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Our Review

Honestly, Rosie Flores' Christmasville is chockful of cool surprises. I brought certain wrong-headed preconceptions to this album--for one thing, the artist's name had me thinking that perhaps this was a Latin-flavored affair. Wrong! Rosie's CD is an eclectic blend of sassy numbers, including five originals (mostly cowritten by Rosie), and schizophrenic diversity from Tchaikovsky to John Lennon. Who knew?

The common denominator is fun and top-quality musicianship. So much talent and style! Rosie's clear voice reminds me of Rosemary Clooney with a slight country lilt. Her Blue Christmas is a revelation, painted in the bluest of blues, a forlorn number thick with minor chords that will have even the most upbeat holiday lover crying in her beer. Some tunes sound like sentimental, old-fashioned charmers from a bygone era (Christmas on West Mistletoe and Christmasville); others are bluesy tear-jerkers (My Christmas Tree Is Hung With Tears). The only instrumental, Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies, provides a modern interlude with jazzy guitar play. My favorite tracks are Secret Santa, a highly-charged creative gem that nicely generates a secret agent vibe and the samba-sweetness of Whatcha Waitin' for Christmas. Christmasville ends very well with Lennon's classy (and classic) Happy Christmas (War Is Over).

Rosie Flores' Christmasville had me smiling all over on a too-warm August night. Just imagine the grins this CD will generate by the time December hits! Go for it!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Rosie Flores: Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Will Barrow: "Scooters" $15 Upright Piano, Rhodes, Accordion, Sleigh Bells, Lead and Harmony Vocals
Pat Bergeson: Electric and Acoustic Guitars and Harmonica
Scott McEwen: Upright Bass and Electric Bass on "Christmasville," "Secret Santa," and "Run Run Rudolph"
John McTigue: Drums on "Christmasville," "Secret Santa," and "Run Run Rudolph"
Bryan Owings: Drums
Charlie Chadwick: Upright Bass
Chris Scruggs: Steel Guitar on "Christmasville"
Bobby King: Upright Bass on "Christmas On West Mistletoe"
Kira Small: Harmony Vocals on "Christmas Every Day"
Kids appearing on "Watcha Waiting for Christmas": Henry Petree, Marshall Camp, Mary Morris Camp, Lillie Allen

Rosie Flores

Christmasville

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Track List