By John Pecorelli
www.altavista.com
You really want world peace and happiness for the holidays, right? But all that’s a longshot this year, so go with the next best thing: CDs. At the moment, record labels are straining to pump out as much volume as possible, so to speak, and we’ve compiled a list of the best current and upcoming releases, everything from a little classic swing for Granny to the latest that ear-splitting noise-metal for Junior. And it’s all broken down into handy categories for your quick, Xmas-rush perusal!
Country: If Uncle Hayseed finally has a CD player, pick him up the new Faith Hill CD “Breathe,” which continues the lusty lady’s compelling crossover twang. Garth Brooks’ “The Magic of Christmas” is ready to spin, too, and Reba McEntire’s “So Good Together” will surely rule the rural airwaves. For old-school C&W twang, there are new releases by Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, and George Jones, too.
Hard Rock: If your teen is heavily pierced and dresses in black, forget Sony’s “Touched by an Angel Christmas” and pick up the latest Korn disk, “Issues,” which the kids are eating up like Halloween candy. Rage Against the Machine’s “Battle for L.A.” is also proving a real heavy holiday hitter, and while Metallica’s “S&M” is more mandolins than Marshalls, diehards will dig it. Also ready for giftwrap are savage sounds from the Supersuckers, Third Eye Blind, the Violent Femmes, and Motley Crue.
Rap: Yo, Santa’s sled ain’t the only thing “fly” this yuletime. Tasty rap platters like Will Smith’s “Willennium” and Dre’s “Dr. Dre 2001” are already out and chillin’. Li’l Kim’s “Notorious K.I.M.” and Rakim’s “The Master” are commanding good sales, and (in a bizarre act of rap non-self-referencing), Flavor Flav has just released a record called “It’s About Time.” December will see some very popular disks by room-temp rappers Notorious B.I.G. and Tupak Shakur, as well as alive-and-kickin’-it acts like DMX, Jay-Z, Goodie Mob, Funkmaster Flex, Ghostface Killah, and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott.
Retro: Kids and codgers alike can dig Peggy Lee’s “Beewitching Lee,” the most underappreciated songstress of the ‘50s and ’60s. Also look for GRP’s “Priceless Jazz” CD series, which features classic wax like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Count Basie remains the king of swing (currently enjoying a renaissance), and “Swing that Music” only adds more proof. Meantime, fans of hard bop can snap to Dizzie Gillespie’s “An Electrifying Evening” CD. And hippest of the retro hip, Mexican “space age bachelor pad music” master Esquivel has found a handful of unreleased gems from 1960, just released under the title “See It in Sound.”
Miscellany: You’ll certainly want Prince, errr, The Artist’s “Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic” (which features guest appearances by everyone from Ani Di Franco to Chuck D). Save your fruitcake dough and pick up Beck’s “Midnight Vultures,” which the critics are eating up like candied yams. And Ani Di Franco’s own “Militant Peacenik” should appeal to the closet leftist in all holiday shoppers, while the Dave Matthews Band’s “Listener Supported” should outsell the Big Mac by year’s end. Fiona Apple, Sheryl Crow, and Natalie Merchant all have new tunes in the bins, and “The Sopranos” original soundtrack is a must for everyone who digs quality pipes.
Boxed sets: Boomers will love the Doors’ 7-CD “complete Studio Recordings” – more Lizard King than a dozen Godzilla flicks. Those Boomers still on trips should find the Grateful Dead’s 5-CD set “So Many Roads” enlightening. And check Stevie Wonder’s “At the Close of a Century” 4-CD box for a long look at pop genius. The definitive collection of Sammy Davis Jr. material, “Yes I Can: The Story,” has just come out on Rhino, and the packaging and historical liner notes are ace. Lastly, keep a cocked eye out for the “Marilyn Manson Gift Set,” which features CDs and a video of the cross-dressing antichrist -- a perfect stocking stuffer for the wee ones.
So there you have it, your best musical bets this holiday season. Remember, it’s really about joy to the world as soon as possible. But in the meantime, let’s dance.