Brian Wilson: WHAT I REALLY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS + Mike Love: REASON FOR THE SEASON

Summary

Jokermen Podcast

Episode: "Brian Wilson: WHAT I REALLY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS + Mike Love: REASON FOR THE SEASON"

Release Date: December 22, 2025
Hosts: Jordan, Ben, and (briefly) Ian

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Episode Overview

This holiday episode of Jokermen dives deep into two Beach Boys-adjacent Christmas albums: Brian Wilson's What I Really Want for Christmas (2005) and Mike Love's Reason for the Season (2018). The hosts compare, contrast, and contextualize each offering, exploring what makes an artist's Christmas record resonate or fall flat, all while batting around the meaning, spirit, and commercial realities of American Christmas music. Along the way, they touch on personal holiday stories, audience interactions, and the enduring (and occasionally baffling) appeal of annual musical traditions.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

Christmas Spirit & Personal Anecdotes

• The hosts catch up on real-life holiday happenings, from gift exchanges to Hanukkah observances. Both share experiences at white elephant parties, and Jordan relays a charming encounter where his father meets a Jokermen listener at a record store ([10:45]).
  • “So my father... goes to this record store in Hollywood, and the guy apparently was wearing a Lou Reed blue mask hat… and my father says, ‘my son is a music podcaster...’ and the guy behind the counter says, ‘Oh, is it Jokermen?’” (Jordan, [11:43])

Setting Up: The Two Christmas Albums

• The impetus: reviewing Brian Wilson’s and Mike Love’s dueling Christmas records.
• Acknowledgement that these aren't the most high-profile subjects for a wide audience, but the hosts are committed to exploring every corner of the Beach Boys universe.
  • “We are gonna be spending the rest of this episode talking about these insipid Christmas albums that no one has ever heard.” (Jordan, [15:07])

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Segment 1: Brian Wilson – What I Really Want for Christmas (2005)

General Reaction & Context ([13:22]–[17:04])

• Ben expresses genuine fondness for the album: “I like What I Really Want for Christmas by Brian Wilson from 2005. I think that this is a good Brian Wilson Christmas album.” ([16:48])
• Jordan situates the record in Brian’s solo discography—his immediate post-Smile period, with the “classic Brian Wilson band” still together.

The “Christmas Album” Tradition ([18:12]–[30:07])

• Hosts riff on the perennial nature of Christmas albums and how even musical legends end up releasing humble, tradition-driven records.
• They debate a scathing review by Alexis Petridis, who derides the album as “the least fascinating album of Christmas, of all Christmas.” ([22:33])
  • Ben takes issue with being too harsh: “There is not so much you can do. You just can't. And that's not really a problem… a Christmas record can actually be more than a Christmas record. It can be a bad one or it can be a regular one. And I think this is a regular one.” ([25:27])

What Makes a Christmas Song “Hit” ([25:27]–[39:09])

• Jordan and Ben agree that only rarely does a Christmas album transcend—mentioning Vince Guaraldi, Phil Spector’s A Christmas Gift for You, and Elvis or Frank Sinatra’s takes as outstanding examples.
• The “do it again” nature of the Beach Boys reflects the broader repetitiveness—and emotional comfort—of the Christmas season.
  • “There's a time and a place for Do It Again. And I think Christmas music is one of the perfect examples of Doing it again being something good.” (Jordan, [27:49])

Album Highlights, Lowlights, and Standout Tracks

Notable Originals

• What I Really Want for Christmas (title track) – Praised for its sincerity, co-written with Bernie Taupin.

  • “Brian sounds great. I don't know where that guy got off... I think Brian's voice at this point in time is like... primo prime Brian voice.” (Jordan, [32:48])
  • [32:01]–[32:48]: Recitation of the song’s lyrics, focusing on wishing for peace, joy, and togetherness, not just material gifts.

• Christmassy – Derided by some critics, defended by hosts for capturing the “feeling” rather than religious literalism.

  • “There's something that happens with Christmas music where like the more literal you get, the further away from the feeling you get. …songs that are just about the mood of Christmas, they hit harder than ones that are about the facts...” (Ben, [37:27])

“Churchy” Material

• The record has its share of hymns and classic carols, which the hosts find less exciting. Ben confides:
  • “I have a little less patience with songs about baby Jesus... you don’t need to always be like bringing it back to... there's a reason for Christmas. …Let Christmas be a little bit of its own thing.” ([34:43])
  • Jordan notes: “Was this Christmas song written by a Christian or Was this Christmas song written by a Jew? And if it was written by a Christian, you probably don't want to hear it. But if it was written by a Jewish [person], then you're gonna have a good ass time.” ([35:53])

Notable Moment

• Silent Night coda, with Brian’s spoken message: “We wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.” ([39:45]) – hosts appreciate this as an intentional callback to vintage Christmas records.

Visuals

• The hosts agree the album cover is ugly, though it’s an homage to Willie Nelson’s Pretty Paper.
  • “The album cover is hideous. I'm gonna give him that... it looks like it was made on a phone.” (Ben, [33:13])
  • “That Willie Christmas album is amazing... it sparkles in the light…” (Jordan, [34:05])

Ratings

• Both Jordan and Ben: 2/3 stars (“two stars… good stuff.” – Jordan, [43:41])

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Segment 2: Mike Love – Reason for the Season (2018)

First Impressions ([43:41])

• Significantly less enthusiastic; Ben admits: “It was a little bit challenging listening to this all day. I'll be honest.” ([44:00])
• The album’s heavy handed “reason for the season” theme signals a more religious, less joyful experience.
  • “I wanted to give people a gentle reminder that Christmas is a Christian holiday.” – Mike Love, paraphrased by Jordan ([46:00])

