Mike Campese - The Meaning of Christmas (2008)Mike Campese Music

It is the 6th solo album recorded by one of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's members whose main subject is Christmas and its role in contemporary societies. An American virtuoso brough up a very important subject regarding the meaning of Christmas and using the guitar language to explain his own opinion. The booklet includes his lyrics to the title track where we can read that: "The meaning of Christmas is not about buying gifts" and then "The true meaning is lost and it might have been forgotten/ The meaning is overdone through the media". Yes, he is absolutely right. The media and the business world abuse this event to make money. They turned Christmas into commercial feast having nothing to do with the birth of Christ. What does 15$ toy have to do with Christ? Nothing. Fortunately, Mike doesn't impose with his opinion upon a listnener, and only asking us: "So what does Christmas mean to you?/ Is it about Santa Claus?/ And gifts?/ And over priced toys?". The artist does know that his listeners have their own minds to be used and respect them. We should remember that we gather through Holidays not for priests or supermarkets, but for our families and relatives.

Focusing on the album's musical contests, there are many famous Holiday songs ("Deck the Halls", "Carol of the Bells", "Silent Night", "O'Come All Ye Faithful", "Auld Lang Syne" - an old Scottish song probably written by a poet Robert Burns) as well as two Mike's original pieces of music - "The Meaning of Christmas" and "Christmas in Maui". Mr. Campese played all instruments and also sang on the title track and added some background vocals to "Auld Lang Syne" along with Jessica Campese. Most of tracks are cheerful, spirit-lifting, colourful, played in solemn keys and obviously virtuosic. A warm and rich sound of his guitar is most audible in his melodious licks and some instrumental hard rockers with a majestic fingering (making me think of Michael Lee Firkins' manner). Both Holiday classics and Mike's original tracks can be listed into the canon of Holiday instrumentals!

Mike sang that Christmas "lasts much longer than just a single day" and it is the same with his latest release. Holidays shouldn't be the only period when you play this CD. It is meant for playing in your CD players through a whole year. I assure you that everyone's face will be cheered up after listening to Mike's tunes!