I spent the morning listening to Sarah McLachlan's Christmas album, Wintersong. She would probably call it a holiday album. I call it a Christmas album. Whatever. Anyroad, Sarah Mc has for years been one of those voices who could coax $15 out of me to listen to her sing the phone book. Her voice is not of this earth. That she happens to be able to package strong songwriting with that voice seems impossibly unfair to the rest of us mere mortals. A Christmas album from Sarah McLachlan seemed like a great idea. The execution of the idea? Good, but not great.
A funny thought went through my mind as I was listening to her version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," which is the best moment on the disc.
"Damn, I wish Norah Jones would make a Christmas album."
As great as Sarah Mc sounds singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," she would be no match for Norah's version. I can hear it in my head right now. Norah Jones' voice and that song were meant for each other. Hell, she could just record that song 12 times and release a CD and I would buy it. Toss in "Blue Christmas," "White Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Silent Night," "O, Holy Night" and the back of a Campbell's Soup label and you have yourself the first essential Christmas CD since... Nat King Cole?
Close your eyes and imagine that voice and the words, "I'll be home for Christmas/if only in my dreams." If you can operate heavy machinery with that aural picture in your head, it is quite possible you have no soul. There is a warm melancholy in her voice that expresses loneliness in a beautiful and appealing way. It cannot be explained. It has to be experienced. She was born to make this record, and even my money-grubbing, capitalist cold heart will not try to score a percentage of the royalties if she makes this record by next year. I will consider my small role in the project a service to humanity so profound that profiting from it would be obscene.
This is what Christmas needs and yet we will not be getting it. Chalk another one up for racist, white America.
Not only will we not be getting it, we won't even be getting her new album in time for Christmas. The Christmas gods are usually pretty good to me. There is never a shortage of "must have" music being released this time of year. The two releases I am most interested in have already hit store shelves and are comfortably resting on my shelves (box sets from John Lee Hooker and Buddy Guy). The third, Jones' new album, will not be in stores until January.
Article comments
1 - fanboytoo
From another fan of Norah, I agree with you 1000%. You should also listen to her Johnny Cash tribute songs. Devastating as you call it.
2 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, fanboytoo. I will have to give those a look and listen.
3 - Connie Phillips
Really nice, DJRadiohead! I hope in the end it is worth the wait.
Congrats! A link to this article appears at our Myspace Music profile.
4 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Connie! I find it inconceivable that Norah will disappoint on record #3. I am looking forward to hearing it/writing about it.
5 - Mark Saleski
you forgot: "looking at it"
6 - Connie Phillips
I think you're probably right. I don't suspect she'll disappoint at all. It's probably one I'll be looking to spend some of the Christmas gift cards on.
I'll be watching for that review!
7 - DJRadiohead
Saleski, you're a clown. That she does not look like a troll is an added bonus but not a reason to buy an album. There are a lot of non-trollwomrns out there and you couldn't pay me to listen to one of their records.
8 - Mark Sahm
I'll see your "wish she made a Xmas album" and raise you a "Damn, I wish Norah Jones would do a recorded imitation of Meg Ryan's fake orgasm in the diner scene from When Harry Met Sally".
9 - Mark Saleski
you're a cruel man, mr. sahm.
10 - DJRadiohead
Clean up on Aisle Saleski.
11 - Mark Sahm
I'm right up there with the Grinch.
12 - Mark Sahm
The truth is, when I need to sleep on my daily commute, I just load up the Norah mix and... zzzzzzzz. It never fails.
13 - Mark Saleski
i just had my attorney write mr. sahm out of my will.
14 - DJRadiohead
Look out, Sahm, or Saleski will make his jihad against you.
That is bordering on blasphemy. I can and do appreciate the nocturnal aspects of her music but it is far from a snore fest.
15 - Mark Sahm
Gentlemen, perhaps in my remarks, I have been misunderstood... the N-Jones voice is like a Siren that lulls me into sweet submission.
You feel better now, DJR? After all, I do own both of her albums... and the collab with the Peter Mallick Group, and her version of 'More Than This'.
BTW, Saleski--- what was I to get in your will before I was written out?
16 - Mark Saleski
my giant collection of exotica records, to be sliced and diced for podcasting backgrounds.
that, and all of dj radiohead's Guster cds.
17 - Mark Sahm
Damn, that exotica collection would indeed have added to the Magic Junk collective... in fact, S.Rod is looking for new samples.
As for Guster... ummm, well, yeah I'll get back to you on that one. :)
18 - DJRadiohead
We'll call off the jihad and settle for giving you a good thwack to the back of the head.
::former broadcast radio voice:: S.Rod... spinning exotica... on the next... Magic Junk... Radio.
19 - Connie Phillips
Congratulations! This article was chosen this week as an Editor's Pick.
20 - A.L. Harper
Congratulations this article has been choosen by the Senior Executive Assistant Music Editor A.L. Harper as her one of her Editor's Picks of the Week.
21 - DJRadiohead
Thank you, Connie! And A.L., methinks you are overcompensating a little. Don't worry... we value your contributions as Jr. UnderAssistant Music Editor.
22 - Mark Saleski
does the senior executive assistant editor get the better parking space? other perks?
23 - A.L. Harper
Nope just who's better! Josh and I have been mud slinging for weeks now. All in fun of course. *big smile*
24 - DJRadiohead
There are lots of perks to it, Saleski. A.L. just doesn't know what they are since she is only the Junior Underassistant.
=P