It's a Holiday Soul Party Review

Grammy award nominated New York R&B band Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have all it takes to take you back to the Mow town era of the 60’s and 70’s with this lovely Christmas LP “It’s a Holiday Soul Party”. Glistening with analogue sounds and brilliantly nostalgic instrumentation, blending sounds of Soul, Blues, and Funk, taking you back to the good o'l days, “It’s a Holiday Soul Party” really has that Christmas feeling about it when you listen to it. This is a throw back, and seems inspired by classic Christmas LP’s like “A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector”. Although It’s a Holiday Soul Party dose not yet compare to classics like “A Christmas Gift For You from Phil Spector”, it is a spectacular throwback. Sharon Jones delivers vocally every time for me, and is a fine vocalist indeed. The Dap Kings band sound as good as ever, but where this LP might let you down is its reach. It’s almost too nostalgic and might be a little cheesy at times and will only play at Christmas. If you like Christmas and all the festive novelties, and you love Soul Music with some Bluesy/Funk twists, then this LP is right up your street, but it wont appeal to everybody unfortunately. There are some funny songs on this LP that I like including track two “Ain’t No Chimneys In The Projects”, and track six “Big Bulbs”, and some classic covers given the “Soul/Blues/Funk” treatment like “Silent Night”, “White Christmas” and “Funky Little Drummer Boy”. Overall I personally Love this LP and it definitely feels Christmassy and sounds so brilliant on vinyl, defiantly worth dropping in a stocking this Christmas. I think this will sound cool whilst tucking into some turkey and stuffing balls and sipping warm short cranberry vodka, and will definitely give Christmas dinner a funky twist.

5 stars

By Ian Brown.