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I tend to think of the Olsen twins more as pop phenoms than as performers. I'm sure this characterization isn't fair to them, as they have been performing all their lives. And it has been a very long time since I was in the target demographic to appreciate such phenoms, so who am I? But an Amazon Search for "Ashley Olsen" turned up literally thousands (!) of items (mostly books). I am awed by the Dualstar marketing machine, but it is a machine. Of the 17 CDs returned by this search, Mary-Kate and Ashley's Cool Yule wasn't one of them, which (probably) means only that somebody at Amazon didn't get this title input correctly when it was entered on the system. It probably does not mean this particular CD was substantially inferior to the other 17 recordings stamped out by the machine.

There is nothing really wrong with Mary-Kate and Ashley's Cool Yule. I don't doubt its production values and content rank it respectably among other Mary-Kate and Ashley CDs. I was unmoved by the music, but I'm not a child and I've never been a fan of their television shows. At the time this recording was made (1993) the twins were only eight or nine years old, so they needed a lot of help, because their voices just don't project much volume. They got vocal assistance from Danny Donnelly, Terry Wood, Randy Crenshaw, Carl Groves, Sean Holt, Angie Jaree, and others. But even with all the help, it sounds like the whole thing was scripted by someone early in the week, approved by the producer by late Wednesday, recorded the next day in one take, edited before the weekend, and hit store shelves by the following week. In other words, it was competently produced, manufactured and marketed, but it sounded pretty uninspired to these jaded ears.

I did like their Silent Night finale. It sounded heartfelt.

I expect Olsen Twins fans won't be disappointed by Mary-Kate and Ashley's Cool Yule, but this record is strictly for fans and serious collectors.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes:

Executive Producer: Phil Baron

Album Producers: Richard Friedman and Gary Lux

A note from Mary-Kate and Ashley:

Hi, Everyone!
What would Christmas be without family, friends, presents, and, of course, great music!? Here are 11 of our favorite holiday songs that are sure to get your Christmas party started right. Just pop the album on, turn it up, and wherever you are, we'll be singing, dancing, and celebrating along with you!!!

Wishing you a way "Cool Yule"
Mary-Kate & Ashley

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen

Mary-Kate and Ashley's Cool Yule

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Track List