Music review: JD McPherson – 鈥楽ocks鈥�
With the Thanksgiving leftovers a distant memory and Christmas Day on the horizon, I鈥檝e been carving out time to preview the latest holiday albums.
Those close to me know how much I love Christmas music. Over the years, I鈥檝e managed to gather a pretty sizable collection of holiday releases.
Every year, I鈥檓 like a kid at Christmas waiting to discover the musical gifts of joy that artists begin releasing once October begins.
While Eric Clapton鈥檚 first-ever Christmas album became the early frontrunner, a sentimental and humorous offering by JD McPherson has completely won me over.
Simply titled 鈥淪ocks,鈥� McPherson鈥檚 debut Christmas release is full of retro-sounding arrangements that harken back to a simpler time when kids were on their best behavior come December in hopes of avoiding Santa鈥檚 naughty list.
鈥淎ll the Gifts I Need鈥� opens the festivities and manages to capture my Christmas memories as a youngster with my brothers as McPherson declares, 鈥淩unning around in plaid pajamas and slippers on our feet/Mama takes that photograph while we all talk through our teeth/Sugar cookies in the oven/Shaped like tiny trees/Stealing goodies by the dozen/And making memories.鈥�
鈥淏ad Kid鈥� addresses the plight of the kid who has a knack for constantly finding trouble and discovering his name permanently written on the naughty list as McPherson confesses, 鈥淎in鈥檛 no telling what I did/I like to think I鈥檓 just misunderstood/But you know I鈥檓 just a bad, bad kid.鈥�
Whether it鈥檚 tackling Santa鈥檚 weight gain in preparation for delivery day on 鈥淗ey Skinny Santa鈥� or dealing with the trauma caused from your mother forcing you to wear that festive attire that your friends would tease you about for months on 鈥淯gly Sweater Blues,鈥� McPherson鈥檚 witty observations are sure to bring a smile to your face.
The title track describes every kid鈥檚 Christmas gift nightmare. Hey, we鈥檝e all been there before. Who hasn鈥檛 opened a present wrapped perfectly under the tree in the hopes of finding one of the toys previously requested, only to discover a pair of socks?
McPherson describes the disappointment felt upon receiving an item used to insulate boots by announcing, 鈥淭his is the worst gift I ever got/It doesn鈥檛 beep or buzz or bop or rattle in the box.鈥�
McPherson does everything in good fun in an effort to make us all feel young and excited about the magic that surrounds the holiday.
鈥淓very single Christmas I just fall in love/All the fun and happiness it brings,鈥� sings McPherson as he sums up the album鈥檚 overall mood and message.
Here鈥檚 hoping that you find yourself falling in love with Christmas, even if you happen to get a pair of socks as your reward for being good all year long.