My Christmas Village Article: Coming later today

I have just finished setting up my annual Christmas Village, so you can expect some new content relating to that later today. Also, you may even get a review of LOAP: Christmas!, a custom map created in Warcraft III that opens some hilarious possibilities. I had some Trix cereal for Breakfast, and maybe in the coming days you’ll get a review of it…

Manheim Steamroller CHRISTMAS EXTRAORDINARE REVIEW!

By American Gramaphone, 2001

Ah, Manheim Steamroller. Simply my favorite Christmas music. As soon as November rolls around I’m blaring their stuff. This was their most recent album, until recently. Do you want to know what I think about it? YOU DON’T? Too bad, you’ve been naughty so you get to hear my insignificant opinion!

This Album has about 12 tracks, but I’m only reviewing 11, because my CD is scratched and the last track won’t play, and I don’t remember how it sounds. Manheim Steamroller is sort of an aquired taste, some love it, some don’t-typically I love it, even if it does occasionally sound like “A robot Christmas”.

The album begins with “Hallelujah”. This is my favorite part of the album. It’s somewhat speedy and I get an intense rush of Holiday spirit whenever I hear it, it’s like how you feel after you have tons of Viagra (Not that I’ve done that, by any means). 5/5

White Christmas is another good piece, although it’s slower. You’ll have visions of Snowmen and Snowdevils after you hear it. 4/5

“Away in a Manger” is where it starts to get to me. The pace is very slow, and not a good slow. The entire song sounds like they tried too hard to be beautiful and emotional, and it begins to wear thin after awhile. Still a good song. 3/5

“Faeries-from the Nutcracker” returns to the spirited heights of the first two songs. The entire rendition feels magical, and whenever I hear it I get images of Santa on Christmas Eve stealthily putting presents under a child’s tree. 5/5

“Do you hear what I hear?” is a quick step back to the mere “good” that we became accustomed to in “Away in a manger”. It’s mostly slow like that, the bad kind of slow, and feels like they tried too hard again. Still better then “Away in a Manger” but not enough to get a 4. 3.5/4

Now we’re at “The First Noel”. Now this song actually feels heartfelt. It feels very peaceful, and it is rather soothing. It did start to get repetitious at some points, even though at first glance it’s just as repetitious as the other songs. 4/5

Now we reach “Silver Bells”. This is a nice song that reminds me of my area’s local “Silver Bells in the City”. Now, I don’t live in Lansing, but I still go every year. Good song, this one is. 4/5

“Fum, fum, fum” comes next. It sounds somewhat Military-ish with the Drums in the background. I can’t put my finger on it, but for some reason, I did not like this song too much, and I don’t know why. It wasn’t excellent, but it didn’t seem terrible either. Just slightly above average. 3.5/5

“Some children see him” gets it’s turn now. For some reason, this gets me in the opposite of the Christmas spirit-it sounds kind of creepy for some reason. I can’t stand to listen to it, and this is by far my least favorite song of the album up to this point. 2/5

And now we arrive at “Winter Wonderland”. This is very easy to listen to, but I wish Manheim did more with it, it just sounds too similar to it’s inspiration. 4/5

Now, for the final track I can review, “O Tannenbaum”. This is just like “O Christmas Tree”. There is lots of vocals on it, but unlike usual, I didn’t mind too much. This song gives me the smell of Christmas Trees just listening to it, and feels Christmassy to the core, but it’s just missing something to be a perfect 5. 4.5/5

In conclusion, this is a great Christmas Album. However, the inclusion of some songs just not up to snuff to the typical Manheim stuff has forced me to severely lower the score of what could of been one of, if not THE best Manheim Steamroller Christmas Album. “Some children see him” was so bad that it’s the primary reason this album doesn’t get a 4/5.

Overall score: 3.5/5, recommended

I still have not listened to “Christmas Song” which came out in October, which is not when I want to listen to a Christmas album. I’ll be getting that later, so you can expect a review of that in the coming weeks!

Santa Claus’s Adventure: 11/10/07!

That’s right. Follow the ongoing saga of Saint Nicholas this Holiday season, starting today, November tenth 2007. Everyday until Christmas, you can expect to see an epic adventure or hear a startling tale. Of course, Santa’s not perfect in telling me what happens everyday, so he may miss a day or ten. Without further delay, I present with you today’s “adventure”.

 

SANTA CLAUS’S ADVENTURE

The snow beat the backside of Saint Nick as he mercifully climbed up the steep hill, the rays of Moonlight piercing his glistening backside as he heard the howls of Polar Bears and drunken Penguins in the night. Coldness filled the atmosphere, and it was overpowering, it seemed to suck all of the life out of you whenever even a puny snowflake landed upon you.

Santa had to reach the Workshop, he just had too. It was only November Tenth, but that meant it was time for inspection, which occurred every ten days starting in November. He didn’t want his toys to be associated with lead poisoning, so he took extreme precautions to make sure they weren’t full of lead.

Suddenly, hail began to fall from the sky, it fell with such speed and ferociousness that Santa didn’t think he’d make. It was a dumb idea to leave inspection until nine PM, but Santa was a procrastinator. He would not fail. If he failed now, he would fail the little children at Christmas when they are driven to insanity thanks to Santa’s lead-infested toys.

Finally, Santa saw the faint light echoing from outside the Workshop windows. Santa had been out giving Polar Bears Coca Cola all afternoon. Nicholas began slowly running towards the Workshop; he did not want to get frostbite. The Elves greeted him happily, “HOW ARE YOU?”, they somewhat sarcastically said.

“Well, boys, despite what the Narrator is saying, and despite how much I hate breaking the fourth wall, today was not a good day. I went to Hell and back again. Here is what happened” Santa sighed, as he gulped a can of Beer.

 

“Welcome to Jurassic Park” (You wish)

Hi, welcome to the most wonderful Blog you will ever see. This place is about some obscure things, some memories, anything I’m going to write about, and that means ANYTHING. So get on with it. Look around.