Our Review
Sometimes, I have to marvel at the idea of something. That's how I feel about A Toolbox Christmas, Woody Phillips' collection of Christmas songs employing hand tools, power tools, and building materials. Once I got past the idea, then I began thinking about the work involved in learning and tuning the "instruments". This is the sort of task that could only be undertaken by a musician familiar with tools and building, and someone with a gifted ear. Phillips is probably one of the few musicians who could realize such a project.
The end result is an entertaining Christmas CD with several "serious" acoustical successes and a couple of songs that could get some novelty air play.
Many tools make interesting sounds. And it is rare we get the opportunity to hear tools "played" by accomplished musicians. Playing his tools for laughs, Phillips chose (not surprisingly) to include The Twelve Days of Christmas. Seemingly pulling out every tool in the shed, Phillips put his stamp on this timeless classic with a pneumatic nailer, a chain saw, and duct tape, among other tools. I also liked the hauntingly musical arrangement of Auld Lang Syne, with its table saw, pipes, and plucked saw blades.
Phillips had the good sense to invite several other good musicians to collaborate on his construction project, including Lars Johannesson, flute, Neal Hellman, mountain dulcimer, Shelley Phillips, oboe and English horn, and Barry Phillips, cello and mandolin.
Well-built.
--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2000)
No More
Woody Phillips
A Toolbox Christmas
Artist link
Label: Gourd
Length: 38 minutes
Genre: Novelty
Release: 1996
Track List
| Song Title |
|---|
| Jingle Bells |
| Deck the Halls |
| The Twelve Days of Christmas |
| Joy to the World |
| Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy |
| Ding Dong Merrily on High |
| I Saw Three Ships |
| Patapan |
| Good King Wenceslas |
| Ukrainian Carol |
| Wassail Suite |
| We Wish You a Merry Christmas |
| Auld Lang Syne |