Duke Ellington - Jingle Bells (Robbie Hardkiss Remix)
Bing Crosby - The First Noel (Attaboy House Party Mix)
Mel Torm? - The Christmas Song (Michael Kessler Open Fire Mix)
Dance music is all about the remix, and no genre is safe. As proof, San Francisco's Six Degrees Records have loosed a ragtag band of DJs upon that venerable institution, the Christmas classic. Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, D... more »ean Martin, and others all get the turntable treatment here, from the likes of Dan the Automator, Mocean Worker, and Robbie Hardkiss. As one might suspect, the kitsch/fun factor is off the charts. "Baby It's Cold Outside," for instance, lounges comfortably beside any exotic, Les Baxter-style oddity, as Louis Armstrong's crackly vocals meet a slow breakbeat snare drum. Meanwhile, Beef Wellington fashions a swinging beat around Crosby's "Happy Holidays," and successfully mixes it with the song's jaunty horn section. Other attempts are less endearing; versions of "Joy to the World," and "The First Noel" inspire only energetic rolls in the graves of their composers. Still, even if you believe some wax simply shouldn't be tampered with, this collection offers a giddy abundance of holiday cheer. --Matthew Cooke« less
Dance music is all about the remix, and no genre is safe. As proof, San Francisco's Six Degrees Records have loosed a ragtag band of DJs upon that venerable institution, the Christmas classic. Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Dean Martin, and others all get the turntable treatment here, from the likes of Dan the Automator, Mocean Worker, and Robbie Hardkiss. As one might suspect, the kitsch/fun factor is off the charts. "Baby It's Cold Outside," for instance, lounges comfortably beside any exotic, Les Baxter-style oddity, as Louis Armstrong's crackly vocals meet a slow breakbeat snare drum. Meanwhile, Beef Wellington fashions a swinging beat around Crosby's "Happy Holidays," and successfully mixes it with the song's jaunty horn section. Other attempts are less endearing; versions of "Joy to the World," and "The First Noel" inspire only energetic rolls in the graves of their composers. Still, even if you believe some wax simply shouldn't be tampered with, this collection offers a giddy abundance of holiday cheer. --Matthew Cooke
Gang singing is a lot more fun than you'll ever know
Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 12/04/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Someone had the bright idea to take a bunch of old Christmas records, and letting modern DJs remix them. Amazingly, it works. All of the remixes are at least somewhat interesting, and some of them are actually quite good. I know that putting modern beats on old songs sounds like a strange idea, but somehow they pulled it off. If you want to hear some old Christmas chestnuts with a new twist, this is the CD for you."
Best new holiday cd in a long time!
Therese Frantzen | Minneapolis, MN United States | 12/19/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had a hard time getting this locally because apparently every time my local store played it, it would sell out the stock! Got it on the net.....Best songs "Ive got my love to keep me warm",
Kay Starr and "Merry Christmas Baby", Charles Brown. The best way to explain this music, it that it makes you feel like you're been drinking even though you haven't.....that GOOD."
Tastefully Reworked Holiday Classics
Paul A. Fucito | Washington, DC | 12/20/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When it comes to Christmas music, it seems nearly everyone still loves to listen to classic tracks by Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Sachmo and more. Even teenagers who pretend they've never heard of such musical legends during the year, come out of the musical closet for the holidays in admiration. While radio stations and shopping malls play these songs into the ground right after Thanksgiving, this CD provides a fresh take on songs that are so familliar.Fans of modern lounge (Dimitri From Paris, etc) and the Verve Remixed series, this is THE CD for your holiday collection. Just the right mix of modern electronics meld with the classic orchestration and vocals that made the original tracks so timeless, without making them unrecognizable. This is not a drum and bass collection by any means. In fact, they sound fabulous. Standout tracks: "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," "Happy Holidays," "Winter Wonderland," and "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year.""
A new spirit of Christmas.
FredericWhite | Montreal,Canada | 12/03/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD offers the best of both worlds; traditional pop vocalists long associated with the spirit of Christmas blended with current dance beats of the new millenium. Grandparents (who love ANDY WILLIAMS, DORIS DAY, BING CROSBY), parents who love the disco/dance era (they remixed everything) and teens (into dance music) will all apreciate this collection of XMAS songs that have been revamped.This CD should help to get your party moving."
Best lounge Christmas CD to date
Howard E Bowers | St. Petersburg, FL USA | 11/30/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you're a fan of the "Verve Remixed" series, then yule want this CD under your aluminium tree this Christmas (bad pun intended). The same concept is at work here, as contemporary DJs deconstruct and rebuild classic recordings of holiday favorites. Remember the funky remix of "Jingle Bells" on the Gap commericals from a few years back? This material is similiar both in style and quality.Standouts for me are tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, and 12, remixed by Shift, Dan the Automator, Mocean Worker, Baz Kuts, Mulato Beat, and Michael Kessler respectively. Anyone who can actually make "The Nutcracker Suite" cool (and change a 3/4 waltz into a 4/4 hip-hop swing) deserves a little something extra in their egg nog.I listened to the Reindeer Room 2 CD, and Chrsitmas Remixed is far superior. I'd be begging for a follow up, but this is going to be a hard act to follow."