Music - Hilary Duff: Santa Claus Lane
 Terry Bartley  rates it:    Community rates it: (no ratings yet)
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Way back in 2003, Disney gave Hilary Duff one of the greatest gifts a media organization can give someone, the chance to record her very first album. Sure, it was a Christmas album that she most likely had little to no creative control over, but she may have never blossomed into the pop sensation I love so much today had it not been for this first album. So, I'm going to take a look back, and ignoring factors like Christmas joy and crazy fandom, objectivly review Hilary Duff's "Santa Claus Lane."

In this album, Hilary does the traditional thing and covers such classics as "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Sleigh Ride," "Wonderful Christmastime," and the Wham! hit "Last Christmas." I know it may sound weird, but Hilary Duff performing Wham! is actually pretty good. The rest of the CD is filled with new orginal Christmas songs, some with an interesting twist, like "When the Snow Comes Down in Tinsletown" where she wishes it would snow in her hometown of Hollywood. There are also very poppy songs, like "What Christmas Should Be" that make you very happy and still fills your heart with Christmas wishes of peace and love.

Then the album has the collaborations. The single off of this album was "Tell Me a Story" with Lil' Romeo. This song is very pop/rap and shows us that if Hilary Duff wanted to tred down the hip-hop path, she very well could and hold her own. She really pulls off the girl who sings chorus while rapper does verses quite well. I'm very thankful she took the path of rock, or I may have lost interest in her very quickly. She also has a song with Christina Milian, titled "I Heard Santa On the Radio" which has a very watered down hip-hop feel to it. Then the final collaboration is of no surprise to anyone, she sings "Same Old Christmas" with her sister Haylie Duff. This song has a very acoustic rock feel to it, very modern day Hilary Duff.

This album is a great look back at Hilary's growth as an artist. The whole thing with the genre musical chairs is a hint that she didn't have too much creative control with this album. She didn't have a chance to find her voice, because Disney was all too willing to make one for her. Even though the hip-hop team ups were probably another Disney idea, it was cool to hear Hilary work with someone other then Haylie. In her newer albums, Hilary seems to be strictly a solo artist, only recording with her sister for soundtracks, so it was refreshing to hear a non-Duff voice when listening to a Hilary Duff album. The covers of classic songs are great, I particularly like the pop/punk cover of "Wonderful Christmastime." Although making an album with this many restraints is hardly "What Christmas Should Be," Disney did their job and made their little star pump out exactly what a Christmas album should be. I've got to give "Santa Claus Lane" 4.5 out of 5 cans.

Added:  Thursday, December 22, 2005

Related Link:  Hilary Duff Music
Language: eng[ Did you find this review helpful?  Yes  No ]
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