Production and Sound ([44:19]–[54:18])

• Over-produced, sanitized, and emotionally cold: the hosts liken it to the sterile, bright lighting of modern farmhouse décor, versus the warmth and subtlety that make Christmas music feel inviting.
  • “It’s very sterile. Like it’s like a doctor’s office... Christmas lights that are just bright cold white.” (Ben, [49:49])
  • “Filled with just like whatever like starter pack shit you get. Where somehow there's been a mandate we can't have warm looking lights anymore.” (Ben, [50:13])

Track-Specific Notes

“Reason for the Season”

• The title song is, to the cohosts’ amusement, musically a retread of “Shortenin’ Bread”.
  • “Did you notice Reason for the Season? The song is just shortening bread.” (Jordan, [52:56])

Family Affair

• Features Mike’s children as a band called “All Love”—Brian Love, Christian Love, Hayleigh Love, and Ambha Love—plus an appearance from Hanson on “Finally It’s Christmas”.
  • “There's a Brian Love off an island in Norway... that's one of Mike's children.” (Jordan, [47:03], [48:01])
• On naming his son “Brian”: “Can we spend two minutes? What Is the psychology going on there?” (Jordan, [55:45])

Covers and Redos

• “Alone on Christmas Day” gets a new airing, but the hosts agree the earlier version is superior.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Mike’s voice is barely even functional, but it’s so plumped up with silicone and cheap lipstick and stuff. Oh, God. Yeah. It feels like lip filler. This is like the lip filler Christmas. This is what, like a Trump Christmas feels it is.” (Jordan & Ben, [51:52])
• On the album’s aesthetic: “Calling it a record feels funny too.” (Ben, [54:49])
• Regarding the posthumous future: “I wouldn’t be shocked when the next time this happens... the posthumous Michael Love Christmas album is AI drawing from this.” (Ben, [54:27])
• “I’m getting word that Donald Trump has made it illegal to listen to any Brian Wilson Christmas music. You’re only allowed to listen to Reason for the Season going forward.” (Jordan, [54:36])

Rating

• 1/3 star: “Let’s just give this a nice little rating of 1 out of 3.” (Ben, [57:03])
  • “One celestial star... That is exactly how many stars it gets from Jokerman podcast.” (Jordan, [57:12])

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Closing Thoughts & Themes

Christmas, Forgiveness, and Repetition ([58:03])

• The hosts end on the notion that forgiveness is central to the holidays—maybe even forgiving Mike Love for this album:
  • “If there’s one thing I want to leave this episode with, what’s the most important theme to you in a Christmas [story]?” – Ben, [58:03]
  • “Forgiveness.” – Jordan, [58:16]
  • “That’s what I want to end this on... we can forgive Mike Love. We can forgive that whole family for this record.” – Ben, [58:21]

Memorable Sendoff

• A classic Beach Boys tradition: “Sleep in heavenly peace…” ([58:52])
• Then, in Brian Wilson’s voice: “I’d like to wish all of you and your families a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.” ([59:02])

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Timestamps of Note

• [11:43] — The great record store listener encounter
• [15:07] — Commitment to covering these lesser-known albums
• [16:48] — Ben’s endorsement of Brian’s Christmas album
• [22:33] — The infamous “least fascinating album of all Christmas” review
• [32:48] — Hosts praise the sincerity and arrangement of the title song
• [35:53] — “Was this [Christmas] song written by a Jew or a Christian?” mini-thesis
• [39:45] — Brian Wilson’s spoken Christmas greeting
• [43:41] — Transition to the Mike Love album
• [46:00] — Mike Love’s “gentle reminder” about the Christian roots of Christmas
• [49:49]–[50:44] — Vivid domestic metaphors for the album’s coldness
• [52:56] — “Reason for the Season” as a “Shortenin’ Bread” retread
• [57:03] — Mike Love's album gets "1 out of 3" stars
• [58:16] — “Forgiveness” as the episode’s takeaway

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Summary Table

| Album | Year | Hosts' Ratings | General Vibe | Notable Comments | |----------------------------------------|------|---------------|-----------------|------------------| | Brian Wilson – What I Really Want... | 2005 | 2/3 stars | Warm, nostalgic | “Primo Brian voice… prime Wilson Christmas.” | | Mike Love – Reason for the Season | 2018 | 1/3 star | Sterile, hollow | “Lip filler Christmas… a Trump Christmas.” |

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Tone & Takeaway

The episode blends earnestness and irreverence, balancing affectionate nostalgia for holiday music’s communal spirit with the hosts’ withering honesty about artistic missteps. They advocate for forgiveness and tradition in an era inundated by anodyne, AI-esque creativity. For Beach Boys fans, Christmas music enjoyers, or the Jokerman-curious, this episode serves as both a critique and a celebration—a reminder that even “insipid” albums have their season.

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Transcript

[Narrator]

This could be considered a track.

[Ben]

Not really, though.

[Jordan]

We don't want to do that.

[Narrator]

This is a little intro, you know.

[Ben]

All right, here we go. Countdown time. One, two, three, go.

[Jordan]

Okay, boys, do it. You're gonna hate me for this. I haven't been recording.

[Ben]

Oh, you haven't at all?

[Jordan]

Nothing.

[Ben]

Nowhere.

[Jordan]

Nowhere. Jesus. Well, let's just keep rolling with it.

[Ben]

If you're just joining us, because this is actually the beginning of the episode now. Ian forgot to record himself for basically an entire review of a root beer called Teddy's Root Beer.

[Jordan]

Teddy's Root Beer, man. Never happened before because I'm usually record. Double recording. I record the zoom session for, like, a backup audio, and then I'm also recording local, you know, the. The actual audio. And somehow I failed to record both of them. Wow.

