And yet, the whole atmosphere is so utterly charming that I can't help but like this damn thing. Even now. In the middle of July (or whatever month this is). Because, well damnit, none of the new songs are bad at all. In fact, they're all better than decent. "Birthday Card" is fun and slightly rockin', "Last Man" is definitely pleasing in a toe-tappin' folksy sorta way, and "First Snow" is beautifully constructed and even has some real emotion. "Winter Snowscape" could be a little more varied, but still, very nice atmosphere.

 

And the re-recordings are certainly more than just "re-recordings;" they're all handled in the usual "live" Tull style of changing things around so that you'll never think you're listening to the same ole song. But, strangest of all, the carols are great! They're not at all pale cocktail jazz shopping mall fair; no, these things can contain teeth and charm in equal parts, much like when ELP would rock out on "Hoedown" or something. In fact, my favorite piece on the whole album is probably the "God Rest Ye" jam; that thing's pretty gosh darned good. Love the "evil" dip in the middle where Martin starts channeling Brian May.

 

And the flow is...weird. Good weird, it's like hearing the band just playing in the background of a buffet, like a hotel house band. In a way, it IS the whole "shopping mall lounge jazz" thing, because this all flows so naturally that I could expect to hear it blasting out of seasonal speakers at the local Bloomingdales, or wherever you get your Christmas shopping out of the way in July.

 

And...and...crap, I just reviewed the whole album But, of course, I need your opinion. So I can strike you down.

 

Indeed; "Fires at Midnight" and "Weathercock" I think we can fudge, but one wonders exactly how "Bouree" is a Christmas tune...