A Very Kacey Christmas [LP]

by Kacey Musgraves

Overview

Kacey Musgraves is often praised for keeping certain country traditions alive but, even so, the retro vibe of A Very Kacey Christmas may come as a bit of a shock. Musgraves crafts her holiday album -- arriving just three records into her career, a relatively swift event -- as an homage to the swinging sounds of mid-century modern, cannily blending lounge with a hint of exotica. Musgraves doesn't spend much time with shopworn standards, opening the record with "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Let It Snow!" before taking a series of left turns. Many of these twists are clever re-appropriations of novelty songs, tunes that are played straight but delivered with a wink -- a gambit that plays slightly better with the Chipmunks' "Christmas Don't Be Late" than Gayla Peevey's "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," which can't help but seem silly in any guise. Such frivolity is charming, though, particularly because Musgraves slyly waltzes right up to the edge of kitsch without ever crossing over into camp. It's a delicate balancing act that she performs with ease because there's a lightness to her delivery and also to her original tunes. Despite its title, "Christmas Makes Me Cry" is as sweet and delicate as falling snow; the Leon Bridges duet, "Present Without a Bow," is coolly relaxed soul; "Ribbons and Bows" is an ebullient slice of Motown bounce, and the deliberately goofy "A Willie Nice Christmas" -- which naturally features a cameo by Willie Nelson and his faithful Trigger, too -- are all clever stylistic exercises that balance the gentle Mariachi bounce of "Feliz Navidad," the island breeze of "Mele Kalikimaka," and cabaret croon of the closing "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" Each of these sounds play off of one other to create a sharp, playful, and warm holiday record, the kind that evokes the past while feeling fresh and seeming destined for many years of annual spins. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	11/18/2016
Label:	Mercury Nashville
UPC:	0602557084238
Rank:	47134

Tracks

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
2. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
3. Christmas Don't Be Late
4. A Willie Nice Christmas
5. Feliz Navidad
6. Christmas Makes Me Cry
7. Present Without a Bow
8. Mele Kalikimaka
9. I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
10. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
11. Ribbons and Bows
12. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Kacey Musgraves   Primary Artist,Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Willie Nelson   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
The Quebe Sisters   Primary Artist,Fiddle,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
Leon Bridges   Primary Artist,Vocals,Featured Artist
Paul Franklin   Pedal Steel
Larry Franklin   Vocals (Background)
Joe Spivey   Vocals (Background)
Rory Hoffman   Guitar,Clarinet,Accordion,Sax (Baritone),Clarinet (Bass),Piano (Upright)
Chris Scruggs   Requinto,Lap Steel Guitar
Kenny Sears   Vocals (Background)
Fred Eltringham   Drums,Knee Slaps,Percussion
Nathaniel Smith   Cello
Kyle Ryan   Piano,Ukulele,Autoharp,Percussion,Vibraphone,Sleigh Bells,Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Adam Keafer   Bass (Upright),Bass (Electric)
Joshua Hedley   Sleigh Bells
Misa Arriaga   Bells,Guitar (Acoustic),Gut String Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Gena Johnson   Vocals (Background)
Mr. Jimmy Rowland   Piano,Mellotron,Wurlitzer
Veda Dabbs   Vocals (Background)
Cohen Dabbs   Vocals (Background)
Dallas McVey   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Frank Loesser   Composer
Traditional   Composer
Steve Chadie   Engineer
Johnny Marks   Composer
Hugh Martin   Composer
Shane McAnally   Composer
Jose Feliciano   Composer
Jule Styne   Composer
Ross Bagdasarian   Composer
R. Alex Anderson   Composer
Willie Nelson   Drum Triggers
James Taylor   Assistant Engineer
Andrew Mendelson   Mastering
John Rox   Composer
Ralph Blane   Composer
Justin Tranter   Composer
Josh Osborne   Composer
Sammy Cahn   Composer
Brandy Clark   Composer
Todd Bridges   Composer
Chris Stapleton   Assistant Engineer
Ryan Gore   Mixing,Engineer
Kacey Musgraves   Composer,Producer,Art Direction
Luke Laird   Composer
Robert Alexander Anderson   Composer
Kyle Ryan   Producer
Julia Michaels   Composer
Mark Pettacia   Engineer
Austin Jenkins   Composer
Misa Arriaga   Producer
Gena Johnson   Engineer,Assistant Engineer,Production Coordination
Kelly Christine Sutton   Design,Photography,Art Direction