[Ben]

What are we gonna do?

[Jordan]

Maybe what we should do is just. Maybe we should just run your audio for the first part of it. And it's just you. It's just you talking alone, and then I can kind of jump in here in the middle.

[Ben]

Yeah. Well, I do think maybe we can do something with the magic of AI. We can put you in. In post.

[Jordan]

I mean, if you want to take that on, feel free.

[Ben]

I think it can be done relatively easily these days.

[Ian]

Hey, everyone, I'm Ian, and welcome back to the Root Beer Report segment on the Joker Men podcast.

[Ben]

Today we've got Teddies. Teddy's Root Beer.

[Ian]

Today we're diving into Teddy's root Beer.

[Ben]

It's kind of got an interesting bottle here. It's huge.

[Ian]

Big bottles can be great for sharing with friends or just enjoying overtime.

[Ben]

It's enormous.

[Ian]

It must be quite a sight.

[Ben]

Second giant bottle.

[Ian]

Enjoying a massive bottle can definitely.

[Ben]

And it's got a little. Little Teddy guy. A little picture of sort of like a Teddy Roosevelt on it.

[Ian]

The packaging for Teddy's Root Beer definitely stands out. With that unique design, the character that resembles Teddy Roosevelt adds a fun and nostalgic touch, making it memorable.

[Ben]

Chuggalug.

[Ian]

Chuggalug.

[Ben]

It's pretty sweet, I think. Does knock you back with the sweetness, but it. It's. There's. There's a good, classic, kind of Rudy, rooty, herbaceous taste in there. The finish isn't so sweet. This is not bad. This is a solid root beer.

[Ian]

Teddy's Root Beer is definitely enjoyable.

[Ben]

Yeah, I think It's a solid 2 out of 3.

[Ian]

It has a more straightforward taste that might not stand out compared to other root beers with more complex or unique flavors. It's good, but it doesn't quite have that extra something that makes it a standout in my opinion. So it gets two out of three stars from me.

[Ben]

Well said. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, in a pinch for sure, I'd get it again.

[Ian]

Nice. It's great to hear that you enjoy it. Everyone has their own unique tastes and it's always fun to find a root beer that you like. If you have any other favorites or want to explore more, just let me know.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Ian]

This has been the Root Beer Report.

[Jordan]

Teddy's Root Beer, two stars. There's the review right there.

[Ben]

Yeah, it's not bad.

[Jordan]

Yeah, it's pretty good. All right, well, Christmas music, here we go again and again and again. Exactly. We introduced this earlier when I wasn't recording, but to reintroduce it, when I am recording, it's. It's the Brian Wilson Christmas album and the Mike Love Christmas album. Dueling Christmas albums, as you put it. And like I said previously, you know this is coming out before Christmas. I know you said you were worried about that. It'll be in everyone's stockings just in time for old St. Nick to be coming around. And it's gonna be the last time we get to talk about Christmas music for some time because this will be the last year we spend with Brian and the boys and I think the next couple years around holiday season. I don't think that our upcoming targets are very Christmas forward in terms of the music that they've released.

[Ben]

No. But who knows? We might have, like, a cheeky summer series subject where there is some Christmas or we might come up with some kind of Christmas content for you.

[Jordan]

Yeah, let's do a summer miniseries of Christmas albums.

[Ben]

I mean, not summer.

[Jordan]

All June, July and August. Talking Christmas albums.

[Ben]

You know what I mean?

[Jordan]

That would actually honestly be pretty good. Christmas in July.

[Ben]

Yeah. Yeah. Well.

[Jordan]

Well, yes, it's two.

[Ben]

It's the Dueling Dragons of Christmas. It's Fire and Ice. It's Heat Miser and who's the Other Guy?

[Jordan]

Love and Hate.

[Ben]

Well, who's the other Heat Miser guy?

[Jordan]

I don't know.

[Ben]

If there's Heat miser, then there's Ms. Jack Frost, right? I guess, yeah.

[Jordan]

Yes. What I really Want for Christmas, Brian Wilson, 2005. And then reason for the season, Mike Love, 2018. Oh, man.

[Ben]

Is that what we're going to talk about first or.

[Jordan]

I think we should probably save Mike for the end. You know, I don't want to blow all of our. All of our energy on Reason for the Season, but before we talk about either of them, I mean, Are you. Are you in the Christmas spirit? How are you feeling?

[Ben]

I'm feeling more in the Christmas spirit. I've been, you know, buying some gifts and things like that for, you know, giving. Giving the gift of the holidays to people. Hanukkah, personally, this is.

[Jordan]

We're in the. We're in the midst of the festival of lights as we record came up.

[Ben]

Yeah. I got to say, really not. Not a great start to this Hanukkah between the mass murder of celebrators of Hanukkah on that beach in Australia, and then also the shocking murder of beloved Jewish celebrity director.

[Jordan]

Yes. Rob Reiner, may he rest in peace. Those both happened on the first night of Hanukkah. Right. Or first day of Hanukkah, whatever.

[Ben]

That's right. So not a great start. But, you know, on the other hand, nothing bad happened to me or anybody. I know.

[Jordan]

That's right. Let's see if we can have a strong finish.

[Ben]

And I got. I got together with my family a little bit, and, yeah, I'm feeling pretty good about. About it so far.

[Jordan]

Good. Did you get any presents or did you give any presents?

[Ben]

I did. I bought a sweater. I gave a sweater to my girlfriend.

[Jordan]

Nice.

