Published on Dec 24, 2004
When I was in grade school, Christmas officially kicked off when
A Chipmunk Christmas hit the record player. Extra grooves
were dug into the vinyl as I kept playing their rendition of “Deck
the Halls” and “Sleigh Ride.”
I didn’t realize that by doing this, I probably drove my older
sister nuts. Once you listen to the Chipmunk’s original Christmas
ode (“Chipmunk Song”), the song lodges in your head like a fishhook
in a sweater. “We can’t hardly stand to wait, please Christmas
don’t be late,” the three helium-heavy voices croon.
John Waters loved
A Chipmunk Christmas so much that he included it in his
recent ‘best of’ collection
A John Waters Christmas. Of course, the album is rife with
enough tacky numbers to fill a
Sonny & Cher Variety Hour marathon.
A Chipmunk Christmas is one of those albums that your
50-year-old co-worker, who is way more into the Christmas spirit
than anyone that age should be, gush over. The album is supposed to
make you grin, laugh and think of simpler times. But unfortunately,
the tunes are so Q-tip-in-the-brain annoying that the album doesn’t
even function as a nostalgia piece.
The songs are definitely immortal. The producers deserve serious
praise for the production. So, I definitely can’t give the album a
‘D’ or a ‘C.’ Unfortunately, the album is such a sore thumb that
regardless of what’s going on in your household, it seems the music
in
A Chipmunk Christmas can drown out even the loudest of
conversations due to their high-pitched squeals. At least Mannheim
Steamroller can effortlessly serve as background music while you
open presents, cook Christmas breakfast or down a glass of wine and
wait for the bars to open and swap stories with other folks who are
escaping family gatherings.
Still, as a critic, it’s a well-produced album. The songs are
immortal. And it’s one of the staples of the holiday season. Thus
explaining the grade I’m giving it. Just don’t expect me to listen
to the album if I can help it.