All four original Monkees are back (posthumously in Davey Jones’ case) in the shortest time between albums since 1970 (The Monkees Present 1969 and Changes 1970) for the band’s first ever full length Christmas record. Hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed Good Times! album from 2016 Christmas Party embraces the same winning formula which helped make the previous LP such a resounding success. Adam Schlesinger once again produces, providing bass, keyboards and guitar to a stellar backing band featuring REM’s Peter Buck, Nashville based singer/songwriter David Mead and all but one member of Schlesinger’s own Fountains Of Wayne. XTC’s Andy Partridge gets things started with “Unwrap You At Christmas” followed by Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo with “What Would Santa Do”. Schlesinger himself provides a slice of seasonal power pop with “The House Of Broken Gingerbread” as does Peter Buck who penned the album’s title track. Anchored by these four fab originals, Christmas Party’s 9 remaining tracks feature The Monkees reimagining contemporary Christmas tracks from Big Star, Paul McCartney and Roy Wood (The Move, ELO, Wizzard) reinvigorating a few standards along the way. A wonderfully fresh take on Christmas past, present and future. An instant power pop Christmas classic!
Rating 8.5/10
Star Rating 4/5
2018 Song Of The Day Club Album Review 35/52