Is Dylan's Heart Really In This 'Christmas'?

TERRY GROSS, host:

The news that Bob Dylan was releasing an album of Christmas songs came as a surprise to many people. Now that "Christmas in the Heart," all of whose profits go to charity, has been released, critics and Dylan fans are divided. Is the album an earnest effort or one big put on?

Rock critic Ken Tucker has his opinion.

(Soundbite of song, "Winter Wonderland")

Unidentified Woman: (Singing) Wonderland, winter wonderland. Wonderland.

Mr. BOB DYLAN (Singer): (Singing) Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the lane, snow is glistening. A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland. Gone away...

KEN TUCKER: It's the worst album Dylan has released since 1970's "Self Portrait." It's a total ear-bleeder. It's a hoax.

These are just a few of the critical judgments that have already seen print about "Christmas in the Heart." There's nothing like a mixture of sincerity, self-deprecating humor and an appreciation for unfashionable aspects of the past to get people in full-bore sarcastic-cynicism mode.

(Soundbite of song, "Silver Bells")

Mr. DYLAN: (Singing) City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style. In the air, there's a feeling of Christmas. Children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile. And on every street corner you hear: Silver bells, silver bells. It's Christmas time in the city...

TUCKER: In the criticisms of "Christmas in the Heart," there's the odd complaint that Dylan's voice sounds awful. I'm sorry, have you not been listening to Dylan for the past decade, or for most his entire career? An imperfect vocal instrument is at once characteristic and a limitation that Dylan has frequently turned to his advantage. As far as the idea that covering songs such as "Christmas Island," and "Here Comes Santa Claus," is cornball, well, the flip-side of cornball is amusement in context.

Dylan, producing himself under the name Jack Frost, is surrounded by sweet choral voices and arrangements straight out of a 1960's middle-of-the-road or Countrypolitan album. It's just that instead of hearing Johnny Mathis or Eddy Arnold crooning, you have Dylan croaking with both solemnity and a wink.

(Soundbite of song, "Christmas Island")

Unidentified Woman (Singer): (Singing) Aloha-ay, aloha-ay, aloha-o-ah-ay.

Mr. DYLAN: (Singing) How'd ya like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island? How'd ya like to spend the holiday away across the sea?

TUCKER: Come on, that's fun, in the manner of other Christmas songs ranging from Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby" to the Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping." So is this polka-rhythm version of "Must Be Santa," with help from Los Lobos' David Hidalgo on accordion.

(Soundbite of song, "Must Be Santa")

Mr. DYLAN: (Singing) Who's got a beard that's long and white?

Unidentified Group: (Singing) Santa's got a beard that's long and white.

Mr. DYLAN: (Singing) Who comes around on a special night?

Unidentified Group: (Singing) Santa comes around on a special night. Special night, beard that's white, must be Santa, must be Santa, must be Santa, Santa Claus.

TUCKER: Yes, indeed there are some lousy clunkers on this album. I don't think anyone is capable of making "Little Drummer Boy" endurable, and, yes, I do remember the campy, sincere Bing Crosby-David Bowie collaboration from years ago. And Dylan does make his slow, deliberate version of "I'll Be Home For Christmas" sound more like a threat than a promise.

(Soundbite of song, "I'll Be Home For Christmas")

Mr. DYLAN: (Singing) I'll be home for Christmas. You can plan on me. Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the tree. Christmas Eve...

TUCKER: As is consistent with current Dylan, the album operates as a further exploration of American popular song in all its forms, no matter how uncool. In the same spirit as his satellite radio show, Dylan presides over "Christmas in the Heart" with some put-ons, some sincerity, some goofy humor and some deep dives into the mystery of what it means to celebrate the birth of Christ in both Latin and kitsch.

(Soundbite of song, "Adeste Fideles")

Mr. DYLAN: (Singing) Adeste fideles, laeti triumphantes. Venite, venite in Bethlehem. Natum videte...

TUCKER: Proceeds from this album will go to a charity, Feeding America. What can I say? This holiday season, while trimming the tree, I am just as likely to put on "Christmas in the Heart" as frequently as I do Phil Spector's great album "A Christmas Gift For You." Ho-ho-ho.

GROSS: Ken Tucker is editor-at-large for Entertainment Weekly. You can download podcasts of our show on our Web site FRESHAIR.npr.org. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.