Review Summary: "Why me? Do I look like Father Christmas to you mofos?"
Thinking about it, being asked to create a Christmas album must be a real bother. The company is likely to have its own reasons and beliefs about you for asking such a task, but Steve Lukather's reaction -which you can read above- is definitely understandable. On June 2002, the guitarist of Toto fame teamed up with keyboardist Jeff Babko to arrange (and rearrange) the album, recorded in a week with the participation of some interesting friends. The idea became quickly clear. Lukather, unimpressed by the various Christmas albums gently lent by his neighbor, aimed for the creation of something that kept the essence of the originals but that could also stand on its own.
Enter
Santamental, a mostly instrumental album where the Christmas spirit blends with a jazz sound with a rocking attitude. The first three tracks are a great example of the album's facets. While Steve Lukather trades effected solos with Eddie Van Halen in the upbeat "Joy to the World", "Greensleeves" is a lengthy jazz fusion piece where keyboard, guitar and sax alternate in soloing, followed by a duet between Lukather and a sampled Sammy Davis Jr. in the classic "Jingle Bells". The rest follows rotating around similar principles, with guest spots filled with names like Slash, Steve Vai, Scott Hamilton, Edgar Winter, Lenny Castro and more, even Lukather's son. The most unique track is possibly the closing "The Christmas Song", a short piece arranged with Larry Carlton that would not feel completely out of place on an album by Pat Metheny.
The album should not be underestimated for its status of Christmas release. That said, the instrumental tracks are easily the stronger part of the album, while the sung ones tend to feel hit or miss at times. This is due to something that Lukather did not manage to disguise very well. What struck the man while listening to the lent Christmas albums was the cheesiness of the compositions, stating "Originally, they are all just major scale happy little songs; really cheesy". Truthfully, though the jazzy incursions spice things up a lot, the tracks with vocals will most likely be remembered by the listeners as "happy little songs" too.
As a consequence, the album's first half results tighter than the second. Still, the two real highlights and arguably most memorable moments are equally divided between the two halves. On side one, "Carol of the Bells" steals the show for being the heaviest track on the album, featuring infectious guitar and an unexpected strapping drumming in its last section. On side two instead, "Silent Night" brings a jazzy twist to a track where the instantly recognizable melody of the original will surely capture the listener.
Even with a dip in the middle,
Santamental is an album that contains more than worthy material with a few very bright moments. Do not be fooled by appearances,
Santamental is not only an underrated Christmas album, but an underrated one in general. Give it a chance, holiday or not, especially if you are into jazz fusion.
