Wednesday, December 14, 2005
The Rev Rocks Around the Christmas Tree
I recently got the Reverend Horton Heat's new Christmas album, "We Three Kings." Yes, you read that right. The Rev put out a Christmas Album. For those who have no idea who the Reverend Horton Heat is, it might seem logical that a Reverend would release a Christmas album. On the other hand, if you know the Rev as the leader of punk/rock-a-billy band with songs such as "Bales of Cocaine," "Nurture My Pig," and "Sue Jack Daniels," it might seem a bit odd.
I've been a fan of the Rev for a few years now. He puts on a great show. He's not actually a Reverend (at least, not that I know of). His band is a three-piece with a stand-up bass. No, not the person who plays the bass. Having a stand-up bass player is not very unique. I'm talking about the actual instrument.
If you're not familiar with the Rev's music, you might have heard some and not been aware of it. He's had at least two songs featured on TV commercials. "Big Red Rocket of Love" was featured on a car commercial (Mitsubishi?) and "Eat Steak" was featured (creatively enough) on a Beef commercial.
His Christmas album is actually quite good, featuring a lot of old-time favorites, like "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bells." It also features one of my all-time faves made famous by Chuck Berry, "Run Rudolph Run."
I don't know why the Rev released this album. Perhaps he needed the money. Or perhaps he just wanted to give parents a decent Christmas album to listen to with their children. Either way, I applaud him. It's a fantastic album, at least for this time of year. I'm guessing that it's going to start sucking pretty bad around January. Call it a hunch.
I've been a fan of the Rev for a few years now. He puts on a great show. He's not actually a Reverend (at least, not that I know of). His band is a three-piece with a stand-up bass. No, not the person who plays the bass. Having a stand-up bass player is not very unique. I'm talking about the actual instrument.
If you're not familiar with the Rev's music, you might have heard some and not been aware of it. He's had at least two songs featured on TV commercials. "Big Red Rocket of Love" was featured on a car commercial (Mitsubishi?) and "Eat Steak" was featured (creatively enough) on a Beef commercial.
His Christmas album is actually quite good, featuring a lot of old-time favorites, like "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Winter Wonderland" and "Jingle Bells." It also features one of my all-time faves made famous by Chuck Berry, "Run Rudolph Run."
I don't know why the Rev released this album. Perhaps he needed the money. Or perhaps he just wanted to give parents a decent Christmas album to listen to with their children. Either way, I applaud him. It's a fantastic album, at least for this time of year. I'm guessing that it's going to start sucking pretty bad around January. Call it a hunch.
