"For many years, I have enjoyed the music of Mehdi. He plays a wonderful blend of instrumental music. The result is a collection of tunes that attract fans of all ages. When Mehdi came out with the original Christmas album, I jumped at it with great expectations. I was not disappointed.
This is not your average Christmas collection. True, all the old favorites are there, such as "Carol Of Bells", "Winter Wonderland", and the like. But the arrangements are markedly different than what you may be accustomed to. This is a CD to sing along to, for sure. Mehdi has done a great job of taking these old favorites and adding a touch here and there to make the song sound very much the same, but also completely different. The effect is like nothing I have ever heard.
This music is great for listening in your car, or in your office. The CD makes great background music for a Christmas party. You have probably heard his songs before without realizing it - at a store, on a commercial, or as relaxing music on Swiss Air. This Christmas CD (and its' companion, "Christmas Treasures 1") has and will truly become a classic for the holiday season. This Christmas, spend a few dollars and add this one to your collection.
"
Everyone will recognize some classic songs on this one
Rochelle Rayo | Santa Barbara | 11/10/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I may be biased because I enjoy all the Medhi CDs so much, but I do think this is a great Christmas album to add to your collection. Most everyone will recognize at least two or three of the songs here, probably the majority of them. Another plus is that I don't seem to hear these played on the radio too much each Christmas, so everything seems fresh and new each year when I pull the CD out.
Short of sounding too corny or nostalgic, I always remember a bit of my childhood sitting in front of the TV watching Rudolph, the Grinch, or my favorite Snoopy when I hear the songs. I had to order the CD through the internet (and paid over seventeen bucks as a result) because I could not find it at a music store, but it remains one of the best bargains I purchased.
"
Both Treasures 1 & 2 are Great !
Cynthia A. Brown | Cedar Rapids | 07/18/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Christmas is time for sharing, families and celebration. Traditions like baking Christmas cookies, visiting Santa and singing Christmas Carols are no doubt a part of many families' holiday festivities.
Speaking of Christmas Carols, there is certainly a great variety of albums from the classics to more contemporary titles, but there is one album that is truly unique...
Before I go any farther, let me say that as a child my mother played Christmas records all day every day from December to mid January. If I had a dime for every time I had to listen to The Brothers Four singing The Little Drummer Boy, I'd be a gazillionaire. Other favorites were Perry Como, The Carpenters and even The Beach Boys.
While these albums are okay, they are all essentially the same songs over and over and over again. Kind of tedious after the millionth time, especially when I'd much rather have heard John Denver and the Muppets, A Christmas Together. I was a kid after all, right. The Muppets featured dialogue, comedy and unique Christmas music, but my kids aren't really familiar with the characters and have no idea that John Denver was someone other than the author of Alfie the Christmas Tree.
Not wanting to be a Scrooge, I knew there had to be a good holiday album that was neither boring nor too babyish. I was right, and I found it.
MEHDl has two Christmas CDs and they are both good all the way through, which cannot be said of all CDs these days. They are entirely instrumental and maybe that's why they don't get tedious after listening to them over and over again. Buy both Christmas Treasures 1 & 2 you won't be disappionted !"
A Bit Of Christmas Heaven !!!
Georgia Critz | Ventura, CA | 07/14/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My all time favorite Christmas piece is "Carol of Bells / We Three Kings''. When my daughters and I hear it in the grocery store at Christmas time we are just a bouncin' down those aisles with the biggest smiles on our faces and we don't care who's watching. I actually regret that it took me so long to acquire a recording of the piece. My sister sent me both of the Medhi Christmas CDs for Christmas and it is one of the best sets of music I have ever listened to! I feel I must spread the word to others of any age that may long for a little music in their lives that REALLY does a body good.
I am not a music connoisseur. I have an eclectic collection, ranging from Petula Clark, Bobby Darin and Paul Anka to Sting and Stevie Nicks, Enya and Mannheim Steamroller, Reba McEntire, Bonnie Rait, Def Leppard and Journey, to give you some idea. I like classic rock too, (I'm 38) but don't know it well enough to have an album collection.
This soundtrack creates visions of a fun Christmas with a family sitting around a low coffee table in their pajamas, the smell of hot chocolate with marshmallows heavy in the air. They're laughing, the little ones are snuggling with their parents and they're playing a game of some sort...not watching TV. Indeed, this becomes reality at my home except for the fireplace.
My 2-year-old daughter turns OFF the NickJr. cartoons (which is a fine channel that the whole family loves) and requests that I turn ON the "Medhi". We listen to it while we color or build Lego houses or play Barbies. It makes you feel peaceful in your soul, content. I recommend that you play it loud enough to hear all the layers yet low enough to converse in normal tones with your family. It makes the room feel warm and happy like sinking into a nice bubble bath makes you feel warm and happy.
The music is crystal clear and uncluttered; it's like having the group right in the room, no mike or speakers, just the natural sounds of the instruments at their natural sound levels. If you ARE a music aficionado you would probably enjoy that very much and it would be good for teaching children what those three instruments sound like and what they are capable of doing."