Album Review: Bob Dylan – Christmas in the Heart
Ever wonder what it might be like if Bob Dylan showed up at your house for the holidays, everyone got a little loaded on Christmas cheer (and eggnog), and Dylan was coaxed into leading a rousing round of carols? Neither have I. But, ready or not, Santa Claus isn’t the only one coming into our homes this Christmas. Bob Dylan is barreling down that chimney right behind him with Christmas in the Heart, a 15-track collection of both traditional and popular Christmas songs.
Yuletide cheer isn’t the only thing fueling Dylan on Christmas in the Heart. Actually, the real reason behind this unlikely release speaks to an aspect of human nature that often shines brightest during the holiday season: good will toward men. Dylan has teamed up with three charities — Feeding America, Crisis UK, and World Food Programme — dedicated to feeding the hungry in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the developing world. All of Dylan’s present and future royalties from Christmas in the Heart will be donated to these organizations.
Knowing the charitable impetus for this record doesn’t make it any less of a curiosity. When Columbia Records first leaked the news that Dylan was making a Christmas album, there was widespread speculation regarding what the album would sound like. Would it be similar to the legendary singer-songwriter’s recent output? Would Dylan rework and reinvent these holiday classics as he does with his own catalog on his Never-Ending Tour? In short, not at all. This is not a record of Dylan reinventing or “Bobifying” our favorite Christmas songs. They are straightforward renditions, which are easily recognizable to kids from 1 to 92. Think of the old Christmas records your grandparents used to play, complete with sleigh bells and sugarcoated backing vocals. Now, substitute Bing Crosby or Perry Como’s croon with Dylan’s ragged croak. If you can imagine that combination, you have Christmas in the Heart in a chestnut shell.
There is actually a lot of fun to be had with this album once listeners get beyond the oddity of Bob Dylan singing Christmas songs. A rollicking version of “Here Comes Santa Claus” jumpstarts the record in fine holiday fashion. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Christmas Song” (the one with chestnuts roasting on an open fire) suit Dylan and find him in fine voice, tinged with a brand of sweetness only he can conjure. More offbeat tracks include the tropical “Christmas Island” and a deranged polka version of “Must Be Santa”, which has Dylan leading a rapid-fire call-and-response that is guaranteed to make you smile and want to join in.
Some of the songs Dylan covers seem right up his alley. “Winter Wonderland” isn’t too far removed from some of the meandering songs on Love and Theft, and it’s difficult to resist Dylan’s playful interjections throughout. “We’ll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman,” sing female backing singers, to which Dylan heartily replies, “Until the other kids all knock him down!” “Christmas Blues” sounds like it would fit comfortably beside “My Wife’s Hometown” on the recent Together Through Life. ”I’ve done my window shopping/There’s not a store I’ve missed/But what’s the use of stopping/When there’s no one on your list?/You’ll know the way I’m feeling/When you love and you lose/I guess I’ve got the Christmas blues.”
For the most part, Dylan doesn’t stray from his comfort zone vocally. He does venture out on “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, and even with some highly complimentary backing tracks, it’s clear that Dylan just can’t deliver a traditional version of this song. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is a song that Dylan really could have knocked out of the park, but he just can’t quite overcome the gruffness of his voice like he does on the album’s better tracks.
If you’re expecting the next great work of Dylan’s late period, you won’t find it here. However, if you engage Christmas in the Heart in the charitable and playful spirit in which it is intended, you’ll find it an enjoyable novelty that may even grow on you.
And, when you think about it, I suppose a Christmas album isn’t all that shocking of a move for Dylan. After all, “O’ Come All Ye Faithful” is just another way of saying, “Come gather ‘round people,” isn’t it?
Rating: 
Check Out:
See:
On Tour Now!
I suspect people will look back on this album and say “That’s when Dylan reinvented Christmas”.
Happy Christmas Your Bobness
Bob,
Thanks for your comments. The reception of this album has been as varied as you’re likely to see with a release. I’ve seen it hailed as a holiday triumph, which I don’t agree with, and I’ve seen it completely panned as an embarrassing joke, which I also don’t agree with. I’ve read plenty of poor reviews of this album, so I think it’s quite possible to give Bob Dylan a bad review. ‘Tis the season.
Critics each have their own approach to reviewing. My method, for what it’s worth, leaves room to look at the particulars that surround the creation of an album. In this case, I took into consideration that Dylan was doing his good deed for the year, making a straightforward Christmas album, and not even attempting to pick up where he left off with his regular studio output. And, as a straightforward Christmas album, I believe the album meets its aims decently, no more or less. Personally, I don’t obsess over ratings. Some would say this is a 2.5-star album. Others would argue tooth and nail that anything other than a 3.175 is absurd. That’s not me. But whether you agree with how I rate an album or not, I think any fair-minded reader knows exactly how I feel about this record by reading the next to last paragraph of my review. That matters more to me than distinguishing between 2.5 and 3 stars.
If Bob Dylan was an unknown artist, would I still give this album 3 stars? I don’t know. I’d look at the particulars of that album, put my thoughts down, and come up with a number of stars between 1 and 5, allowing for increments of a half star. I don’t know what else to tell you.
Does Dylan get a pass because he has a nontraditional voice? To the contrary, I think Dylan, not unlike Tom Waits, derives a lot of his emotional weight due to a nontraditional voice. He makes it work for him, and people embrace it. I never penalize or praise someone purely for a singing style. I look at overall effect.
Thanks for your comments and for reading.
all for the best,
matt melis
Dylan’s “Must Be Santa” is great. Love listening to it again and again. Really fast, unlike Christmas assemblies at school where the kindergarten class sings it at a snail’s pace. I’m a Dylan fan so I like this album, but I can understand some others cringing at his croaky voice. However, this is a Dylan album I could probably buy my parents and they would like it. Plus proceeds go to a good cause!
Three stars would suggest that this album is better than average. While in reality it sounds a lot like midnight mass at the karaoke bar. If the point is charity (though this should not affect the review) seems like a round-about way to donate your money. Why can no one give Bob Dylan a bad review? Does he get a pass because he never had a traditional singing voice to begin with? I find it hard to believe that this reviewer would give 3 stars to the same album being produced by an unknown artist.
Yesterday
when does this come out??