Search - Various Artists :: Merry Axemas

Alex Lifeson's Contribution Is Beautiful

Sandra Foster | Brookhaven, NY | 12/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I found Alex Lifeson's (Rush) acoustic "The Little Drummer Boy" to be the most strong, moving, beautiful cover on this CD. Alex's deep, tonal guitar work dances in step with the rest of the music, swirling into a full crescendo of grace and power at the end. Utilizing his home studio for this project, he incorporates the sound of bells at the end that says 'holiday' music much more eloquently than just some shaken jingle bells...something I suspect some artists think they can do to a song to make it a holiday tune.



The song is poignant and touching, not only as one recalls the words that speak of the greatness of giving gifts from the heart, but because according to the date of the release of this CD: October 1997. I do not know the timeframe that the artists on this CD had to submit work, but Alex may have been writing this just after the tragic death of the daughter of his band mate Neil Peart. So, I wonder if the subject of the song (a drummer) had anything to do with his choice, and its saturated emotional quality of hope and longing.



Eric Johnson's "The First Noel" is definitely worth a mention. This song glistens with sweet holiday sparkle, and like Alex's "The Little Drummer Boy", works nicely with all of my other holiday 'house' music.



Both of these songs feature the guitar, but not at the expense of the song. The other songs on the CD are very nicely done, but some artists have showy solos in the songs, which I don't care for because it's as if they're saying `whee, lookit me!', but if this is what you like then you'll love it!

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