The Taters' New "Shiny & Brite" CD Captures the Spirit of the Holidays

By Anne Jones 12.2019

How do you like your holiday music? Exactly what do you want in a Christmas song, anyway?  Do you want it jingly and happy, or pretty and reverent and maybe a little heart-breaking? Or maybe it's rockabilly you crave, with some old-time country. Is Elvis your reason for the season? Do you want it all bluesy and melancholy?

Well, be ye not afraid - the Taters have just released their first ever holiday CD, and it covers all of your holiday listening needs in traditional Tater-style. It's called "Shiny & Brite" and one might even call it a holiday sampler, just like the variety boxes of colorful Shiny Brite Christmas decorations. Those Taters are known for their sampler-style shows; actually, that's the beauty part about them. They'll do anything for the fun of it - from Nick Lowe to "That's Amore", and they'll do it all with absolute musical virtuosity and harmonies so pretty and in sync that they rival the Everly Brothers.

"Shiny & Brite" is as true to Tater form as can be, offering up all the moods of the season and then some, and giving every Tater a chance to shine brite. The opening track is a Craig Evans and Gary Walker original "Last Lone Noel" and manages to be lonely and hopeful and pop all at the same time, kinda like the holidays. "I Can Hear Music"- the Beach Boys classic- with drummer Chris Mendez on lead vocals, showcases the tight Tater harmonies and clever wordsmithing; they've turned it into a beautiful Christmas song that would make Carl Wilson proud. Then there's the Gene Autry hit  "32 Feet and 8 Little Tails", only the Taters pep it up a little with extra galloping, it seems, and best of all -a genius Bonanza riff to top it off.. Brad Tucker's clear and pure vocals on "O Come All Ye Faithful" bring us back around to the meaning of Christmas, and when Craig and the rest join in for the harmonious rounds at the end it's a beautiful and classic Christmas moment. Greg Marrs has come up with a slow, bluesy original "It's Not Christmas" about a lost and joyless Christmas without your baby, along the lines of "Please Come Home for Christmas”. 

Hold up. What's Christmas without Elvis? And who does Elvis better than crooner Craig Evans? No one, especially on "Santa Bring my Baby Back", more of the same baby-less, spiritless Christmas theme but in kick-ass rockabilly style.  "Christmas Dream" is one big emotional roller coaster. It's poignant and catchy, and Craig's voice does it justice. And yet there's a slightly manic undertone, enhanced by the German chorus and by knowing that it was written by Andrew Loyd Webber for the film "The Odessa File", about the hunt for a SS captain in post-war Germany.  That the Taters end the song with a nod to Hogan’s Heroes is a bit of twisted brilliance. Willie Nelson's "Pretty Paper" is just plain ole country pretty, and it's nice to hear Roger Miller's "Little Toy Trains", not on everyone's set list.

Just as in their holiday live shows, the Taters close the CD with a stunning a capella "Peace on Earth/Silent Night." There. Turn off the lights, light a candle, close your eyes, shed a silent tear, and pray for peace. It's Christmas.