REO Speedwagon: Not So Silent Night
RIYL: REO Speedwagon, Air Supply, the Grinch
Their name has long been synonymous with toothless, Wonder Bread-flavored AOR, but once upon a time, REO Speedwagon really did aspire to be a kick-ass rock band – and they showed flashes of getting there over a 15-year period, occasionally managing to work up a decent sweat during minor FM classics like Hi Infidelity and Good Trouble, only to be thwarted at every turn by the soft, pale presence of vocalist Kevin Cronin. He’s had his moments as a songwriter, but as a singer, Cronin is about as rock & roll as Liberace, and his fondness for schmaltz has steadily robbed the band of whatever limited credibility it might have enjoyed. And speaking of schmaltz, here’s Not So Silent Night, a fascinatingly dreadful collection of holiday tracks “with a unique REO Speedwagon musical twist,” which is publicist-speak for “corny as all get out.” Not that Christmas albums need to rock, necessarily, but Cronin really castrates the band here, tossing in shiver-inducing spoken-word sketches, terribly inappropriate ad libs, and borderline offensive cover choices (you can’t help but wonder if John Lennon would still be a pacifist if he could hear this version of “Happy Xmas [War Is Over]”). He’s always had the charisma and vocal authority of a hairless kitten, but Not So Silent Night really begs the question of how Kevin Cronin has managed to keep his grip on REO Speedwagon all these years. Of all the veteran bands who should have gone out and found themselves a nice young replacement singer from the Philippines by now, this one surely tops the list. (Sony Legacy 2009)
Posted in: CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Rock
Tags: Not So Silent Night, REO Speedwagon, REO Speedwagon Christmas
What? Thank goodness I bought it before I read this review (the only negative one I’ve seen). I think it’s wonderful and just saw 2 packed REO Speedwagon shows last weekend in Florida. Seriously, all you have to do is go to Ticketmaster and see how many shows they play. They must be doing something right!
Silent Night, Deck the Halls are my 2 favorite songs.
BTW, I went back to buy more copies as gifts and my Wal-Mart was already sold out of it!
You just obviously hate REO, so your review of their work in meaningless.
Any objective critic of this CD would find it to be a fine piece of work. Whether or not you like Christmas music.
The CD is fantastic and production is top notch. That is a fact!
5 STARS!
Actually, I’m one of the six people on the planet who bought The Earth, A Small Man, His Dog, and a Chicken. I don’t hate REO in general and there’s nothing wrong with my objectivity — this record is just lousy, that’s all.
well I’m one of the other 6 then that bought it then. The CD is great. Of course that’s my opinion. But it’s clear in your review that you don’t like REO Speedwagon. And that’s fine. But there is nothing worse that someone who uses the internet to
Nothing worse than someone who uses the internet to “critique” music when it’s clear that no matter what the band does, they wouldn’t like it. Read what you wrote. You don’t like REO. So what? But it makes your opinion meaningless. It’s like someone who hates Ford vehicles test driving and writing an opinion on a new mustang. Meaningless.
It also takes a very personal tone. Almost like you don’t like the members of the band personally, or have been crossed by them some how. I sense a bit of scorn in your words. But either way, it’s a meaningless piece and from what I read elsewhere isn’t shared by anyone else yet.
Wait — so a critic’s opinion isn’t valid unless it’s shared by a lot of other critics? That seems like a pretty strange argument coming from a fan of a band that most critics have always hated. I’ve been one of the few who have given positive reviews to previous REO records — were those reviews invalid because my opinion wasn’t shared by many of my peers?
And face it: you aren’t going to read very many reviews of Not So Silent Night, positive or negative, because no one cares about the band anymore. As far as most people are concerned, REO Speedwagon stopped making new music in 1988, and this poor excuse for an album isn’t going to change that.
And finally, you’ve got it backwards with your whole Ford argument. A critic doesn’t need to be a fan of the band he’s reviewing, he only needs to listen with an open mind. If we had it your way, you’d never read anything but four-star reviews devoid of the one thing the profession calls for: objective analysis. I listened to Not So Silent Night with an open mind. I didn’t like it, and I said so. I’m glad you enjoy the record, but that only means we disagree, nothing more. You’re taking this much too personally.
Mr. Giles,
With all due respect…it’s true that you are entitled to your own opinion. But the statement you make: “because no one cares about the band anymore. As far as most people are concerned, REO Speedwagon stopped making new music in 1988, and this poor excuse for an album isn’t going to change that.” is truly unfair and not accurate.
Look at the tour dates. Just released songs on Rock Band (who along with VH1 sponsered the summer tour). Will be on 2 Christmas specials one on ABC, the other on NBC to air November 29th. “Find Your Own Way Home” interactive computer game just announced.
Critics are entitled to their opinions, but real writers get the FACTS straight.
Can I ask if you liked anything about it? One song? Gospel background singers? Arrangements? You mention Kevin’s voice (which you obviously don’t like) do you like Bruce’s rendition of Blue Christmas?
Thanks for listening and (in my opinion) their new CD is still the best one I’ve ever heard….honestly.