[Ben]

And I was at a white elephant thing that my family did, and I ended up with, like, a co. That you can chill in the freezer. Seemed kind of pointless. So a cousin of mine who lives in Canada got a Target gift card, and there's no Target in Canada, so I switched with him.

[Jordan]

Oh, all right. It's a, you know, solution that pleases everybody. I also went to a white elephant thing. My friend Jordan does a white elephant party every year, and I brought the same gift that I bring every year, which is always the hit of the party, which is just overstock Jokerman T shirts that have been sitting in my garage for, like, three years at this point, and everyone goes crazy over them. So it happened once again.

[Ben]

That's great. Which ones?

[Jordan]

It's like the Lou and Bob yearbook T shirts in, like, the weirdest, like, double. Like, xl. Double xl. Stuff like that didn't sell initially. So I'm just very slowly titrating those out. And there's been an appetite for them for about three or four years running. So if anyone's looking for an Excel, Lou Reed or Bob Dylan yearbook shirt, come to my friend Jordan's white elephant party next year.

[Ben]

Last week.

[Jordan]

Yeah, that's right.

[Ben]

Well, actually, the one thing that I should have mentioned, I haven't yet, but you and Steven have a gift en route to you.

[Jordan]

Yeah, I saw you texting us. I'm tickled to see what, what, what delivers.

[Ben]

I think you're going to like it. I got you two different things from the same source because. Interesting. I thought, okay, this one might be a more your style and that one might be a little bit more his style in terms of just what I, what I know about the two of you, but I really think that they're, they're equally good. One of them is a little bit funnier, I guess. But you're, you're going to enjoy them, I think.

[Jordan]

I can't. I can't wait to see what, what happens. I, I will keep a lookout and be broadcasting it. I think this episode's going up on Monday and I think you said that they might be arriving.

[Ben]

Sant coming on Monday.

[Jordan]

All right. I've got a little bit of Christmas magic and joy to bring as well. Some more Jokerman Universe Christmas excitement that my father just delivered to me. I think. When was it? Yesterday. You know, the Grant family, pretty Christmas motivated type family. Like to do it. Like to do it big. Certainly a lot of gifting goes on in the Grant family. Whether or not that's the way you should do it, it's the way that it is done in this family. And so everyone's always, you know, spending the whole of December running about trying to find the right gifts, the perfect gifts for all of, you know, everyone who's going to be receiving a gift. So my father, you know, as I've spoken about before, a bit of a music guy, music head, music nut, he likes to go and buy me records for Christmas. And it's, you know, it's. I got a lot of records, he's gotten me a lot of records. And so it's sort of a challenge at this point for him to figure out, like, oh, what can I buy him that he doesn't already have? You know, and he's got plenty of places to go. He can go to the Bob section, you go to the Beach Boys section, the Lou John section, wherever, the Steely Dan section, the Randy section. But like, I'm filling these, filling these holes up in the discography. So he's got to be careful. But he went to some. I forget the name of the record store. I wish I remembered it. It's some record store in Hollywood, right off Cahuenga. And he went in there the other day and I guess this was just yesterday as we were talking and he was picking through the racks and kind of seeing what was going on, picked out A couple things. And then went up and talked to the guy that worked there, and the guy apparently was wearing a Lou Reed blue mask hat.

[Ben]

What?

[Jordan]

Yeah. Well, I'll come back to that. And so my father and he got to talking. This is just a guy that works at the record store, apparently, like our age, basically. And he says, you know, my dad says, I'm looking for, you know, do you have anything, like on the wall or in the back or something that's like a rare Bob Dylan record or a Beach Boys record or something? My son is a music podcaster, and his podcast talks about all of the records from these types of groups. And the guy behind the counter in the Lou Reed blue mask hat says, oh, is Joker Ben.

[Ben]

Huh.

[Jordan]

And my father was delighted to say that, yes, it was. Turns out the guy at the record store, whose name is Isaac, apparently is one of our longest listeners. Wow. And he got to talking with my father, and, you know, the Jokerman universe brought two people together by hook or by crook, I guess. The Lou Reed blue mask hat, he said. My dad said he got the idea. Isaac got the idea to make that after the street legal hats.

[Ben]

No way.

[Jordan]

Yeah. So he just made one for himself, which sounds very toug. If you're listening to this, Isaac, if you got any extra blue mascats, I.

[Ben]

Would love to have what is on it? Does it just say the blue Mask?

[Jordan]

I don't know. This is all secondhand information I got from my father. So let us know, Isaac, what is on it? Serra pic. I would assume that if it said, you probably would say Lou Reed, the.

[Ben]

Blue mask, but does it have Blue Reed on it?

[Jordan]

Well, that's another question. Anyways, it was a little bit of Christmas cheer and delight. Otherwise, it is delightful, you know, dark and dark and stormy holiday season in other ways. So salute to my father and salute to Isaac if you're out there listening. Thanks for helping him at the record store. I hope that he got some good records from you. Heavenly arms reach out to hold me. Well, on that note, should we visit with our two favorite boys for Christmas, Good Brian and bad Mike?

[Ben]

Yeah. Yes. What I really Want for Christmas by Brian Wilson, 2005.

[Jordan]

That's right.

[Ben]

So when did you know about this? When did this come to your attention?

[Jordan]

When I started putting together the master list for all the subjects that we were going to talk about this series.

[Ben]

Because I. I've never heard. I had never heard of this.

[Jordan]

Yes, it is it. This is, I think, his first post, Smile Release, you know, which we're gonna get to. So no one, you know, get too worried. We're going slightly out of order here, but trying to time it seasonally. So it is the, I think the fifth Brian solo album, because we've got. We got the first one in 88. We've got the second one. I just wasn't ready for these times. Imagination was three. I guess this would be the sixth, because then there's getting in over my head and smile. That's four, five, and so this would be six. So it's not too far from what we're, you know, where we're at in the Brian Wilson story.

