Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
A tour de force of guitar players Steve Vai has known rock around the Christmas tree in this must-have Yuletide album. Vai, who began his career as a member of Frank Zappa's band and in more recent years has been David Lee Roth's partner in crime, transcends both roles by playing matchmaker between a few of our more inventive (albeit overlooked) guitar slingers and some of the best-loved Christmas carols. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer's proboscis has never glowed quite so brightly as when Kenny Wayne Shepherd cranks up his guitar and takes us down an edgy blues journey. Eric Johnson's clear-as-a-Christmas-bell tones are a joy to listen to in his rendition of "The First Nowell." The standout, however, is Jeff Beck's haunting and emotional "Amazing Grace." --Jaan Uhelszki --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Kenny Wayne Shepherd
The First Nowell - Eric Johnson
Amazing Grace - Jeff Beck
Jingle Bells - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Silent Night/Holy Night Jam - Joe Satriani
Joy To The World - Steve Morse
Christmas Time Is Here - Steve Vai
Blue Christmas - Joe Perry
The Little Drummer Boy - Alex Lifeson
Cantique De Noel (O' Holy Night) - Richie Sambora
Happy X-mas (War Is Over) - Hotei

Amazon.com

A tour de force of guitar players Steve Vai has known rock around the Christmas tree in this must-have Yuletide album. Vai, who began his career as a member of Frank Zappa's band and in more recent years has been David Lee Roth's partner in crime, transcends both roles by playing matchmaker between a few of our more inventive (albeit overlooked) guitar slingers and some of the best-loved Christmas carols. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer's proboscis has never glowed quite so brightly as when Kenny Wayne Shepherd cranks up his guitar and takes us down an edgy blues journey. Eric Johnson's clear-as-a-Christmas-bell tones are a joy to listen to in his rendition of "The First Nowell." The standout, however, is Jeff Beck's haunting and emotional "Amazing Grace." --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Stone cold masterpiece.......2006-12-12

Let's face it; a lot of Christmas music is overfamiliar, if not outright boring. Whenever Jose Feliciano's "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas" vomits out of the radio, I "wanna" run screaming from the room. "Merry Axemas" comes to the rescue, shredding the cobwebs with hurricane force. Familiar music is completely deconstructed and reimagined in a thrilling way, as world-class rock guitarists reinterpret songs we've all heard a million times. The passion and virtuosity takes my breath away; it's like hearing the melodies for the first time. I believe the apex of the disc is Joe Satriani's "Silent Night/Holy Night Jam." I rate this disc in the same category as the Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack, Phil Spector's "A Christmas Gift For You," and "Rockin' Little Christmas." This is timeless music; no "1001 strings" or Fairlight synthesizers to date it. Highly, highly recommended.

Rocking Stocking Stuffer.......2006-02-25

This (along with vol. 2) has become my favorite Christmas music. Some of it is just fun, some of it serious, all of it great! My favorites are "Joy To The World" and "Happy Xmas War Is Over). Combining Christmas with great guitar work is Heaven on earth.

Perfect for anyone who loves guitarists.......2004-11-11

What an absolutely fantastic album. It's so good that I have had to buy it three times, as the other two CDs mysteriously "vanished". Oh well, if I had low morals, I'd steal this, too. The mood of this album vascillates, as it starts off full swing in the holiday spirit, with a pretty literal version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. But my favourite track is Eric Johnson's "First Nowell". I'm a wee bit biased, as I think he is the greatest modern guitarist. But it truly is an extraordinary composition. It is in fact quite intricate, and he manages to incorporate his own flavour into the melody without destroying the structure of the piece. Which cannot be said for Joe Satriani's "Silent Night", which goes on a tangent of accousitcally illegible meanderings. Joe Perry does a fantastic job with "Blue Christmas". It is almost two songs, the first an homage to the classic version, with almost an Hawaiian tiki feel, and then he rips off the leis and the hawaiian shirt, and shows that underneath he has black leather pants and a ripped t-shirt and absolutely shreds it. I knew my 90 year old grandmother would like the first part of the song, and then the second part came on, and she said "Oh, my". Hilarious. Alot of the songs take you by surprise that these heavy metal guitarists can be so expressive. Kind of gives you a new insight. Who knew that Ritchie Sambora could be so eloquent? It ends perfectly, with Hotei's version of "So This Is Christmas". Like alot of the other reviewers, I listen to this year round, and this album is my absolute favourite "holiday" compilation. Buy it, if you don't like it, sell it to me, as someone will invariably steal my third CD of this album.

Guitar Heroes Do Christmas.......2003-09-14

Eleven guitar heroes join together to cover Christmas tunes in their own personal way. This gives a rockin' twist to the standards. From the first few notes from Kenny Wayne Shepherd's "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" you'll now that you're in for melodic delight. Everyone is here from Steve Vai, Satch, Beck, EJ and the BSO.

