Review: bo-Ho-Ho-hola!

When Jimmy Keane kicked off the Celtic Series in October, I was lucky enough to get a copy of bo-Ho-Ho-hola. As Christmas neared, this CD was the first one we popped in to get us in the mood. Jimmy Keane and Pat Broaders of bohola clearly love to have fun and it shows.

Though there are familiar tunes sprinkled throughout, this is not the usual holiday fare. Most of the tracks feature spoken word or songs featuring Pat Broaders. His rich voice tells of childhood holiday memories, back in Ireland or among Irish immigrants here in the States. The stories convey wonder and magic, family fun and holiday antics. Even the song lyrics tell stories you don't want to miss. Music weaves underneath, swells to take the fore, and complements Broaders' voice marvelously.

Did I mention that Broaders' accent is a delight to my American ears? 'Tis. He doesn't read the phone book, but does read a recipe for fruitcake that includes frequent whiskey sampling, and is feeling the effects by the time the reading's done. And do you remember those letters from the recipient of the 12 Days of Christmas gifts to the sender which flew around the internet a few years back? Broaders' reading of those will keep you laughing as well.
 Because there is so much spoken word, don't play this in the background at your holiday party. Let it entertain you as you prepare the food or wrap presents, so you can catch all the fun nuances.