I say this every year. But with the proliferation of Christmas albums, it needs to be said. Before elaborating, I love the Beach Boys. They were a big part of my childhood summers and one of 3 cassette tapes that were allowed in my Mom’s yellow VW Bus.
That said, their take on traditional Christmas standards is terrible. Simply awful. As children, my siblings and I were forced to listen to this terrible, terrible album. As we got older and crafty, copies would go missing. Only to be found by Mom. Later, copies were thrown into the Mississippi River. In a Christmas miracle, new tapes were re-purchased. A few years ago, a CD copy showed up in my stocking. It ended up being left at the in-laws. The disdain for the Beach Boys Christmas has taken a life of its own. But it needs to be said that the singing, harmony and overall musical presentation is truly hazardous to your ears. Want to irritate someone, loop this version of “We Three Kings.” Even “Little Saint Nick” sounds better when covered by the Muppets. Beach Boys are summer. Christmas is Christmas. So have your self a merry little Christmas, forget this album.
