It probably seemed like a good idea at the time -- take one of reggae's most beloved personalities, remake classic Xmas tunes with a Jamaican flavor, then slap on some hastily programmed backing tracks and watch the Christmas cash come rolling in. But the CD unfortunately fails to live up to its potential. The music is truly abysmal; a live backing band like
Roots Radics could've livened things up considerably. And the lyrics are even more awful: just imagine lines like "Jamaica, Jamaica, we don't got no snow" sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells" and you'll get the picture. Only when
Yellowman does his trademark dancehall toasting does this CD make the grade, and those moments are FAR too few. ~ Bret Love