Time
is
Ruining
Out
Only 6 days
left before
finals week.
Don't let the
Thanksgiving
weekend mess
up your plans
for advertising.
Today
IS THE DEADLINE FOR
Tuesday,
Dec. 3 @ 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 27th
is the deadline for
Wednesday,
Dec. 4 @ 4:00 p.m.
Call 346-3712
to reserve your
space today!
a a c jeason of tradition
Mason Williams makes instrumental holiday magic
By Jesse Stephenson
Entertainment Reporter
he sounds of Christmas are some
times drowned out by the lyrics of
holiday carols. While this is not
always the case, classical com
poser Mason Williams has taken
the safe road by releasing an instrumental
Christmas album, A Gift of Song.
, _, With a pleasant
Ma^oft Williams
blend of traditional
songs and modern
creations, A Gift Of
Song is enough to put
at ease anyone who
wishes to relax during
the holiday season.
JL_2SL
A Gift of Song
Mason Williams
★★★★
(instrumental)
__ A Liijt Uj bong cap
- /! tures the mood of the
season with quiet
songs that are peace
ful enough to listen to
while taking a nap yet
at the same time are
powerful enough to
cause everyone in the
room to take notice.
Three of the songs on A Gift Of Song were
composed by Williams, and two of these are
among the best on the album. “Guitar Carol"
perfectly blends flute and horns with guitar
to make listeners feel as though they are sit
ting in front of a fire as snow falls outside.
The second original composition by
Williams, “Mistletoe Mustache,” has the
sound of a ballroom dance with a country
twist added by a Jew harp and violin. The
ringing of bells gives “Mistletoe Mustache” a
Christmasy feel.
Near the end of A Gift Of Song is the title
track, written by Patricia Ingalls. This song
has a beautiful sound, with Williams on gui
tar and an orchestra in the background. It
could be even better if the lyrics were sung,
but William’s has shown on the rest of the
album that words aren’t necessary.
Perhaps the most unique song on A Gift Of
Song is “Hawaiian Sleigh Ride,” written by
Rick Cunha. While it doesn’t have the quiet,
traditional feel of Christmas, it works.
A Gift Of Song is quite possibly the perfect
Christmas album, and if it isn’t, it is very
COURTESY PHOTO
Mason Williams is an award-winning compos
er and performer of folk and classical music.
close. Anyone interested in adding to their
holiday music collection needs to begin with
this album, as the sounds of the holiday
come through it loud and clear.
Marian Carey Christmas release old but not out of date
By Jesse Stephenson
Entertainment Reporter
ith four original
songs, six traditional
songs and a choir in
the background, Mari
ah Carey delivers hol
iday cheer in her 1994 album
Merry Christmas.
Carey uses her unique vocal
talents to create a sound sure to
be noticed by any listener in the
room, and the sound that is
heard is appealing.
Carey’s versions of the clas
sics, such as "Silent Night” and
“O Holy Night”, retain the
songs’ traditional sound, and for
the most part Carey refrains
from raising her voice to high
octaves — a practice that has
made her famous.
As this is the third year Merry
Christmas has been available on
COURTESY PHOTO
Mariah Carey's album ‘Merry
Christmas’ was released in 1994.
the market, many people are
already aware of one of Carey’s
original songs on the album:
“All I Want For Christmas is
You.” Unfortunately, this song
is not Carey’s best work; it does
a great job of entering your head
and staying there, but that’s all.
Another original, “Miss You
Most (At Christmas
Time),” is a Carey
molded ballad of the
type that is common
on each of her
albums. This song is
bothersome and is not
worth listening to.
sounds do not com
bine well at all.
The last traditional
song the album
includes is “Hark!
The Herald Angels
Sing.” Carey sings it
perfectly — at least in
The other two origi
nals, “Jesus Born On
This Day” and “Jesus
Oh What a Wonderful
Child,” have the
sound of some tradi
tional church hymns,
Carey changed the
holiday classic “Joy to
Ebiimmm
Merrii
Christmas
Mariah Carey
★★★
(soft classics)
' comparison with ver
' sions that have been
> performed in the past.
It is easily the best
song on this album.
Mariah Carey fans
should run out and
buy Merry Christmas if
they haven’t done so
the World by giving
it a more danceable beat that is
almost enjoyable — until the
classic melds with the 1970s
song of the same name. These
two songs should not have been
brought together; the two
already. For holiday
music fans, this is definitely an
album to consider; however,
those who are looking for origi
nal music to satisfy their holi
day craving should probably
keep looking elsewhere.
Anderson’s
WieVe got you covered for
fHRISTMAS
hurftmg
back*
fishing
packing
racket
jsports
HARVEY
fox's >
_
SALEM • ALBAIMV CORVALLIS • ELIQENE
199 W. 8th St. *484-7344
Great
gifts *
Strat Pack*.
I ‘includes guitar, amp, gigbag, strap, cable, strings, picks.
“ Everything you need to play!
• just
DMaEhx
SR1000 Guitar Tuner.. $219S
(ULTRA
Chrome Guitar Stand.
TOCft
Carribbean Conga
142 West 8th Ave. • Eugene • 686-4270
521 Main St. • Springfield • 746-3822