Produced by Dan Pavelich, whose catchy confections with bands like the Bradburys and the Click Beetles have reaped rave reactions from here to eternity, Hi-Fi Christmas Party, Vol. 3 features a batch of the coolest holiday tunes you could hope for.
The idea for the series arrived when Dan learned his daughter, Mari, had Von Willebrand’s Disease, a bleeding disorder akin to hemophilia. He soon discovered research for the condition lacked serious funds, so he approached some of his colleagues and asked if they would submit their talents to a compilation album he was putting together where proceeds from all sales would go to research the ailment.
So not only does Hi-Fi Christmas Party (Vandalay Records) offer a great repertoire of songs, but it also benefits an awfully good cause.
As was the situation with the previous two installments of the collection, this set includes a dazzling cast of characters. Sixteen different acts total, and each one brings their own special herbs and spices to the festivities.
Spurred by slinky rhythms, “Wonderful Christmas” from the Click Beetles moves smoothly and smartly to a steady midtempo pop pace, while Jeremy’s “Now It’s Christmas” swells and explodes to a shimmery soundscape of beaming vocals, ringing guitars and images of peace and comfort. Lysa Mychols turns in a top-notch pop rocker on “The Joy of Giving,” which jangles with endless cheer, where Mari Pavelich delivers a spirited spoken word performance on “The Meaning of Christmas” and Sketch Middle’s “Very, Very, Merry Merry” rips and rolls with punchy Who inspired action.
Bubbling over with perky melodies, Jamie and Steve’s “What Am I Gonna Get?” takes a humorous but sadly true look at the materialistic side of Christmas, and then there’s the bluesy soulful sensations, embedded with smoking riffs, of “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’” by Tinsley Ellis.
The Brothers Figaro Orchestra add a shot of vintage vibrations to the shindig with the vaudeville “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” the Jigsaw Seen’s “What About Christmas?” shivers and quivers with powerful impressions and Ash Can School’s “Christmas List Boogie” lays down a mean boogie woogie beat that’s sure to get the feet shuffling and the fingers snapping.
Buzzed Meg from Jim Babjak, October Elsewhere, the Yule Logs, Mark Harrod and the Sun Kings contribute other superbly unforgettable tracks to the disc. Hooky as hooky gets, and brimming with emotive excitement, Hi-Fi Christmas Party, Vol. 3 is nothing less than fantastic. You won’t find any stale candy canes here!
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