Our Review
Perhaps it is no secret to fans of the Bobs that none of the members of the Bobs is named Bob. Well, it surprised me to find out that not one of the four madcap zanies on Too Many Santas is apparently an original member of the group. Be that as it may (or may not), the Bobs really put together an unusual Christmas cocktail.
To my ears, the true test of an a cappella record is whether or not I spend a lot of time wishing for some instrumental accompaniment. Which is another way of saying that a cappella productions are a lot harder to pull off than the average record. I am delighted to report that the Bobs flew under my radar to put together the "full-bodied" sound I was hoping to hear.
But while their trademark sound is performed without instruments or synthetics, they are not above occasionally making the sounds of instruments. I thought they succeeded best with the "rhythm section" on Rasta Reindeer (Little Saint Nick), a Brian Wilson meets Bob Marley arrangement worth the price of the record.
I also liked the retrocomic talking Santa's Got a Brand New Bag, whose understated irony made the gag all the funnier. Not to be overlooked is Joe Finetti's All I Want for Christmas, a beautifully rendered portrait about an important Christmas truth, that the season is really about relating to loved ones.
Too Many Santas includes several other comic turns, but I'm not going to spoil Christmas by telling you what's in every package waiting for you under the tree.
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2000)
No More
Bobs
Too Many Santas
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Artist site
Label: Rounder
Length: 35 minutes
Genre: Novelty
Release: 1996
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Yuleman vs. the Anti-Claus |
| Mambo, Santa, Mambo |
| Too Many Santas |
| Christmas In Jail |
| Santa's Got A Brand New Bag |
| Fifty Kilowatt Tree |
| The Night Before The Night Before Christmas |
| Do You Hear What I Hear, Man? |
| Christmas In L.A. |
| Mrs Claus Want Some Lovin' |
| Rasta Reindeer |
| All I Want For Christmas |