Come on Christmas
Dwight Yoakam's work as an interpretive singer has been solid and, as far as Christmas music albums go, this one is informed with Yoakam's great vocal talents and a country band that can get these tunes to swing in any juke joint. The rumba of "Here Comes Santa Claus" is a tad forced, but Yoakam's good humor is in evidence. This album may lack thegravitasof his best work, but it shows that even a cowboy feels like kicking off his existential boots sometimes and getting down with standards from years bygone.--Rob O'Connor