[Ben]

We were just on a call, by the way, with the podcast network brass, and they expressed some concern that the absolute crusted dregs of the Beach Boys, which we are still in the midst of covering, is perhaps not the most exciting thing to the general listening public. And to that I say, well, how about what I really want for Christmas? Or are you going to say that this isn't. This is. This is the Christmas spirit, perhaps more. More clearly stated by one of the great musicians of all time than it's ever been.

[Jordan]

That's right. What I really want for Christmas is to talk about these great Christmas albums from 2005 and 2000 2018. I just. Mike love making albums in 2018. I love. Yes, that's a good point. I'm totally fine with that. You know, I feel like it's more important that we do what we want to do and that we stay committed and interested in what we're doing, as opposed to optimizing for clicks and social engagements and booking Olivia Nuzzy and trying to get all of the maximum social media reach. That way lies madness. So sorry to everyone out there, but we are gonna be spending the rest of this episode talking about these insipid Christmas albums that no one has ever heard.

[Ben]

Is it Nutzy or Nuzzy?

[Jordan]

Is it? I've only ever seen it spelled N U Z Z I. So I. Yeah, that'd be like nuzzi. Is it?

[Ben]

I mean, it's not called Peas. Pisa.

[Jordan]

Listen, she doesn't look too Italian to me.

[Ben]

Anyway, the Adam Friedland show is, you know, that's a whole. That's a different project with different goals. And I respect what you're doing on.

[Jordan]

It, but absolutely no, I think the Adam booking her, that's the right place for her to go. Certain other podcasts that shall remain nameless.

[Ben]

Oh, really? Really. Okay. I see. Well, anyway, we are still in the midst of doing this because we don't back down. We don't stop and call it a day just because things get a little bit tough. You know, if people did that, you know, if everyone did that, then what?

[Jordan]

Then there wouldn't many podcasts talking about what I really Want for Christmas.

[Ben]

Yeah. And I'm gonna be the first one on this particular podcast to say I like what I really Want for Christmas by Brian Wilson from 2005. I think that this is a good Brian Wilson Christmas album.

[Jordan]

That's great to hear. I'm glad. I know you were a little lukewarm here and there on the Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys album that we talked about.

[Ben]

I gave it three stars out of three.

[Jordan]

Did you give it three stars? Yeah. Oh, you did give it three stars. Yeah. Okay. Okay. Well, you know, fair point. I stand corrected. Yeah. I think that this is a fun. This is a fun album. You know, it's Brian and the classic Brian Wilson band getting together and doing their thing. You know, I think this is like 2005, again, remember, is like primo Brian Wilson era. This is like, coming off the high of the highs with the Smile sessions and the live performances there, and he's got the whole band together. And I think it was really just kind of a matter of like, I want to make another Christmas record and sing some songs and play them with a great set of players, and there doesn't need to be anything more complicated to it than that. I saw, when I was doing a little bit of research for this, there's a very cruel review of this album from some English Grinch.

[Ben]

From some kind of Grinch, Truly. Some scrooge.

[Jordan]

His name is. I don't know, something. He looked like a real.

[Ben]

A grinch or a scrooge?

[Jordan]

Yes.

[Ben]

What are the other type of Christmas villains? Heat Miser.

[Jordan]

You keep saying heat. Who's Heat Miser?

[Ben]

You know, Heat Meister. I'm Mr. White Christmas. I'm Mr. Snow. And then Mr. Heat Miser. It's like that. I've never actually seen it, but, you know, look him up. He's like the. That guy. It's. It's like the same studio. They're Rankin and Bass, I think.

[Jordan]

Oh, this guy? Yeah. The fire guy. Yeah, sure. Okay. Heat Miser. You never seen this?

[Ben]

I've never actually sat down and watched that. That movie. No.

[Jordan]

Wow. Yeah. The Year Without a Santa Claus.

[Ben]

I didn't know that.

[Jordan]

Those are good. Those are good movies.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

Have you seen the Rudolph one?

[Ben]

Yeah, of course, but not in a long time.

[Jordan]

Yeah. Those are classics. Rankin Bass. That's, you know, that's what Christmas season is all about.

[Ben]

I remember that. This the ranking and Bat, this thing. The Heat Miser and the. What's it called? The Mr. Snow miser that was featured very briefly in Batman and Robin, directed by Joel Schumacher in a scene with arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze.

[Jordan]

I'm Mr. White Christmas.

[Narrator]

I'm Mr.

[Jordan]

Snow.

[Narrator]

I'm Mr. Icicle. I'm Mr. Ten Below. Sing louder. Come on, sing.

[Jordan]

Sing. Sing.

[Ben]

Come on.

[Jordan]

Mr.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Ian]

Come on.

[Ben]

Louder.

[Jordan]

Mr.

[Ben]

Snow. It's like. Like evil lair. Like they're playing that on a TV.

[Jordan]

In Batman and Robin.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

Wow. All right, man. We're really. This is a knockout episode. If people thought that we weren't reaching a big enough audience and talking about popular enough stuff, just wait till they hear this one.

[Ben]

Whatever, you know.

[Jordan]

Alexis Patridis. Patridis. I don't know. One star review for this album. One out of five star review.

[Ben]

Oh, that's not good.

[Jordan]

One out of five star. You know, even a one out of three star would not be so good. One out of five stars. You know, really, really no good. Here's what he says, talking about all the Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys Christmas material, starting with the first one. You know, the Beach Boys Christmas album from 1964. Few Beach Boys releases bear such stark testament to the crippling pressure their songwriter and producer was under. The material is thin and the arrangements schmaltzy. Played next to Phil Spector's legendary A Christmas gift for you. That is legendary. The record sounds desperately hokey. Played next to their later effort, however, 1977's Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys, which we just covered and gave three stars. It sounds like a work of untrammeled genius.

