One could also ask, "What was wrong with Satchmo's voice?" Whatever was wrong and is with Dylan's didn't/doesn't stop them from fulfilling the purpose of singing--namely moving the listener with SOUL. The perfect voice of Bing's xmas music nearly put me to sleep. Bob's xmas renditions, on the other hand, fill me with joy, warmth and delight, that increase with each play.

I played Dylan's Christmas album at a house party and one of my guests asked me if my speakers were broken.

This is a strange conversation. Both critics seem to agree that the album has "sinister" undertones, that it is "bizarre", and that Dylan adopts an ironic stance toward the Christmas material. I don't hear that at all. I find Christmas in the Heart sweet, sincere, and at times very moving ("Little Drummer Boy"). Dylan sounds both reverential and vulnerable on most of these tracks, not sick and scary. "Must be Santa" is funny and really swings. But then I like Tiny Tim and Bing Crosby too.

[13] Joel -- silence. It happens. One time they even nixed an iPod playing Pearl Jam in the mix. (?!) It all depends on who's squad leader that night, I guess.

p.s. Apologies for the tardy reply.

[48] Pam ... Who's your nominee? (There's no right answer here. But there is one wrong answer: David Cassidy.)

John--Sorely disappointed in YOU: your guest has said that "Dylan is the most important figure in Western music in the last 100 years" and you've not replied. WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF? WTF?

[43] CJ! That was my error: I mixed you up with CB [9]! My regrets. With a single initial, I've rendered you a Tori Amos fan.

Dylan Christmas; No, No, No!
Must Be Santa? You Must Be Kidding!
His voice was always something to get past before you could appreciate his writing. There's no getting past this bomb, and the rest of the Jerseyites who approve have definitely tasted the Kristmas Kool-Aid.
(and I love Tom Waits - at least he knows how to match it to the material).

My dog loves to howl to the new " Dylan Christmas interaction" - I am not sure which one sounds better
.

I didn't say that about Tori Amos.... What are you talking about Joel Meyer?

Sugarbland if you ask me....

Any thoughts on NPR's own Garrison Keillor, who penned this article:
"Don't mess with Christmas"

http://www.salon.com/opinion/keillor/2009/12/15/cambridge/index.html

Why would you be wicked on a Christman album?

He wouldn't be Sting if it didn't sound pretentious.

You may love Dylan, you may hate Dylan or you just might not really care. However, you have to give credit to an American Icon, who always tried to raise people's awareness and who is donating his royalties from this album to charity. After all isn't that what the Holiday Season is all about?

The Dylan album will replace the fruitcake as the favorite "re-gift" item in the history of Christmas.

And btw Sting's pretension makes me want to yak.

UGGGGH, that Sting clip sounds worse than the Dylan!!! At least Dylan is having fun with it. I'm with Aimee and her awesome "Nightmare Before Christmas" analogy.

Dylan has always been dead serious about his sense of humor, which is wicked-funny. I dig the album, but admittedly I dig everything Bob.

What everyone is trying NOT to say is Dylan's voice is gone, it has been gone for a long time. There's a time and place for everything and he should have rested upon his laurels.

Dig the Rob Halpern one!

Neil Diamond now singing Christmas songs? What another Jew? Next thing you know, they'll tell us "White Christmas" was written by a Jew....

Neil Diamond is just milking his rabid fanbase.

i love dylan's album... and i'll mix it with los strait jackets 'tis the season for los strait jackets.

I love Dylan more than words, but was so startled and bummed to hear this record... on many levels. HOWEVER, what no one is mentioning is that Dylan did this record for charity. So to me, that makes it ok. Still don't like it, but I'm much less bummed.

From the clips you played earlier, it sounds like Santa Claus is coming to town to murder my children - I'm not sure if it's hilarious or horrifying.

Come on. Its so bizzare it's an instant classic akin to Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

I played the Dylan Xmas album in the car for my wife last night and she HATED IT. She may never listed to Dylan again after that. But I kinda like the record. It's a crazy album-- some songs are terrible (mostly the ballads) but the other half are, well, charming.

His voice is going...? When did he or Springsteen have a good voice? Voice was never part of Dylan's gig. He is a poet. And that is why a standard Christmas album makes no sense.

God bless Bob Dylan for pounding a stake in the evil heart of phony Christmas cheer.

Drummer Boy has a haunting minimalism remonding me of late Johnny Cash.

All this strange stuff about bob started in 1984 with We Are the World, Saturday Night Live did spoof on him and it's never ended. He should be a comedian.

Even at 68, the man can STILL simultaneously

* celebrate the American songbook
* evoke polarizing debate, and
* FREAK OUT cultural critics so that they're rendered apoplectic on public radio

Isn't that what he's done for four decades?

As I listen to this music, I can only think of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' where he is really trying to get it right, but it still comes out oddly scary -- maybe a last minute rescue at the end of the album???

I think you need to stop playing the dylan album.

What exactly are people expecting? This is Dylan, he ain't gonna sound like an angel on high.

Dude. I Love Dylan's Christmas album. It makes me laugh and smile which is something I always need around this time. And his backup singers are wonderful.

I think the worst record ever made was Chris Cornell's Scream but Dylan's X-mas album comes close. Alas it's saved because the proceeds go to a good cause. I can support it on that level.

it's different, interesting and kind'a cool. after listening to the millions of painful renditions of these Christmas song in the stores (just about to make me pull my hair out), i actually like this one.

[2] Lori - Do you recall the song that replaced Dylan on the Park Slope Food Co-Op speakers?

You heard it from Jim Derogatis, folks: "One of the worst records ever made. Period." What do you think?

So let me get this straight... a Jew is singing Christmas songs?

So let me get this straight... a Jew is singing Christmas song?

I imagine Dylan's holiday album is really only appealing to solid fans or as irony. As a non-fan (but not a hater) of Dylan, I find it unlistenable. Tori's seasonal album is in the same vein as appealing mostly to hardcore fans although she does have some interesting gems to make it memorable.

One critic (on NPR?) said it was the first time "I'll be Home for Christmas" ever sounded like a threat. Bob Dylan, scary stalker!

Dylan sounds like the Big Bad Wolf singing carols on parts of his Xmas album. Don't know if that's good or bad. There's something almost perverse about it.

I haven't seen fans & critics so divided since his Gospel period.
What a great record! The definitive version of Must Be Santa & a downright menacing I'll Be Home For Xmas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-5ar30_tgg best christmas song

best christmas song......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-5ar30_tgg

best christmas song......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-5ar30_tgg

I'm digging the bits of Dylan's album I've heard on the radio and will likely buy the album. Unlike most Christmas carol renditions, his versions make me smile.

However, the powers-that-be at the Park Slope Food Co-op felt otherwise last Thursday: someone's iPod played Dylan's "Noel" over the speakers, and after a mixed reaction from shoppers, the tune abruptly stopped.

Certainly the scariest Christmas album yet. Paging Lord Buckley.