The Best KIDS Christmas Album in the World Ever Ever Ever - The Wombats,Findlay Brown,Oppenheimer,Mighty Six Ninety Album Review

Album Review

It’s just too easy to have a pop at compilations at this festive time of year but “The Best KIDS Christmas Album in the World Ever Ever Ever” does exactly what it sets out to do – inject a new zest into our Christmas spirit.

Without being too melodramatic, it certainly has potential to whip you up into an extreme Christmas frenzy much more than the traditional songs which will tirelessly dominate the airways and music television.

You might as well through out your compilations featuring Mariah Carey, East 17, Wham and even Jonah Lewie because this album will freshen up your Christmas and prevent it from becoming mundanely repetitive.

This 11 track release combines famous covers with a distinctive twist along with original material from the likes of The Wombats and Young Playthings.

It all kicks off in thumping fashion with the Kids Allstarz, which are a combination of label staff and members of Paper Cuts, blasting out their take on Slade’s ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’.

Once your in the mood, Oppenheimer then rework a version of ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ and make it their own (to coin a phase from X-Factor judge Louis Walsh) while It Hugs Back weigh in with the delightfully catchy ‘Christmas on the Square’.

Arguably the most infectious song comes from The Wombats in the shape of ‘Is this Christmas?’. With as much hype as the Darkness had a few years back, this would certainly tick the right boxes to become a hit in its own right.

Then comes an intriguing cover of the classic ‘White Christmas’ from Mighty Six Ninety which sounds as if Morrissey has added his morbid touch to it.

‘Whadaya Want for Christmas’ by Young Playthings is another instantly memorable and rocky track which comes just before Swedish double-act West End Girls deliver a haunting synth-pop cover of 1987 number one ‘Always On My Mind’.

Findlay Brown is another artist on the album to take a new slant on a timeless masterpiece from the past as his slow and thoughtful version of Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’ fills you with the need to hug your partner and loved ones more than the original.

Generally all the covers have been twisted, blended and turned upside down to create a unique version and Popular Workshop’s rendition of ‘Christmas Wrapping’ is no different although they perhaps got a little too excited like the hyperactive kid that ruins the big day for the grandparents.

Fortunately a gentle ambience will fill the room when Sam Elliott’s touching combination of the Snowman and White Christmas fills the room.

It’s eloquently named ‘Walking in a White Christmas’ and this is one of those special tracks you just wish was exposed to a wider audience because it really steals the show for me.

Last but not least Captain Kidd’s ‘Boxing Day Ride’ is an ideal finale to such an enjoyable seasonal album insofar as it perfectly represents that sleepy atmosphere which follows all the food and booze consumed from the day before.

Overall, like most special festive albums this can only work at one time of year but from mid-December to the start of January it won’t be hard to get your moneys worth, especially if you need to be inspired with the Christmas spirit.

Christopher Hammer

Gigs

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