[Ben]

They hate that one even more.

[Jordan]

He hates that one even more. A contractual obligation album so pitiful that the label, they were contractually obliged to turn it down. The copy on the cell phone, I know.

[Ben]

That's the label. They were contractually obliged to turned it down.

[Jordan]

Turned it down. I see. Sure. The 1977 effort features a song called Loop de Loop, Flip Flop. Santa's got an Airplane.

[Ben]

Is that what it's called, actually?

[Jordan]

Well, it's in parentheses. Loop de loop, flip flop, close parenthesis. Santa's got an airplane. And another containing the chorus Melikaliki Maka is Happy Christmas in Hawaiian Taka. We didn't remark on that, but that is a crazy line. There's some questionable lyrics in the Kona Coast Hawaii song. These, it should be noted, were the tracks eventually considered worthy of release. Twenty Years later, they left the really bad stuff in the vaults. That, sadly, is where what I really Want for Christmas should be. For all of its awfulness, at least, Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys has a horrible fascination about it, albeit of the craning your neck to see inside the ambulance variety.

[Ben]

Jesus.

[Jordan]

What I really Want for Christmas is the least fascinating album of Wilson's career and may well be the least fascinating album of Christmas. Of Christmas, of all Christmas.

[Ben]

I love that phrase. That's like a very trumpy. And kind of like it might be the worst album of Christmas. Of all Christmas.

[Jordan]

It features two new songs, Christmassy, which is appalling, and the title track, which is even worse. You have to concede that Wilson's relationship with the Wonderments, you know, that's Darian Solanage's band who's backing him at this point in time. The Wonderments has given him a new lease on life. But to what end? To bark his way haltingly through we wish you a merry Christmas like a hostage reading a prepared statement from his captors?

[Ben]

All right, enough of that. I don't think that that's. This is unfair.

[Jordan]

And I would say that this is very unfair, though. That's what I'm saying. This guy's a real. He literally even ends it. He calls. He says the last couple lines. If the organization around Wilson really wanted to give Beach Boys fans a Christmas present, they should, as Pet Sound suggested, go away for a while. This is pure humbug.

[Ben]

He thought he was really like.

[Jordan]

He's spitting on that one.

[Ben]

Spitting bars on that one. He.

[Jordan]

He ends it on humbug. He really is the scrooge of all scrooges. Alexis Petrides.

[Ben]

Well, here's what I would say. I would say that when he says that it's hokey. When he says that it's cheesy.

[Jordan]

The worst Christmas, the worst album of all Christmas.

[Ben]

I think that you could call it hokey, cheesy and what other. All the other adjectives he uses. And I wouldn't necessarily say that that's wrong, but I would say that when he starts implying that it's forced or that it's thin, it's like, well, thin, thin. It's Christmas songs.

[Jordan]

It's Silent Night and Deck the Halls and Auld Lang Syne. Like, what do you want, buddy?

[Ben]

You don't really get to like. It's the material is what it is. And you can't really do that much to add more. I mean, look at the Bob Dylan Christmas album, which I've Been listening to and I. I listened to a bit recently. Great album, Christmas in the Heart. Listening to that, listening to these Christmas songs, both the albums we're talking about today, I also was kind of thinking, like, it's not so different from the Bob one. Like, there is not so much you can do. You just can't. And that's not really a problem. It's like you either really don't like this or you are okay with it. But it's not like a Christmas record can actually be more than a Christmas record. It can be a bad one or it can be a regular one. And I think this is a regular one.

[Jordan]

I think there are, you know, a few rare instances of Christmas records that elevate the form beyond what you would normally expect. And those are the ones that I always call out, the Phil Spector one, the Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown one.

[Ben]

Okay, Vince Guaraldi. That's magnificent. I do stand correct.

[Jordan]

But those are the exceptions that prove the rule. By and large, a Christmas album is just a Christmas album. It is. I love the Elvis Christmas album. I love the Frank Christmas album. But those are just. That's Elvis and Frank singing Christmas songs. And that's kind of the appeal of the Christmas album. The allure of the Christmas album. I was thinking about this a little bit more after the last Beach Boys Christmas episode that we did when we were talking about, oh, the Beach Boys are perfect for Christmas music. And I think we unpacked that point to some extent previously. Well enough, but they're also perfect for Christmas music. And maybe we'll see this even more with Mike after this because of the whole do it Again like ethos. The Beach Boys and behind Mike, specifically, like, you know, what you do again every year. Christmas in Christmas. Exactly. And like, I know that I, at least, you know, have been pretty anti. Do it again, you know, throughout this series. And at this point, I've sort of come. Come to terms with it, you know, made peace with it. Still don't think it's. It's, you know, an extraordinary song by any means, but it is what it is. But like, the holidays, traditions, things you can count on and sort of like, remember in the past and then be happy with in the present and look forward to in the future. These sort of, like, institutions and, you know, reliable elements of life and culture, especially in a world that is disassembling itself so rapidly, you know, thanks to madness. Like what you were just talking about a few moments ago, what happened with Rob Reiner and down In Sydney. Like, there actually is, like, something, I think, important about doing it again, you know, whatever it is. In this case, it's Christmas in the Beach Boys greater discography, it's doing the Beach Boys hits again and again. I think, in a sense, obviously, yes, if you live your life according to the Do It Again ethos exclusively, that's not much of a life worth living. But there's a time and a place for Do It Again. And I think Christmas music is one of the perfect examples of Doing it again being something. Being something good.

