracks Paisley does essay the lofty message of Christmas and its sentiments via some of most timely formidable carols of yore performed with a romantic valor and thoughtful impeccability. Though this is a seasonal detour, stylistically "A Brad Paisley Christmas" does not sidestep too far away from Paisley's typical country outings. Just as his albums has never been monolithic; a bit of everything represented on this CD: from romantic lush ballads, to spitfire honk tonk to revved up rock to an instrumental as well as a few nods to Paisley's comical side.



The more interesting tracks here are the originals, of which there are four. Paisley ups the ante on his narrative skills on the jovial narrative about Santa's secret spy that goes by the moniker "Penguin, James Penguin." Told with a tickle of cheekiness, "Penguin, James Penguin" ought to add Christmas cheer to kids as well as bring a seasonal smile to adults. Much less colorful is the laconic "364 Days to Go" a wry cynical bluesy-ballad about the obsessive entanglements of the holidays. Sharing the microphone again with the Paisley-created the Kung Pao Buckaroos -- otherwise known as Little Jimmy Dickens, George Jones, and Bill Anderson -"Kung Pao Holidays" is a satire of the notion of "political correctness" basked by a comedic sonic veneer. On a much sober and traditional tenor, "Born on Christmas Day" features Paisley when he was 13 years old trading verses with himself (towards the end) on a self-penned Southern-Gospel-like ballad detailing the story of Christ's birth.



Even when Paisley delves into the traditional canon of yuletide favorites, he is not content to offer a straight reading. Listen especially to the lyrical changes to "Santa Looked A Lot like Daddy" for his personal augmentation that brings out another humorous dimension. While on "I'll Be Home For Christmas," co-producer Frank Rogers and Paisley himself, went all the way to provide a dreamy string-laden backing, thus creating one of the most romantic renditions since Tony Bennett's rendition. On the other hand, the reverent singing of "Silent Night" is a tad on the dull side. This is only redeemed by "Away in a Manger" which receives a revved up honky tonk treatment. Though guitar accolades may find much to celebrate over the instrumental "Jingle Bells," it does nothing to the musically illiterate.



As far as Christmas CDs go, "Brad Paisley's Christmas" strikes a balance between the season's sacred as well as its more jovial side. Yet most winsome is that Paisley's at home in both turfs. Whether he delves into the spiritual message of the importance of Christ's birth or just cracking jokes with the Kung Pao Buckaroos over appropriate language in holiday tunes, Paisley sounds at ease. If there's a pickle to pick, it's that the album has too few tracks. Nevertheless, with Paisley displaying his colorful personality throughout the CD, there's not a dull moment during Brad Paisley's Christmas."