Wrapping: Rather misleading festive scene, which could attract an unwitting older buyer, and nicely written sleevenotes.
Style: From dirge to disco via downcast electro-pop.
Content: 12 newly minted, alternative in every sense, Christmas songs; truly diverse, original and mostly unlistenable.
‘Tis the reason to be jolly: Ambition is always to be applauded, so the breadth of material will turn heads. Its greatest draw is probably its shock factor – listen to the driving guitars of Jon Epworth and watch the in-laws’ reaction.
Scrooge moan: Endless Christmas classics on repeat can bore people half to death, but listening to newcomers trying to pull off the same trick gives you newfound appreciation that writing a winning festive song is really hard.
White Christmas? This Christmas is lurid and revealing in its difference, so no chestnuts here. The Webb Brothers hark back to 1970ss TOTP with Are You Coming Home For Christmas, and that’s as classic as this one gets.
Blue Christmas? Be A Ghost, where Extradition Order visits Warrington’s pubs, reminds you there is always someone in a worse place.
Stocking or shocking? Shocking, but a must for that EMO in your life.
- Paul Rhodes
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