[Ben]

I agree. I think that that aspect of Christmas records is important. That aspect being the. The idol. Whether it's Frank Sinatra or Elvis or Bob Dylan or the Beach Boys coming down from the pedestal to do Christmas music, it is actually sort of a humble gesture in a way. Like, you could look at it cynically like it's a cash grab. Or you could look at it like this is a gesture saying, I'm not above these songs. Like, I think the Bob Dylan Christmas record is the. Probably the most profound example of it. Because it's like. It's Bob Dylan doing that. And people are so quick to laugh at that.

[Jordan]

Well, it's that Bob Dylan also the 2009 Grinding Carburetor voice. Bob Dylan.

[Ben]

Isn't it great that Bob Dylan, at any point in history, especially at a later point, was like, I don't have anything to prove I like Christmas and I want to do this.

[Jordan]

That's right.

[Ben]

That's something to laugh with. You know, that's like the. The spirit is that it's like a. A nice thing to lighten the mood. That is the point of Christmas is like. It's a lightening of the mood. And almost like the worst the year was, the nicer it is to. To have Christmas and be like, well, we survived that and we got through that and it. And it's in the past now. And. Yeah, and there's like a spirit of renewal. I feel like New Year's Eve is like my favorite holiday. Maybe it's not a real holiday, but it's tied with Christmas. They're like, you know, joined old lang syne. Like, these things are together for a reason. That it's like the primer for the actual objective renewal. It's like a ritual of thinking. Thinking happy thoughts. It's not really about whether or not the music is rich with ideas.

[Jordan]

Yeah, you know, it is. It's something to look forward to. I think you said it well, you know, as. Particularly in difficult years, you know, that that makes it all the sweeter getting to the end of it and getting to spend it with some of your favorite people in your life. And some of your favorite artists, whether those are motion picture artists. Think of the way that you watch It's a Wonderful Life every year. Or in my case, Eyes Wide Shut. Or musicians, the Bobs, the Brians, the Franks and so on. It's a nice time to feel nice. And I think that's ever more valuable in a world that is sort of structured so as to make you not feel nice as much as you possibly can. As much as it possibly can. And so that's why it's great to hear what I really Want For Christmas from Brian Wilson, which does have some great, great music. I think the title track is fantastic. What I really Want for Christmas.

[Ben]

Yeah. Where's that song from, though?

[Jordan]

I think that's an original song.

[Ben]

Is it?

[Jordan]

I believe so.

[Ben]

Okay. Well, yeah, I like it.

[Jordan]

That's.

[Ben]

What, are we just skipping the man with the. The Toys?

[Jordan]

I mean, we probably don't need to go one by one through this one, especially with a whole other album behind us. But, yes, it is a. You know, the first one is a Man with all the Toys. Rewrite or not even rewrite. Just can same thing.

[Ben]

Just do it again.

[Jordan]

New performance. Do it again. Exactly. But I think what I really want for Christmas is. Is a really nice one.

[Narrator]

Snow so deep Stars so your winter wake and angels sing On Christmas night I'll build a fire youe hold me tight we'll pray for peace On Christmas.

[Jordan]

Night.

[Narrator]

Lift our hearts Hope to find A world that stops to think of love At Christmas time Children's laughter Brings joy Beyond our dreams Full of hope to give these times in which we live Please no more l send no more gifts for Christmas what I really want for Christmas what I really want At Christmas time.

[Jordan]

Is peace tonight Brian sounds great. I don't know where that guy got off, you know, talking about him barking and stuff. I think that. I think Brian's voice at this point in time is like one of, like. This is like primo prime Brian voice. It sounds different, obviously, than what you expected from Brian in 1966. But I think his voice is in great shape.

[Ben]

The album cover is hideous. I'm gonna give him that.

[Jordan]

Oh, I like the album cover.

[Ben]

It looks terrible. Like the lime green type with, like, Brian Wilson. It looks like it was made on a phone.

[Jordan]

Have you ever seen the Pretty Paper album cover?

[Ben]

No.

[Jordan]

Look that up. Willie Nelson. Pretty Paper. It's the Willie Christmas album that's clearly what they're going for here. It's not done nearly as well as that, but, you know, I see what they're. I see what they're going for.

[Ben]

Well, that's a. It's a much better looking cover, I have to say.

[Jordan]

Yeah, that Willie. That Willie Christmas album is amazing. And if you have. I have a physical copy of it, it's got like silver, you know, actual kind of foil elements embossed on it. So it kind of sparkles in the light. And there's a great little like picture of Willy in the top right corner. It's like a stamp of him.

[Ben]

Yeah, it's like a commemorative Willy stamp. Yeah, it looks amazing. This cover rocks, actually.

[Jordan]

So that's what they're going for with the Brian one. Not nearly as artfully, but.

[Ben]

No, it's terrible.

[Jordan]

I wish we had a little just picture of 2005 Brian up there in the top right corner.

[Ben]

Yeah, they should have exactly covered it.

[Jordan]

But this song written, by the way, co write Brian Wilson and Bernie Taupin. So, you know, bringing in Elton John's songwriter, you know, collaborator to knock this one out with him. You know Elton John?

[Ben]

Well, yeah, I know Elton John. God Rest Ye Merry gentlemen. All right. There is a thing about Christmas stuff though, where it's like, I don't know and we'll get to this on the other record maybe more so. But there's I. I have a little less patience with. With songs about baby Jesus. Like there's so many that sometimes I'm just kind of like, well, yeah, I get it. But like Christmas, we don't. You don't need to always be like bringing it back to like, well, there's a reason for Christmas. It's like, I know. We all know, we know that let Christmas be a little bit of its own thing. And this record does let it be its own thing. I think the song Christmasy, which that reviewer hates, I think that's a great song because it's about that thing of like, it's. It just something feels Christmasy without being literally, you know, the story of the Christ. Like, I don't necessarily need to hear about like the three wise men again and again and again.

