Christmas Gonzo Style

Jerry Jeff Walker's got the right idea about Christmas music. As he writes in his fun and memorable liner notes, "When we finally decided it was time to do a Christmas album, we had two thoughts in mind: it should be fun, and it should have sleigh bells!" Walker's always had the corner on a peculiar brand of country-rock pathos that cuts right to listeners' pleasure centers. Maybe it's his no-Nashville-nonsense attitude or his Everyman voice (thin and fragile enough in its satisfying imperfection, but effective enough to make you want to sing along). Whatever the reason, Walker delivers a fairly pleasant down-home mixture of songs arranged with old-fashioned country trappings and few gaudy embellishments. What's more, when was the last time you heard the "Twelve Days of Christmas" retooled to reflect a cowboy's wish list (two pairs of boots, dancin' ladies, prancin' horses, buckin' bulls, cowboy shirts, and five cans of beans)? Almost makes a guy want to move to Texas. --Martin Keller  more