News: Music Review: Mikey Wax, "And a Happy New Year"

Every year it seems when the holiday season rolls around, we are showered with a batch of new Christmas albums, ranging from the mediocre to the exquisite. If we are lucky, we discover one exquisite gem amongst all that mediocrity. Such is the case with singer/songwriter Mikey Wax’s EP And a Happy New Year. Oftentimes releases of this sort feature the same songs we’ve heard over and over, but with three original songs, a Beatles cover, and two more traditional holiday tunes given a new spin, this EP is a breath of fresh air. Somehow managing to have a retro 50s vibe while still feeling contemporary, Wax creates a wonderful blend of soulful vocals, inspired instrumentation, and evocative lyrics.

Reminiscent of Dean Martin’s A Winter Romance, yet still completely unique, the theme of And a Happy New Year is definitely that of love and romance, evoking images of snowfall, chilly weather, twinkling lights, cozy couples, and all the pleasures of the wintertime. “Winter Wonderland” is a delightful treat complete with steel guitar and ukulele, and “Let it Snow” is given a delicate, slowed-down melody, making it more lovely and romantic than ever.

The two original songs “And a Happy New Year,” “Perfect Holiday,” and “Catch the Midnight Flight” are real smile-inducing charmers. They are happy and hopeful and convey the idea that the holidays are the time to be with the ones that we love. Remarkably so, these tunes also transport the listener and will make people like myself long for a snowy, white Christmas.

Lastly, the Beatles cover “Across the Universe” is quite a bold selection; some may doubt its place on a holiday album. But if you listen to the lyrics, they bring up what this time of year is all about -- love. Whether it is still an elusive dream, or a precious gift we remember to be grateful for, we see that “limitless undying love” everywhere. Why else would so many holiday songs and films feature the same themes and imagery? It is because these feelings are timeless. For that very reason Mikey Wax’s rich and sincere And a Happy New Year is sure to become a holiday staple to anyone fortunate enough to listen.