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Various

A Santa Cause: It's A Punk Rock Christmas (2003)
Immortal Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Adam
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on November 25th 2003

I actually feel guilty for having to take a critical look at this record. The selection of bands is heavily stacked with popular new school pop-punk and emo (or whatever it’s called), so this is bound to sell well. Since a portion of the proceeds is going to the Pediatric AIDS Foundation this is great news. Despite my opinion of the bands on here, I can’t argue with a well-intentioned donation to a children’s charity.

Unfortunately the music on A Santa Cause isn’t going get the same accolades as the cause.

Too many of the bands here forget that the album is subtitled “It’s A Punk Rock Christmas” and turn in some of the tamest, neutered tracks of their careers. Given the theme of the record I’m not exactly expecting furious hardcore, but I did hope that the band’s churn out some fun, rocking renditions of the songs they’ve chosen. Yet the recordings by Acceptance, Fall Out Boy, The Beautiful Mistake, Jason Gleason (of Further Seems Forever) and (to a lesser extent) Gatsby’s American Dream give no indication that these bands have day-jobs as rock musicians. With the exception of the vocalists these covers aren't very different from the typical version of the songs you hear every year.

On top of that we have the punk Christmas cover clichés. These include but are not limited too the use of jingle bells or playing the hook from a popular Christmas song as a bridge in your own. It's cute once. That's it.

Some of the better-known pop-punk acts here only contribute previously released material, which may disappoint completists looking for something new. This is the case with Something Corporate, New Found Glory and Blink 182, whose song “I Won’t Be Home For Chrismas” seems especially tame in light of the band’s current direction. From First To Last’s “X12 Days Or XXXMasX” is a horribly failed attempt at humour by throwing screamo clichés into normally happy holiday song. At least I hope it’s an attempt at humour, because it’s nothing you’ll listen to a second time.

There is good here though. Buzz band The Matches contribute “December Is For Cynics,” which is quite catchy with a memorable sing-along chorus. The band sounds a bit more powerful here then on other recordings I’ve heard. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones contribution “This Time Of Year” is an original song. The heavily Ramones influenced track is enjoyable and a welcome break from the pace of the album. I’ve grown to appreciate The A.K.A’s and their cover of Run DMC’s “Christmas In Hollis” is really amusing (if not a bit surprising at first). It’s an irreverent song, but that makes it fun. The same can be said for MXPX’s “Christmas Night of Zombies."

This is a record supporting a great cause, but unfortunately I can’t review it on good intentions alone. With the exception of a few tracks A Santa Cause is made up of either previously released material and painfully uninteresting (and at times sappy) renditions of holiday classics.

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Anonymous (December 21, 2005)

Fuck you whoever the hell wrote this!fftl kicks fucking ass.

Anonymous (July 25, 2005)

all you guys fucking blow. sonny moore and FFTL kick so much ass and so does this cd. they work so hard to do these things, and they dont need you people telling them what to do. you guys suck so bad.

Anonymous (July 25, 2005)

Anonymous (December 20, 2003)

The Lawrence Arms - Faintly Falling Ashes

That song is business.

Anonymous (December 4, 2003)

fuck you guys, fftl beat ass.

Anonymous (December 4, 2003)

Punkest xmas song ever?

"I'm gonna beat your ass for Christmas" by Kill Allen Wrench

ya can't fuck with a song title like that!

-Ken

Anonymous (December 3, 2003)

if it doesn't have The Bollweevils "white christmas" its not a punk rock christmas record.

Anonymous (December 1, 2003)

They dont sell it newhere in Perth, Australia!!!!!

Anonymous (November 30, 2003)

Canadians dont believe in Christmas because they are all pagans and hippies. Throw soap at them.

Anonymous (November 30, 2003)

man christmas is awesome!...here's my wishlist for this year!..
1. that i finally find someone who is as emo as me, so we can sob in the sunset together
2. that i can stop my constant sarcasm, and steal some of the spotlight from superdude
3. find a better thing to do than post messages on punknews
4. find something better to do than masturbating, while not posting messages on punknews
5. here's hoping that refused forms a christian band cuz ive always been waiting for the day when i hear their lead scream "st nicklaus, i want a pony and ive been a good boy"

Anonymous (November 30, 2003)

Immortal? i thought they did crap-metal, like Korn and newer incubus.

Incubus rocked until Morning View.

Anonymous (November 30, 2003)

the punchline song on this cd fucking blows too.

Anonymous (November 29, 2003)

"Other great xmas songs not mentioned below:
'Santa's Gonna Kick Your Ass' - Arrogant Worms"

yes. nothing better than some canadian christian joke rock. i'm also a fan of "me like hockey."

-sk8punx

FortyMinutesWest (November 29, 2003)

I'm holding out for "A Grindcore Kwanza"

Anonymous (November 29, 2003)

lets see...since its obviously punk rock to hate christmas...i hate it too. although i do enjoy singing along to my bright eyes christmas cd.

punky (November 28, 2003)

I hate christmas,and song about christmas.

Anonymous (November 28, 2003)

the A.K.A.s are everywhere.