 [Larger view] | The Moody Blues - December
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 The Moody Blues Give Us Some Holiday Cheer. | |
| "December" is the first new studio album by The Moody Blues since the release of "Strange Times" in 1999. Not only that, "December" is the band's very first seasonal project. Although it has the sound of the modern Moody Blues, this album is almost a throwback to the concept albums that made the band famous so many moons ago. "December" not only features Christmas songs but also includes songs about winter, snowfall and other events associated with the month of December. Musically, The Moody Blues are still in top-notch form as they perform spirited versions of "White Christmas", "In The Bleak Midwinter" and John Lennon's "Happy Xmas". Additionally, Moody members Justin Hayward and John Lodge add their own original material including Hayward's rocking opener "I Don't Need A Reindeer" and beautiful ballad "December Snow" as well as Lodge's lush orchestrated "On This Christmas Day" and "The Spirit of Christmas". The only minor drawback with this album is the absence of original Moody member Ray Thomas who retired from the band this year after 40 years. His unique vocals and haunting flute are missed but the three remaining members do more than their share of making up for Thomas's absence. | |
| Blues and Purples for the holiday season | |
| I just bought the latest albums by The Moody Blues and Deep Purple, my two -all time- favorite bands. The Moody Blues have decided to put out a Xmas album instead of a proper NEW album like Purple have done. I have been hoping for a couple years now to have a proper follow up to Strange Times (1999) but no. The new release December is pleasant enough and I'm sure it will come in handy as the holidays approach, but I was a little disappointed once the disc ended. I waited four years for that!?! There is a lot of covers on December and there is NO Flutist Ray Thomas. You would have thought Ray would have been perfect for a Xmas CD. Oh well. On the other side of the coin is Bananas by Deep Purple. Wow! A consistently brilliant album is out on the market. I absolutely loved this album on first listen and still love it after many more hearings. There is so much going on below the surface, but very listenable to. They even do a version of the song Haunted. Ian Gillan sings great throughout and with lots of his own harmonies, like on Never A Word, a piece of folk rock meets Baroque. Contact Lost (Space Shuttle Columbia tribute) gives this CD the most stunning ending we could possibly experience. Deep Purple (as well as the Moodies) are the real deal! Bananas is a winner, from start to finish! This has got to be the best album released in 2003, pushing the Fleetwood Mac album Say You Will (April 2003) down to number two. 3 ½ stars: December | |
| december | |
| I have the moody blues as the # 1 rock group since days of future past,I have seen them in concerts 3 times since I came to Canada and I'll love to watch them every time I can,I have spend thousands of dollars in their long plays,cassetes,cds and dvds, I always thought of them as one of the few people in this world who have seen and sang about the things are happenning in this human world,with all the violence,pollution,destruction of this planet and us, and at the same time with all the wonderful and magic things this life has to offer to those that have been able to discover and live them.What I find strange with this new album "december" is like if they couldn't find another kind of time and theme to sing their songs,times changes so we are,I hope they can keep that line in their lyrics and music,with their messages of love,peace,joy,that this world needs so much. |
