Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars For Christmas

Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars For Christmas

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Steve Vai takes the concept of pairing guitar shredders and Christmas classics one step further, putting another string of pickers on the tree with a little less spectacular results than on his first outing. Which isn't to say that this album is a lump of coal. There are some riveting moments, especially when Steve Stevens dry-gulches "Do You Hear What I Hear," first lulling the listener into reverential submission with an almost medieval rendering of this time-honored classic, then shifting gears and jetting into Christmas future with some unconventional note-bending. Ted Nugent's "Deck the Halls" reminds one why the Amboy Dukes and Damn Yankees were appealing, before the Nuge filled himself full of hot air. An added plus is Robin Trower's rather restrained "O Little Town of Bethlehem." One complaint: the players tend to lose the melody line in their efforts to tart up Christmas classics into something experimental. --Jaan Uhelszki

Tracks:

Christmas Song - Steve Lukather
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Neal Schon
Do You Hear What I Hear - Steve Stevens
Sleigh Ride - Stuart Hamm
O Come All Ye Faithful - Trevor Rabin
White Christmas - Zakk Wylde
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - John Sykes
O Little Town of Bethlehem - Robin Trower
Carol of the Bells - Al di Meola
Deck the Halls - Ted Nugent

Customer Reviews:

Meyy Axemas Vol 2.......2006-02-16

Has some great tracks and others not so great. The good tracks emmulate Christmas, while others use it for another jam fest. Not nearly as good as Merry Axemas Vol 1.

Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars For Christmas

Average customer rating:

Ted Nugent Rocks on "Deck the Halls"!
Creative Liscence for musicians took them a little too far
This Is The One
Weaker
metal drone, no blues players, still no singing

Merry Axemas, Vol. 2: More Guitars For Christmas
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000DFS6
Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

The Christmas Song - Steve Lukather
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Neal Schon
Do You Hear What I Hear - Steve Stevens
Sleigh Ride - Stu Hamm
O Come All Ye Faithful - Trevor Rabin
White Christmas - Zakk Wylde
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - John Sykes
O Little Town Of Bethlehem - Robin Trower
Carol Of The Bells - Al Di Meola
Deck The Halls - Ted Nugent

Amazon.com

Steve Vai takes the concept of pairing guitar shredders and Christmas classics one step further, putting another string of pickers on the tree with a little less spectacular results than on his first outing. Which isn't to say that this album is a lump of coal. There are some riveting moments, especially when Steve Stevens dry-gulches "Do You Hear What I Hear," first lulling the listener into reverential submission with an almost medieval rendering of this time-honored classic, then shifting gears and jetting into Christmas future with some unconventional note-bending. Ted Nugent's "Deck the Halls" reminds one why the Amboy Dukes and Damn Yankees were appealing, before the Nuge filled himself full of hot air. An added plus is Robin Trower's rather restrained "O Little Town of Bethlehem." One complaint: the players tend to lose the melody line in their efforts to tart up Christmas classics into something experimental. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews:

Ted Nugent Rocks on "Deck the Halls"!.......2002-11-22

This is a great companion to Merry Axemas. Although I agree, that at times, some musicians lose sight of the melody in this CD, Ted Nugent does an absolute tour-de-force on "Deck the Halls" without losing the melody at all. WOW--I would have gotten the CD for just this song alone from the Motor City Madman, though all the renditions have their merit.

Creative Liscence for musicians took them a little too far.......2001-12-05

The first CD was great. Almost everyone did a wonderful job in not losing the melody. Melody is the key part in christmas songs. I'm a believer in the fact that if you're going to do a song (where the melody is important)- you should be creative in ways to keep the melody going without playing the same thing over and over again. On the second CD, Al Dimeola, Mr. Wylde, and Stu Hamm all play examples of what I'm talking about. None of them lost the melody of the song. The rest of the tracks on the Vol. 2 CD also have tremendous musical ideas in them, and they sound great until whoever's playing goes off into his own world, and the melody get's trashed. The solos may show that they're gifted musicians, but it's almost like they forget what they're playing. I found the first CD more enjoyable because it had a lot less of the "losing the melody". Regardless, the CD is worth getting for Stu Hamm's track and Zach Wylde's White Chritmas.

This Is The One.......2000-11-11

It seems that I may be among the minority that found this one to be better than the first. This one does rock harder and does have a tendency to take wild rides that may clash at times with the main melody, but isn't that what rock is all about? It never gets boring. I would recommend this one to anybody for the first track alone. Steve Lukather proves himself as a master of the fretboard with his rendition of The Christmas Song. I am a fan of the production on this one as well. Another success for Vai. Pour some eggnog, turn your stereo up to 11 and enjoy the ride!

Weaker.......1999-12-25

The first Vol. is better. This new one is heavier and more industrialized. If you enjoy hard rock, you will easily get stuck into it, but if you are looking for something more predictable, you wont find it here.Its a nice Cd for a Christmas party full of beer!

metal drone, no blues players, still no singing.......1999-12-09

Predominant metal drone, head-bashing. Where are the blues, jazz players? Love Lukather, Stevens jiggy thangs. Hamm -- yes, more bass players! Too much guitar -- still disappointed Prodcuer Vai won't let the guys sing, use guitar for punctuation. Prefer volume 1.

thibon feesh

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