The Moody Blues
December
(Universal)
First Appeared in The Music Box, December 2004, Volume 11, #12
Written by John Metzger
The Moody Blues always has worn its heart on its sleeve, and its songs of
love typically have been laced with a sense of cosmic spirituality as well as a
genuine concern for the state of the world. For more than two decades, however,
the band has been treading the same ground with increasingly disappointing
results. While its latest effort December is a far cry from the
ensemble’s finest moments, it is a welcome return to the pop-infused majesty of
its ’70s offerings. Much like its title suggests, the album’s contents are bound
together by its sometimes cheerful, sometimes melancholy odes to Christmas.
Rather than tackle familiar holiday fare, however — only Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and John Lennon’s Happy Xmas (War Is Over) could be
considered well-known — the collective wisely looked elsewhere for inspiration,
unearthing an English hymnal, placing its own spin upon a Bach chorale, and
penning several original compositions, for good measure. Granted, the rock ’n‘
roll fire that once fueled The Moody Blues’ material is still missing from much
of December, even as Beatle-esque flourishes continue to color its songs.
Therefore, what makes the collection more successful than the group’s other
recent endeavors is that both its sentimental musings as well as its soft
synthesizer and string arrangements are better suited to the airy atmospherics
of these particular personal affirmations. Although there isn’t enough on December to provide any semblance of hope that the ensemble is ready to
resurrect its floundering career, it is a strong enough outing that more than
just the usual gathering of Moody Blues’ devotees will find the set to be
remarkably heartfelt and pleasing. 
½
December is available
from Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2004 The Music Box