By Monk
Let’s get this clear from the very beginning: I hate Christmas. No, make that I fucking HATE Christmas. And everything about it, from the faux self-gratification to the needless self-indulgence to the stupid fake snow that pollutes the atmosphere as much as the out-of-tunes “carols” piped through shopping centres as people fight for the last box of Ferrero Roche… so, why the feck am I choosing to review a Christmas album?
Well, for a start, it’s by one of the most iconic voices in rock ‘n’ roll. And, well, I was also bored and just trawling a bunch of equally boring emails when one about this reduxed release popped into my updated inbox… so, why the feck not, eh?
Originally released last year, and now re-released with two new tracks (nicely stuck at the beginning instead of being appended as apparent afterthoughts at the end, as is the wont with collections such as this), the first, and main, thing to say is that anyone expecting upbeat AOR-style renditions of Chrimbo carols will be either very surprised or sorely disappointed… or both, as ‘The Season’ demonstrates a very different side to Perry than you would expect from the man responsible for dance floor fillers such as ‘Don’t Stop Believin’…
While most Christmas albums are “joyous celebrations” of the season to be jolly (and, believe me, the one “Santa” I know is a pretty “jolly” fellow, if you get my drift), Perry’s take on the mien is, by and large, downright laconic and almost melancholic, as the singer explores the louche lounge-lizard torch-singer side to his vocal demeanour, as this is probably one of the most downbeat take on this particular musical sub-genre, as is evinced by the opening, and only originally-penned, track, ‘Maybe This Year’.
The opening track is the most poignant and honest on the album, touching bases so many of us can recognize and identify with its heartfelt message that there always is hope on the horizon. It also beautifully sets the mood for the rest of the album, which sees Perry performing against the backdrop of mainly just a solo piano, plaintive laments bringing new dimensions to the likes of ‘The Christmas Song’, ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ and even ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’.
‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ is one of the few exceptions to Perry’s approach, as he gives it a Billy Joel-style funky, soulful treatment, which nevertheless manages to retain the morose feeling which he injects into the rest of the album.
Putting aside the Christmas theme of this particular album, ‘The Season’ demonstrates the ability of a singer to confront the fact that his voice has changed, and therefore his style of singing has had to adapt accordingly. I would love to hear more of this style of lounge-friendly material not only from Perry but also some of his contemporaries who seem more content on resting on past glories and needlessly pushing their voices to limits they, and we, know they no longer can reach.
- ‘The Season’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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