Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan goes after the spirit of old Christmas radio shows, while his mature "ciggies and whiskey" voice recalls Salvation Army street corner sing-alongs on a cold winter's night. The croaky rasp of Dylan's pipes makes the reverential treatments of much of the material go slightly askew, as if Tom Waits were paired with Andy Williams. Things start cooking when Dylan goes Tex-Mex polka on "Must Be Santa" and hits the beach with "Christmas Island." All proceeds will be donated to charities that help feed the hungry.

Bob Dylan celebrates the Christmas hit parade the old-fashioned way: He plays it straight,
as much as his pitted baritone allows, with a band that mixes David Hidalgo with R&B guitarist
Phil Upchurch. There are hymns ("Hark the Herald Angels Sing"), chestnuts ("Little Drummer
Boy") and tinsel: Backup choristers add wholesome glitz. Dylan's singing is often nimble and
clear — he goes high in "The First Noel" without a hint of gravel. The effect is like... More >