Reindeer Room, Vol. 2: A Christmas Chillout CD

Perhaps the most telling thing about Reindeer Room, Vol. 2: A Christmas Chillout is that it comes with a bonus DVD disc featuring not only all 15 tracks remixed in 5.1 Surround Sound, but also a flickering Yule log for you viewing pleasure as you listen. In other words, like the Yule log, the music is meant as background to the holiday season, rather than a listening experience in itself. Many of the tracks are holiday favorites (although three -- "The Goose Is Getting Fat," "Hard Candy Christmas," and "She Won't Be Home" -- are unfamiliar), presented in sort of electronica lite versions. Billy Paul Williams features singer Nicole Henry on his three contributions, and at least on "Good King Wenceslas" he'd have been advised to erase her contribution, as she destroys a perfectly lovely carol with some appalling phrasing. For the most part, however, this is exactly what it claims to be -- background music, neither offensive nor outstanding. It simply is. And if that's what you like, it'll see you well through Christmas. ~ Chris Nickson

Contains a bonus DVD with a video Yule log.

Performers include: Desmond Williams, Fort Knoxx Five (AKA Thunderball), James Hardway, DJ Trax, Barrio Jazz Gang, Lazybatusu, Sub Santa.

Personnel: Anne Marie Hurst (vocals).

Recording information: Quasibeach View Studio, Miami Beach, FL.

Illustrator: Jon Braeley.

Arranger: Costas Chrysogelos.

Disc 1-CD Music/Disc 2-DVD: Yule Log Video & Music

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.