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A Chris Isaak Christmas? What's that, fourteen songs about how Chris got dumped during the holidays? "Mrs. Claus Did a Bad, Bad Thing"?
But I kid Mr. Forever Blue. And I'm not too far off, either, as his concert special "Chris Isaak Christmas" features several carols about loneliness, including that old standby, "Blue Christmas," in which the singer lets loose his inner Heartbreak Hotel.
Really, though, it's a rocking, rollicking hour of musical fun from the unclassifiable singer-songwriter. With his band decked out in tuxedos and himself done up in a series of Elvis-inspired sequin-covered suits, Isaak lends his distinctive swagger to eleven holiday classics and five new songs. The concert was produced in 2004 by PBS for their "Soundstage" series, just in time for that year's release of Isaak's Christmas album. (Fifteen of that album's songs appear here; for those keeping score, the record's closer, "Auld Lang Syne," is dumped in favor of "Santa Bring My Baby Back.")
Isaak is loose and fun, as is his backing bandmates, who take great pleasure in joking around in between songs. Their comfortable vibe translates well to their performances, where a swinging, playful sound hides an airtight collaboration. The standards all sound swell, with upbeat takes on "Rudolph" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," while Isaak's rockabilly-meets-surf style gels well with tunes like "Mele Kalikimaka" and "Pretty Paper." The real standouts are Isaak's originals, a small collection of retro-modern gems that fit well among the classics.
Joining Isaak on stage throughout the show are Michael Bublé, Brian McKnight, and Stevie Nicks. McKnight and Nicks don't seem like they're given enough to do, outside of a rousing encore where all take the stage on last time; Nicks looks like she's restraining herself, and McKnight gets placed aside to play piano. Still, both sound sharp and add nice touches to the evening's program. Bublé, meanwhile, gets the most work of the guest stars, joining Isaak for two duets and earning ample screen time. We're told that Isaak and Bublé are old pals, and it shows: the two have a stage rapport that's hard to beat.
"Chris Isaak Christmas" flies by, just under an hour, and it's not so much "Christmas special" as "quickie concert." Isaak and friends are in top form, however, making the show a pleasant, if all too brief, one.
The songs featured in "Chris Isaak Christmas" are:
"Blue Christmas"
"Mele Kalikimaka"
"Washington Square"
"The Christmas Song" (with Michael Bublé)
"Let It Snow" (with Michael Bublé)
"Gonna Be Good"
"Pretty Paper"
"Hey Santa!"
"Brightest Star"
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (with Brian McKnight)
"Last Month of the Year"
"Santa Bring My Baby Back"
"White Christmas"
"Christmas on TV"
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (with Stevie Nicks)
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (with Stevie Nicks, Michael Bublé, and Brian McKnight)
The DVD
Video & Audio
"Chris Isaak Christmas" was shot with an eye for HD broadcast, and as such looks and sounds spectacular, even on standard DVD. The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen image is gorgeous, rich with color and crisp detail.
The Dolby 5.1 soundtrack is even better, providing a lush, deep sound, with the action spread around enough to deliver a full concert experience. An alternate stereo track is also included, and while it's flatter when compared to the big surround mix, it's steady enough to get by. No subtitles are provided.
Extras
The lone extra is a deleted performance of "I'll Be Home for Christmas." It's a sweet, almost melancholy performance, one that reminds us that the concert presentation is far too short.
Final Thoughts
Diehard fans of Isaak will surely want to pick this up for the quality performance and top notch presentation, but everyone else will do fine to simply Rent It. The show's too short for the asking price, really, even if it is a fine performance. |
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