Holly
it’s not personal. No matter what the subject matter is, I can’t stand “reviews” of anything when the writer uses personal attacks and takes the negativity beyond the subject that’s being reviewed.
Your analysis of this CD reads like an angry high school blogger who lost the race. It is anything but objective.
Sure, you may find the CD unpleasant. And your opinion is noted. But even in your reply “No one cares about REO….” It screams of lack of objectivity..
Funny I recently attended a show and felt like I was in the 80s all over again. Thousands of people around me. Even the REO wings T shirts were all over in the crowd.
The statment you make “no one cares about REO anymore” makes my whole point, so thank you for making that so easy for me.
You simply don’t like this band. Nothing personal, I just enjoy calling out “critics” and I use that word lightly here who are nothing more than haters. No matter what the subject. It’s a poor excuse for review and you know it.
and my Ford argument is right on. I didn’t say you had to be a fan of ford’s to accurately review a ford.
A review of a ford mustang by you, assuming you hated fords to begin with might read something like this.
“The paint job looks like a crackhead painted it with a spray paint can. The interior looks like your grandmother sewed it by hand and the handling is like a riding a lawn mower”
That’s about how your review of the CD reads. The reader of this might walk away thinking “hmm, this just just hates fords, because although he may not like car, clearly the paint doesn’t look like that etc..”
I think you and any other reader understands my point well enough.
To Holly…it’s one of the best one’s I’ve ever heard too. Now clearly I’m a fan of REO or I wouldn’t be taking the time. But there are some of their songs that I do not like and have stated so. I’ll even turn the radio dial if I hear them. But overall, the Speedwagon creates some of the best music around. And have done so longer that most other bands in the history of rock and roll music.
What makes this Christmas CD great is their exploration into something they’ve never done before. I happen to not really like Christmas music. I never listen to it. But the way REO recreated this stuff is fantastic. It could have easily been the other way around with Christmas music. Other great bands have not been able to pull it off.
5 Stars!
Oh, I love it when street teamers pound the blog. You kids are so cute. I just want to pinch your little cheeks.
Going after the best, most knowledgeable, and most open-minded writer on the staff, telling him to get his “facts” straight. You guys have no idea how funny this is to watch.
The simple truth, kids, is that Jeff has forgotten more about REO Speedwagon than you will ever know. Now get back to listening to your math teacher. There’s no texting in class, you know.
Nice, Medsker. I’m with you.
Beat it, you punks. I heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who, heard it from another you’re just messing around here.
Unless you’ve walked a mile in our shoes (or in this case danced with a big-haired lass at the Senior Prom, circa 1986, while REO was blasting through the DJ speakers)…or even if you have…you’re postively nuts. Or maybe on crack, which you apparently have firsthand knowledge of.
That, above comment was written by me, Mojo.
Jeff: You are a joke. You are no critic, you are unknown and no one cares about you or what you think of REO. Get over yourself. If you are “the best, most knowledgeable, and most open-minded writer on the staff” then this site is even more pathetic amd irrelevent than you are. Find something better to do with your time because you suck here.
Oh and as far as the Christmas CD: To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect but after listening to it: WOW! Pleasantly surprised! I haven’t cared for listening to Christmas music for many years but this CD has me wanting to play it over and over. I am of course biased as I’ve been a fan of REO for decades. I do understand people who cling to the Richrath years as Gary is an awesome guitar player but I liked the band as a whole and it has been interesting to see them go through the changes they have and they keep on going regardless. I love their 70’s stuff, I love their 80’s stuff, I loved the Earth album…the Bridge…not as much but Find Your Own Way Home and this Christmas CD make me think they should stick with Joe Vannelli for a producer as he really knows how to bring out the best in REO these days.
Holly, I hear where you’re coming from with your argument about the band’s profile still being relatively high, but it must be said that the band hasn’t had an album hit the Billboard Top 200 since “The Earth, a Small Man, His Dog and a Chicken,” and there’s every reason to believe that that record only succeeded because Jeff bought his copy.
People know who REO Speedwagon is, and people remember the songs they used to have, but like many other artists of their era (and of even more recent eras, thanks to the short attention span of recent generations), no one outside of their established fan base can be bothered to acknowledge anything new from the band. So when Jeff says, “As far as most people are concerned, REO Speedwagon stopped making new music in 1988,” statistically speaking, he’s righ ton the money.
REO Shitwagon made another album? Someone tell these dudes the ’80s have been over for a couple decades now. Jesus.
Ha ha ha ha! You 20-year-olds crack me up. I’m speaking, of course, to the first “Bruce.” Not the second one, who is clearly much older, more mature, and likely the first Bruce’s supervisor.
Quoth Holly:
“BTW, I went back to buy more copies as gifts and my Wal-Mart was already sold out of it!”
Let me guess…you bought the one copy of it that they had because they knew that was the total amount that they could sell. Trust me…not even Wal-Mart shoppers would buy enough of this disc to make it sold out. But you street teamers at least stick to your hilariously rote playbooks if nothing else. REO Speedwagon never had an instance where an album of theirs sold out and this one certainly won’t be the start of that trend. Get fucking real.
