REO Speedwagon -- Not So Silent Night
Sony Music
www.reospeedwagon.com

Rating: B

Well... why the heck not?  An album of Christmas cheer from REO Speedwagon. It is a new REO studio album as well so that doubles the fun.  While there is a part of me that is still a teenaged rocker at heart, and cringes when bands that wrote songs like "Ridin' The Storm Out" and "Golden Country" are now making Christmas albums, I must admit that if REO's creative juices demanded a Christmas album, then they succeeded in making a fine one at that.

I think we are getting damn tired of David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing "Little Drummer Boy" so why not give REO a shot at it.  REO take some creative liberties with classics like "The First Noel" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" but, for the most part, our parents will like this album. And our Grandkids.  REO have a few grandpas in the band, or at least guys old enough to be grandpas, so it makes sense that they would want to please the little buggers with some holiday music.

While it is not "Roll With The Changes" we will accept this as a pretty fun little CD.  REO Speedwagon really sounds good on this one.  Santa hats off to the boys. 

By Jeb Wright