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Music review: Ana Gasteyer ëƵ ëƵSugar & BoozeëƵ

By Clint Rhodes for The 3 min read
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Music review: Ana Gasteyer ëƵ ëƵSugar & BoozeëƵ
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Rhodes

With Halloween now just a sugarcoated memory and Thanksgiving quietly waiting in the wings, itëƵs that glorious period when artists begin releasing new holiday albums.

While IëƵll admit that my Christmas music collection is so extensive that I normally only get the opportunity to listen to a portion of the catalog before the season has passed me by, that doesnëƵt deter me from still getting excited when the new releases are announced.

Last year, a sentimental and humorous offering by JD McPherson completely won me over. Simply titled ëƵSocks,ëƵ McPhersonëƵs debut Christmas release was full of retro-sounding arrangements that reflected a simpler time when children really did believe in Santa.

Ana GasteyerëƵs ëƵSugar & BoozeëƵ is the early front-runner this year. The new album from the former ëƵSaturday Night LiveëƵ cast member features a modern take on the swing and jazz sounds of the ëƵ50s and ëƵ60s.

GasteyerëƵs performance is a pleasurable treat as she smoothly navigates a delightful assortment of original tracks with a number of holiday classics sprinkled in for good measure.

On the title track, Gasteyer expresses a fondness for snowmen, turtle doves, Christmas tree lights, mistletoe and holly. However, she coyly confesses that the best part of the holidays is hitting the sweets and sauce.

ëƵSecret SantaëƵ is another clever original that features Gasteyer with Maya Rudolph spilling the beans about a recent trip to Havana in search of the perfect Christmas gift, where she clumsily slips on a banana and wakes up in a cabana sipping rum and orange Fanta.

Traditional favorites like ëƵHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,ëƵ ëƵIëƵve Got My Love to Keep Me WarmëƵ and ëƵSleigh RideëƵ set a seasonal mood by stirring up images of spending quality time with friends and family by a cozy fire with a winter wonderland magically appearing outside as snow blankets the ground in a covering of sparkling white.

Gasteyer adds a little sex appeal and over-the-top dramatics to ëƵYouëƵre a Mean One Mr. GrinchëƵ and provides an abundance of energy and charisma to ëƵThe Man with the Bag.ëƵ

ëƵChildren Go Where I Send TheeëƵ finds Gasteyer delivering the true reason for the season on this moving arrangement about faith, hope and joy.

As you prepare for your Thanksgiving feast, remember that itëƵs never too early to begin preparing for Christmas. One thing that is certain, ëƵSugar & BoozeëƵ will help to make the yuletide gay.

Clint Rhodes is the ëƵ-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.

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