REO was making new music in 1988? I’ll be darned. I always thought it was just Journey recording under another name, except with Steve Perry singing with a dozen more marbles in his mouth than usual. Good enough for Wal-Mart, though, huh? I guess during the aforementioned prom dance I was overwhelmed with the fumes of my partner’s Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific.
Thanks for the review, Jeff. Agree or disagree,very funny stuff
Jeez….you guys really have something personal against REO. It is a good album and quite frankly, their latest studio album is pretty good too. If you HATE REO, why did you even bother to listen to the CD much less keep up with what they’ve been doing or not doing over the last decade? Did one of the band memebers hit on your wife/girlfriend backstage one night after a show? Whats the deal? Maybe your music sucks. Your perception needs work.
…..oh yea, “The Earth..” ablum rocks! It’s different from the rest of their music but still well done. Have a great day.
I’m enough of a sentimentalist that I’ll listen to any holiday music by anybody, and I’m Jewish. I’ve listened to this album and the biggest problem is that it’s utterly joyless, capturing none of the spirit that the best holiday music brings.
The only justification for buying this album is as a Secret Santa gift for a co-worker you don’t like.
Dear REO fans,
Unemployment is a really sad thing. All of the time that you’re spending defending an REO Xmas album really illustrates that nicely.
And for the record, I loved “Find Your Own Way Home,” but I hate the new xmas album – so clearly, you can mark me down in the REO haters column as well, right?
Be well.
Hey, Matt, I liked “Find Your Own Way Home,” too:
http://www.bullz-eye.com/cdreviews/harris/reo_speedwagon-find_your_
own_way_home.htm
But, y’know, since I have it on good authority that this site is even more pathetic amd irrelevent than Jeff Giles is, I don’t guess it counts. What a shame.
Well, here’s what the New York Times has to say!
‘Not So Silent Night’
REO SPEEDWAGON
By BEN RATLIFF
Big-gesture and easygoing, sweetened by Kevin Cronin’s ever-enthusiastic voice, “Not So Silent Night” is pretty much the ideal pop Christmas album for early-1980s sentimentalists: double-guitar leads, a little bit of blues, a little bit of country, a lush ballad (“The White Snows of Winter”), a rock shuffle, (“Winter Wonderland”), and some moral high-ground (John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas”). It’s a record trading on styles so old and codified, it’s incredible that it was made in 2009, but man, is it efficient. (Sony Special Products, $6.98)
http://www.nytimes.com/gift-guide/holiday-2009/2009holidaycds/list.
html?scp=1&sq=not%20so%20silent%20night%20reo%20speedwagon&st=cse
Here’s the proof that Wal-Mart is currently sold out too:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=12718596
Well there ya go. I actually went to Wal-mart to get a couple more copies (5.00 isn’t bad) and they’re out of them (tried 2 different locations).
Here’s one from the Associated Press…they’re credible, right??? 😉
REO Speedwagon, “Not So Silent Night” (Sony Legacy)
This is a solid Christmas album from the midwest rockers best known for their early ’80s power ballads like “Take it On The Run” and “Keep On Lovin’ You.” Lead singer Kevin Cronin gives many of these holiday classics a surprisingly tender touch, from the short opener “The First Noel” to the delicately paced “Silent Night.”
They ramp things up on a frenetic version of “Deck The Halls,” and lay down a fast-paced gospel vibe on “Children Go Where I Send Thee,” which is probably the best track on the album.
“Winter Wonderland” is set to a jaunty, strutting pace, and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” offers up the trademark Speedwagon sound nearly 40 years after this band first burst out of Illinois.
– Wayne Parry, AP Writer
Okay, seriously, this is the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. You guys are so completely incapable of tolerating a dissenting opinion that you feel the need to try and besmirch their credibility by suggesting that, because it doesn’t match up with someone writing for a higher profile publication, it’s by definition inaccurate.
Over the years, The New York Times has called REO Speedwagon an “epically cheesy rock band,” said that their music shows “barely a trace of originality,” and referred to “Can’t Fight This Feeling” “a dreadful song,” Does that instantly kill their credibility?
He didn’t like the album, all right? Why is that so hard for you people to deal with? Just because you’re insecure doesn’t mean we have to suffer because of it. This is getting boring.
Sorry DAVID MEDSKER: Jeff Giles so-called review is just an immature, personal attack on Kevin Cronin and not a professional, mature, critique of the new Christmas CD. So basically, no one can seriously take you serious. LOL
You have to really hate REO to not enjoy their new Christmas CD.
Even non-fans will enjoy this cd. But you mean REO haters…well, you’re just mean.
Jeff,
You need to grab a dictionary. Look up the word “Objective” ……Maybe you already work for NBC, I don’t know, but you are so far off base….it truly stinks.
Merry Xmas, everyone! I hope everyone got one of these very popular CDs in their stockings, promptly said “What the hell?,” punched the person in the face who gave it to them, and threw it on the fire.