For the past four years, The Meznäs have been making Christmas albums. The first two, "
The Meznäs Christmas Album" (1999) and "
A Meznäs Christmas" (2000) were recorded at On The Run Productions Studios. The most recent two, "
Everywhere It's Christmas" (2001) and "
A Very Meznäs Christmas" (2002) were [mostly] recorded at our own Plattdeutsch Studios, a.k.a. Matt's basement.
Included on these holiday collections are many traditional Christmas selections, as well as original Meznäs tunes, and some semi-humorous skits featuring Sean Connery, Bob Dylan, Cheech & Chong, Santa Claus, and the whole gang. We've also had many guest artists appear on the albums, such as Betsy Weber, Char Brandt, Walt Fritz, Aaron Barsy, Frank Jones, and the Boyne City High School Choir.
An excerpt from the infamous NPR-TRL review of "Everywhere It's Christmas" (2001):
"When I first heard the Meznäs' latest album, "Everywhere It's Christmas", I wasn't totally impressed. I've been reviewing these guys' music for years, and have loved it all, but this one didn't really cut it for me at first. Its raw, grainy sound, with overlapping fuzz didn't seem to live up to what we've come to expect from these guys in their past releases. But that all changed when I met recently with the Meznäs for a personal interview. During our interview, they informed me that not only was this album recorded in someone's basement (not in the usual studio), but it was also recorded in what they described as "an unbelievably small amount of time, like twenty minutes or so." Now, with those two factors in mind, I could definately overlook any technical and/or musical errors in the album. So what if it's not the best sound quality? It's their first 'self-produced' album, give them a break! I think that they'd give you a break if you had a c.d. So, to wrap things up, even though it may seem like they've taken a step backwards when you first hear the Meznäs' newest Christmas album, the Meznäs are on the right track, and yes indeed, everywhere it's Christmas."
-John DeSummers
Host of NPR-TRL
TRACK LISTING:
The Meznäs Christmas Album (1999)
1. "We Three Kings" (Hopkins, arr. Rasch, McLane, Cole)
2. "Christmas Time Is Here Again" (Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Starkey)
3. "Little Drummer Boy" (Traditional, arr. Rasch, McLane, Cole)
4. "Silent Night" (Stille Nacht) (Mohr, Gruber, arr. Rasch, McLane, Cole)
5. "I Saw Three Ships" (Stainer, arr. Rasch, McLane, Cole)
6. "Christmas Messages From The Meznäs" (Rasch, McLane, Cole)
A Meznäs Christmas (2000)
1. "Meznäs Overture" (Rasch, McLane, Paul)
2. "Christmas Time At My House" (Rasch, McLane, Barsy)
3. "Gettin' Merry Like Christmas" (Rasch, McLane)
4. "Christmas Time Is Here Again" (Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, Starkey)
5. "I Saw Three Ships" (Stainer, arr. Rasch, McLane, Cole)
6. "Christmas Medley" (Traditional, arr. Rasch, McLane, Paul, Cole, Barsy)
7. "Auld Lang Syne" (Burns, arr. Rasch, McLane, Paul, Cole)
8. "Christmas Messages From The Meznäs" (Rasch, McLane, Paul, Cole, Barsy)
Everywhere It's Christmas (2001)
1. "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" (Moore, arr. Rasch, McLane)
2. "The Man Called Santa Claus" (Rivers, arr. & new lyrics Rasch, McLane, Paul, Cole)
3. "The Wiseman's Song" (Hubbard, Emerick)
4. "Blue Christmas" (Hayes, Johnson)
5. "O Holy Night" (Traditional, arr. Rasch, McLane)
6. "Last Christmas" (Michael, arr. Rasch, McLane)
7. "Colonel Epstein Interview" (Rasch, McLane, Van Horn)
8. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Traditional, arr. McLane)
9. "It Won't Be Christmas In My Heart" (Rasch, McLane)
10. "Santa's Beard" (Linnell, Flansburgh)
11. "The Meznäs Christmas Advertisement" (Rasch, McLane, Van Horn)
12. "Away In A Manger" (Traditional, arr. Rasch, McLane)
13. "You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch" (Seuss, Hague)
14. "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" (Traditional, arr. Rasch)
15. "Christmas Messages From The Meznäs" (Rasch, McLane, Paul, Cole, Van Horn, Wright)
A Very Meznäs Christmas (2002)
1. "The Elf Accident" (Rasch, McLane, Van Horn)
2. "C'mon Santa" (McLane)
3. "What Child Is This" (Greensleeves) (Traditional, arr. Rasch, McLane, Paul, Van Horn)
4. "Arnold Schwarzenegger's Christmas Tree Delivery Service" (Arr. Rasch)
5. "Christmas Around The World" (Rasch)
6. "Santa Wants To Rock" (Rasch, Van Horn, Cole, Polleys)
7. "Sled Zeppelin" (McLane, Paul, Cole)
8. "Christmas In The Trenches" (Traditional, arr. Rasch, McLane)
9. "In The Morning" (Van Horn)
10. "Christmas Messages From The Meznäs" (Rasch, McLane, Paul, Cole, Van Horn, Weber)
