Gary Hoey--Ho! Ho! Hoey

Gary Hoey--Ho! Ho! Hoey (1995/Surfdog) Rating--8.1

At the constant urging of his mother to play the guitar at Christmas family gatherings, Gary Hoey eventually decided to record an entire album of holiday tunes. 'Ho! Ho! Hoey' is the first of three such installments--and is vibrant and full of enjoyable yuletide sounds. Many different approaches are taken to the tracks--some are all acoustic, some electrified with a Lynch-like distortion, some blues-based, some fushion. A splendid mix, and one of the best guitar-related Christmas discs on the market.
A chunky, distorted backbone cranks forth from "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and "God Rest" is another biting cut. The acoustic and nice "Away in a Manger" is a calm rendition, and the multi-guitar and bass "O Come All Ye Faithful" may be the album's best and most emotionally moving selection.
The laid-back swagger of "Blue Christmas" is old-timey in feel, and another of Hoey's unique visions.
TRACK LIST: The Twelve Days of Christmas/Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer/Away in a Manager/Jingle Bells/God Rest/Blue Christmas/O Come All Ye Faithful/White Christmas/Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night/Auld Lang Syne

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