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From the git go, I had already decided not to relegate this fun group to the Choral sea, and to try to feature them over in Pop. By the time I heard the third song, I had noticed a definite resemblance to The Beach Boys. And I hadn't even looked at the track list, so when they came at me with a spot on rendition of Little Saint Nick they had me laughing with joy. (I'm guessing somebody, probably their producer, had already given them some feedback about that Beach Boys vibe.)

I sang in a few choirs back in the day, and I know how difficult it is for an a cappella group to sound better than grass coming out of the west end of a cow. So, when I hear a talented men's chorus I am immediately put in mind of needles and haystacks and hen's teeth. Straight No Chaser is good! They are funny, and fun, and I have to keep wiping the musicality off my hands every time I pick up their CD.

I liked all fourteen tracks, but Dan Ponce's original song Indiana Christmas brought tears to both eyes. I'm serious: I usually roll my eyes whenever I need to review a men's chorus, but these fellows had me wiping them instead.

Straight No Chaser's Holiday Spirits is a hands down 2008 top pick for me.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2008)

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From the liner notes:

Straight No Chaser is

Ryan Ahlwardt

Walter Chase

Jerome Collins

Michael Itkoff

Michael Luginbill

Charlie Merchling

Steve Morgan

Dan Ponce

David Roberts

Randy Stine

Straight No Chaser

Holiday Spirits

Artist link

Track List