Squirrel Nut Zippers: Christmas Caravan
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This came out in 1998. I don't remember if I got it then or sometime later, but I'm listening to it again in 2021 to write a review. As far as I can tell, only three of the ten songs aren't originals, which is kind of unusual for Christmas albums. The first non-original song is "Winter Weather", with which I was unfamiliar, and don't expect to remember. The only song on the album with which I'm familiar is "Sleigh Ride", which is nicely jazzy, but it's entirely instrumental. I think my favorite track is "Carolina Christmas", which is probably the most swingin' song on the album, as well as the song that actually sounds the most Christmasy, in its way. The final song is the third non-original song, "Hanging Up My Stockings", with which I was unfamiliar. There's a hidden song on that track, after about a minute and a half of silence. It's the same song, but sounds like a scratchy old record, and I don't think it's actually by Squirrel Nut Zippers, though I could be wrong. I just wonder if it's the original version of the song from 1952, or what. Anyway, I don't feel like the CD is something I need to keep. I don't expect to remember any of the songs on the album, but for the most part they're not bad (though I don't really like "Indian Giver"). The album's just not something I could really get into, in spite of liking the band. So I'm kind of disappointed.