This set includes two previously-unreleased bonus tracks. Lying somewhere in between are "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Jingle Bell Rock," "The First Noel," "Jingle Bells" (which goes country), "Blue Christmas," "Silver Bells," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Frosty the Snowman," "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," "Greensleeves," "Winter Wonderland," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Feliz Navidad," "White Christmas," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Happy Xmas," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" and "Auld Lang Syne." Taken as a whole, this is quite an accomplished body of work. Truly raucous tunes include "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Twelve Days of Christmas," "My Favorite Things," "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," "Deck the Halls," "Joy to the World," "Carol of the Bells," "God Rest" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." Quieter or more peaceful selections are "Little Drummer Boy" (complete with sitar), "O Come All Ye Faithful," "The Christmas Song" (which has that hotel lounge or elevator feel to it), "Silent Night," "Ave Maria" and "Away in a Manger" (which is quite beautiful). Offerings range from acoustic pickings to full-blown rockers. This collection is hardly head-banging from start to finish. If you don't have the set list next to you, you have to wait until he gets to the verses to know what's ahead. He also creates new introductions that usually don't provide clues as to the identities of the songs. There's nothing wrong with coming up with new twists on that which is all-too familiar. Gary changes up the pacing on a few tunes, at times employing a shuffle beat where none was evident before, and that's OK. At first listen, you might doubt that a hard rocker can get away with performing popular carols and holiday songs but in most instances, the match really works. They've been replaced by electric guitars and drum machines. Gone are the robed choirs and angelic tones. A total of 36-37 songs are included, depending how you count them. With a few small changes, this two-disc set is generally a compilation from four previous releases: Ho! Ho! Hoey, Ho! Ho! Hoey II, Ho! Ho! Hoey 3 and The Best of Ho! Ho! Hoey. Here he shows off his arranging skills as well as his fretwork, using a variety of guitars, keyboards and effects. That would be Gary Hoey, an excellent guitarist in his own right, and technically a one-man band. What if Santa arrived at your house outfitted in leather and chains, and you watched as he lifted off his mirrored sunglasses once he parked his Harley by the curb? What if his cadre of elves included Eddie Van Halen and the members of KISS, AC/DC, Black Sabbath and Metallica? What if someone arranged holiday songs with a hard rock or heavy metal bent? Rambles.NET: Gary Hoey, Ho! Ho! Hoey: The Complete Collection Gary Hoey,
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