Album Review: Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas II You

When one of the top-selling artists with one of the top-selling Christmas albums of all time releases a second Christmas album, you gotta pay attention. I nabbed Mariah’s new Merry Christmas II You and gave it a quick listen.

Open up the album jacket, and you’ll notice that (as usual) Carey has primary producer credits for almost every track. Noticeably absent: her long-time friend and background vocalist, Trey Lorenz. Wonder if Mr. Cannon-Carey had anything to do with that…

The album leads off with a short instrumental “Santa Clause Is Coming to Town” refrain that is really functions as an intro to the album’s lead single, “Oh Santa.” It's campy without being corny, and it’s catchy and infectious "Oh Mickey You're So Fine"-influenced chant will definitely make you want to dance. Or at least bop your head side-to-side like a muppet. This song was an instant classic for me until her not-so-high note at the end, which goes into a run that’s so electronically manipulated (that’s not [just] auto-tune) that it sounds more like a MIDI flute than a human voice.

The mash-up of “Oh Little Town…” and “Little Drummer Boy” slows things down with Mariah whispering over an orchestra and airy chorus. But of course the belt that she’s known for comes out towards the end. We get a bit of a Nat King Cole feel with the cool “Christmas Time Is in the Air Again.” It’s one of several tracks that really tie this album back to her first Christmas release. “The First Noel/Born Is the King (Interlude)” is one of the few tracks where I've said to myself, "She’s doing to much." I’m all about showing off unique ability, but it comes off as coming trying too hard to early in the song. Then the track transitions into a Kirk-Franklin-and-the-Family’s-Christmas-Album track for about 30 seconds, which could have accepted if it could accept if it went into a time-and-genre appropriate tribute (we’re talking hip-hop influenced gospel from 1995).

But at the beginning of “When Christmas Comes,” we hear the hiss of a phonograph, accompanied with an instrumentally appropriate groove. Certain lambs may recognize the nod to Emancipation of Mimi in the intro. The song is well written, but I found the choices in the vocal production (e.g., competing lead vocals) distracting.

Next, the album continues along the throwback trend. As corny as the beat on “Here Comes Santa Clause…” is, it doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously. It’s nice to hear her re-united with Jermaine Dupri’s since he produced some of her greatest hits (and biggest mistakes… let us not forget “Get Your Number”). And “Charlie Brown Christmas” is guaranteed to elicit a reminiscent smile. In fact, it's one of the few times I've liked Carey's breathy, whispery vocals. I could see her doing jazz when she gets old(er). The choir on “Oh Come…” sounds exactly like the one she used on the first Christmas album. I thought the opera was a nice gesture (and I’m glad Carey didn’t try to do it herself... or did she... I couldn't find the opera singer's name in the credits), but why didn’t they get a soprano?! My guess: Mariah wouldn’t budge on the key. No matter how much weight she loses, the ego never gets smaller. But she sure did hold out that last whistle-register note for :14!

Update: the opera singer is reported to be Carey's mother, Patricia.

“O Holy Night” is one of my fav songs ever (remind me to post my a cappella male quintet demo sometime), and Carey's original version still gives me chils. Bringing this back was a brilliant move to repurpose this track. Now, there’s a moment around the 3:37 that makes me wonder whether the high note is live because it seems to overlap with the start of the next phrase she’s singing. Maybe it’s the reverb. “One Child” is a cute carol, but I probably would have waited til the end of the song to bring in the children’s chorus.

Of course, Carey brought back her record-breaking Christmas song: “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” but it’s tagged as the “Extra Festive” version. It subs a shorter instrumental intro instead of the iconic slow vocal intro of the original, but much of the beginning and middle sound exactly the same. Like cut-and-paste (perhaps with adjusted levels) the same. The ad-libs on the bridge lack the crispness of the original runs, and some of them are (oddly enough) double-tracked. And then to make it extra campy, she does unnecessary thirds above the high notes. All of them. Just like that obnoxious theater friend you have does on every song they sing, from X-Tina to “Happy Birthday.”

The album closes with a version of “Auld Land Syne” (“should old acquaintance be forgot...”) that has some kind of crazy, cheap-sounding reverb on it. I guess it’s supposed to imitate a live stadium sound. It starts out slow and ballad-like before exploding into a techno beat so corny it makes O-Zone’s “Dragostea Din Tei” (you know, the Numa Numa song) sound like a Nicki Minaj track. Yet the spirit of the song is that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's just like Carey's saying, "Let's end this with a classic, but on a fun note. You know you love it!"

This album is perfect to play in the background during holiday activities: wrapping presents, tree trimming, baking cookies... It really captures much of the holiday spirit that the first album mastered, and I think Lambs and casual listeners alike will make this a part of their collections. Are there technical issues? Sure. Is it over-edited? Definitely (just like any of the last few albums Carey has put out). But I feel she really walks the fine line between warmly campy and corny very well. It feels like she had fun making it, and she wants you to join in.

But the original "All I Want for Christmas" will still be the song that makes all the gays try to hit the high note on Friday nights in July at the Ritz. Not that I would know.

Suggested tracks for individual download:
"Oh Santa"
"Charlie Brown Christmas"
"Oh Come All Ye Faithful"


Maybe:
"Oh Little Town of Bethlehem/Little Drummer Boy"
"Christmas Time Is in the Air Again"
"When Christmas Comes"
"O Holy Night (Live)"*
"One Child"
"All I Want for Christmas Is You (Extra Festive)"*

*only because I know you already have the originals... if you don't, get them and skip these.

Click here to check out my review of Mariah Carey's Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.