Search - Various Artists :: Merry Axemas 2 - More Guitars for Christmas

Meyy Axemas Vol 2

Ed H | Phoenix, Az | 02/16/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Has some great tracks and others not so great. The good tracks emmulate Christmas, while others use it for another jam fest. Not nearly as good as Merry Axemas Vol 1."

Awesome instrumental Christmas CD

Michael J. Maier | Indianapolis, IN, USA | 12/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Overall a very fun CD to spin. Nice, fresh takes on the usuals. Some liberties taken but all in good fun and excellently executed and produced. Great solos, great playing all around and not a single track I skip over.



1 Christmas Song - Steve Lukather -Very vocal lead lines. Singing, soaring melody.

2 O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Neal Schon Somber, beautiful and crying lead line. He hits "those" notes that give you chills.

3 Do You Hear What I Hear - Steve Stevens gives us probably the most "jammy" tune on the CD. He starts off lovely then tears up his leads with balls and chunk.

4 Sleigh Ride - Stu Hamm KILLS this track with the bass replacing the vocal melody. This is probably my favorite track on the CD. The backing by Steve Smith on the brushes/drums and Tom Coster on organ is just sweet.

5 O Come All Ye Faithful - Trevor Rabin. Great layering and dynamic shifts. If you know Rabin's style, it's somewhat typical for him. But to hear a Christmas tune that way is a nice change of pace.

6 White Christmas - Zakk Wylde gives us the shocker of the CD. A light, pretty acoustic ZAKK WYLDE tune? "Simply" too cool. The ending gets more interesting without becoming busy or overdone.

7 God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - John Sykes Another balls & chunk tune with his usual searing, gobs o' tone leads.

8 O Little Town of Bethlehem - Robin Trower The quiet tune. Simple, soulful and lovely.

9 Carol of the Bells - Al di Meola Somehow mysterious and obscure. But great playing and a lot of fun.

10 Ted Nugent - Deck The Halls - It's TED! What do you expect? A completely insane version that had me LOL. What a great way to finish the CD."