What I Really Want for Christmas (2005)

What I Really Want for Christmas

• This is Brian Wilson’s first seasonal solo album, and it’s definitely worth a listen. I really love listening to this one every year, as it has a great mix of traditional and original songs. The presence of several originals is why this album is so great and unique. Along with the traditional and originals, Brian also does a couple covers of songs from The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album. The album starts out with “The Man with All the Toys”, which is followed by “What I Really Want for Christmas”. Both songs are written by Brian, so you get to immediately start the album off with the classic Beach Boys sound. I really like Brian’s cover of “The Man with All the Toys”, and although someone still sings falsetto, it’s still hard to listen to that song without Brian’s 60’s voice. You then get more traditional Christmas songs, such as “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” (which has an awesome pace, unlike other versions), “O Holy Night”, and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”. They’re all done beautifully, and although you’ve heard them a thousand times, Brian still makes them sound new. Towards the middle of the album, you get to listen to another Wilson original, “Christmasey”. It’s performed in a really great key, and the chord progression is great. I remember the first time I ever heard that song, I think I listened to it 4 or 5 times in a row before moving on. That’s how catchy and put together it is. “Little Saint Nick” follows, which is arguably the Beach Boys’ most famous Christmas song. Although it’s hard to beat the original, Brian’s cover rivals it, and it captures the exact same early Beach Boys sound that the first version had. You also get “Auld Lang Syne”, which is performed almost the same way as the version on The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album. “On Christmas Day” follows, which is another great Wilson original for this album. The album ends with “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night”, both traditional Christmas hymns. It’s a great way to end the album, as it leaves it on a joyous and grateful tone. It also reminds you of the true meaning of Christmas. Overall, I would definitely recommend this album to everyone, and it’s one of my favorite ones to listen to in December. This album is officially Berry Approved, so go give it a listen!