Highlights include "The First Nowell" from Eric Johnson. He starts us off with an acoustic rendition before stepping over to his electric guitar and wowing us with his fancy finger work, but nothing so flashy as to take away from the original work. As always, EJ's tone is right on and after a couple of his patented licks and runs he turns the tune into his own. The Brian Setzer Orchestra rocks Christmas with a swinging version of "Jingle Bells". The horns blare, and Brian gives us that Rockabilly fell on his Gretch. After checking out this upbeat tune you'll never know how it could have been any other way. Hotei comes in with a good rendition of Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". Jeff Beck gives a haunting performance on "Amazing Grace" pulling out his trademark bends, dives and swells. His take is very beautiful and fitting to more than just Christmas.

For anyone looking for a little less traditional take on Christmas music, or if you're a guitar junky, don't miss celebrating Christmas without this axe-ful album. You may even have to spin this disc in July.

Well-rounded Guitar Rock Christmas Collection.......2003-08-15

You can listen to this CD is August... you just might feel a little silly at a stop light with the windows down and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" cranked up to 11. Just take a look at the line-up of guitarists on this CD. You won't find anything like that anywhere else.

There is a lot of great stuff, but Steve Morse has the real stand-out track on this collection. "Joy to the World" indeed!
The Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Brian Setzer tracks are fun to listen to, and you can even sing along if you're into that kind of thing. Eric Johnson and Steve Vai each slow it down and do some great work on their songs.

A couple of interesting excursions away from Christmas come from Jeff Beck and Joe Satriani. Beck does an inspiring rendition of "Amazing Grace", but as far as I remember, that's not a Christmas song. And Satriani's "Silent Night/Holy Night Jam" begins and ends with the "Silent Night" melody, but there is a whole other trademark Satch jam in the middle that doesn't sound much like Christmas.

Tracks:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Kenny Wayne Shepherd
First Nowell - Eric Johnson
Amazing Grace - Jeff Beck
Jingle Bells - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Silent Night/Holy Night Jam - Joe Satriani
Joy to the World - Steve Morse
Christmas Time Is Here - Steve Vai
Blue Christmas - Joe Perry
Drummer Boy - Alex Lifeson
Cantique de Noel (O' Holy Night) - Richie Sambora
Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Average customer rating:

A must!!!! Incredible beautiful songs!!!
A great one! Makes me feel in Christmas all the year!
Excellent holiday music album

Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock Guitarists | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music
ASIN: B000007V2W
Release Date: 2000-04-11

Tracks:

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Kenny Wayne Shepherd
First Nowell - Angelic Voices of Faith, , Eric Johnson
Amazing Grace - Jeff Beck
Jingle Bells - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Silent Night/Holy Night Jam - Joe Satriani
Joy to the World - Steve Morse
Christmas Time Is Here - Steve Vai
Blue Christmas - Joe Perry
Little Drummer Boy - Alex Lifeson
Cantique de Noel (O' Holy Night) - Richie Sambora
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - Radwan Hoteit

Album Details

Guitar/metal Compilation Produced by Steve Vai. Japanese Release to Coantain an Exclusive Bonus Track.

Customer Reviews:

A must!!!! Incredible beautiful songs!!!.......2001-11-06

This album is a must among those who play the guitar, and those who like Christmas songs. Most of the songs are really beautiful, and so contemplative, so introspective, so passionate!!! Eric Johnson's The First Nowell is one of the most beautiful playing I ever heard. It is the perfect idea of Christmas. Steve Morse's Joy To The World is also GREAT!!!
This is a must!!!!! Buy it before you can't find it anymore...

A great one! Makes me feel in Christmas all the year!.......1998-08-24

For those who loves interesting guitar arrangements, this is for you! All tracks are rich in details and technique (if you don't believe me, just take a look to the musicians there). I'm quite impressed with the participation of Eric Johnson, the 'Master of Tones', who demonstrates here he's not only a marvelous guitarist, but a great MUSICIAN too.

Excellent holiday music album.......1998-06-24

For anyone that likes guitar music, here is an album worth listening to. It is a fresh spin on some old Christmas songs, performed by various guitarists (mainly from the Rock genre). It is produced by famous rock guitarist Steve Vai and features some great guitar arrangements of popular holiday favorites by some equally great musicians.The most note worthy selections are the creative version of "The Little Drummer Boy" performed by Alex Lifeson (of Rush) and "Rudolph" performed by Kenny Wayne Shepard. M.K.

Average customer rating:

Merry Axemas, A Guitar Christmas 1997
Various Artists
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000QV9WWK

Product Description

TRACK LISTING 1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Kenny Wayne Shepherd 2. First Nowell, The - Eric Johnson 3. Amazing Grace - Jeff Beck 4. Jingle Bells - Brian Setzer Orchestra 5. Silent Night / Holy Night Jam - Joe Satriani 6. Joy To The World - Steve Morse 7. Christmas Time Is Here - Steve Vai 8. Blue Christmas - Joe Perry Project 9. Little Drummer Boy, The - Alex Lifeson 10. Cantique De Noel - Richie Sambora :: O Holy Night - Richie Sambora 11. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - Hotei. 1997 Sony Music Entertainment, Inc., mfg. by Epic.

Music:

Music

Music