Christmas in Taho
Train
Sunken Forest
Three stars
Sometimes Christmas albums can revitalise an increasingly tired band. With the exception of a pair of rather brilliant singles (Drops of Jupiter and Calling All Angels), Train's output can be best described as patchy. A lot is down to how strained and serious they can sound. Pop and rock music is supposed to be fun, not homework. It seems like the holiday season considerably lightened their mood – Christmas in Taho is breezy and serves a reminder of the group's melodic gifts.
While old seasonal chestnuts abound in the 15-track set, including Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and O Holy Night, they have been augmented by a healthy smattering of tasteful guitars and soft-rock grooves. Front and centre is Pat Monohan's voice: he is gloriously welcoming in the horn-laced opener This Christmas and plaintive in the Joni Mitchell cover, The River. By the time the Hawaiian Christmas ode Mele Kalikimaka arrives, one feels warm and fuzzy.
While Train may view Christmas in Taho as a stopgap record, one hopes it acts as a starting point towards better things.