[Jordan]

Yeah, there's. I've got a. I've got a sort of a mental model for like, what Christmas songs are good and I want to listen to and what Christmas songs are maybe a little bit less good and I don't want to listen to. And the question you need to ask is, was this Christmas song written by a Christian or Was this Christmas song written by a Jew? And if it was written by a Christian, you probably don't want to hear it. But if it was written by a Jewish, then you're gonna have a good ass time.

[Ben]

It's true. A lot of the great Christmas songs are written by Jews. White Christmas.

[Jordan]

White Christmas. I just googled this until I get a list. The old Google. AI can come up with this, apparently now. Rudolph the red nosed reindeer Rocking around the Christmas tree White Christmas, the Christmas song, you know, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Most wonderful time of the year Silver bells, Santa baby, I'll be home for Christmas Santa Claus is coming to town and then of course Christmas baby, please come home. From the Phil Spector that those are all that's banger shit top to bottom right there.

[Ben]

Yeah. And all the Christians are like, oh, come let us adore him. You know. What's like my least favorite is probably the. The one about. Oh, which one is. Do you hear what I hear that, that one. Terrible. Tedious.

[Jordan]

Yeah, I think. Is it just called. Yeah, it's called. Do you hear what I hear?

[Ben]

Really tedious. And I don't know, I think that's.

[Jordan]

A modern one actually looks.

[Ben]

There's something that happens with Christmas music where like the more. Which is true of many kinds of music, like the more literal you get, the further away from the feeling you get. It's paradoxical because if you're just a logical minded person, you might think talking about the actual thing itself, that's exactly how to get to the thing itself. But songs that are just about the mood of Christmas, they hit harder than ones that are about the facts or the narrative as it is written, etched in stone of Christmas.

[Jordan]

Yes. Yeah. There's Christmas, the Christian holiday that exists to celebrate the birth of the Christ child 2,000 years ago. And then there's Christmas, the American commercial institution. And I think that for me at least, I respond to that version of Christmas. That's the world that I grew up in. I think that's the world that almost everyone living today would respond to. And that's why, I think, why those Christmas songs written by Jews, which are all like 20th century institutions, that's what I'm looking for. And I think that captures the spirit so much better than these sort of dreary hymns and stuff, which is, you know, not to say that like there's no place for those. I think there are some great songs, but like it's not, you know, if you're gonna have Brian Wilson and the Wonderments Do Christmas songs. You want to hear him. You want to hear him do the man with all the Toys. You don't want to hear him do, you know, the first Noelle necessarily.

[Ben]

He does do the first Noel, though.

[Jordan]

Yes, he does both of those. A lot of this. And so I guess if there is a knit to pick on what I really want for Christmas, I think it is that there is a lot of the. A lot of the hymn, you know, churchy Christian shit between. Oh, Holy Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, the First Noel, you know, Joy to the World. Silent Night is great. We gotta love Silent Night. Although there's barely anything, barely even anything to the Silent Night on this album. It's mostly Brian just wishing you a Merry Christmas at the end.

[Ben]

That's my favorite part of the album.

[Jordan]

When Brian, you love when Brian just like says a little something at the very end.

[Ben]

I do. We wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

[Jordan]

Happy New Year. That's a callback. That's what they used to do at the end of all the 60s classic Christmas albums. There's the fantastic, very creepy Phil Spector Happy Christmas messages at the end of Christmas Gift to you. And then of course, there's the Dennis message at the end of the original Beach Boys Christmas album where he calls himself Denny. I was just listening to that the other day when I was decking my tree. And he's got this like, high. It's really. It really kind of hit me when I heard it, you know, going back to Dennis in 1964. He's got this kind of high pitched kiddie voice. He calls himself Denny. Denny Wilson and Denny Wilson. And just knowing what the future holds for young Denny Wilson in 1964. It's feel my Grinch heart beginning to melt. I love Christmasy. That song on this record, Christmassy.

[Ben]

I feel like it's spelled weird. Like I wouldn't have thought that the word Christmassy would have an E at the ey. I thought it'd be like Christmas hyphen Y. Hyphen Y.

[Jordan]

Yes. I thought when I first heard this album because I, you know, was listening to this initially just like driving around in the car and not paying attention to any of the song titles. I thought he was saying Christmas Eve.

[Ben]

Yeah, you would think that.

[Jordan]

Smelling so Christmas Eve.

[Ben]

You would think that.

[Jordan]

But turns out, no, it's Christmasy. A lot of. Lot of S sounds there. Christmassy that smells so Christmassy.

[Narrator]

When you smell that Christmas tree and.

[Ben]

All the moons I Just passed away.

[Narrator]

Waiting for your own silver tray which.

[Ben]

Is the one with the figgy pudding. Oh, bring us a figgy pudding.

[Jordan]

Oh, ring that's God resty.

[Ben]

Well, that one is funny to me. Just because, like, like Brian really wants food.

[Jordan]

The figgy pudding. What I really want for Christmas is a steak and a milkshake. That's what Brian's thinking.

[Ben]

Well, the. The title of that. The title track, that song is actually about. It's kind of basically a Christmas reskin of love and mercy, isn't it? It's like. It's just about like the most important.

[Jordan]

Melodically or just thematically, like the spirit.

[Ben]

Yeah, the idea. It's like, I don't want gifts. I want. I want peace on earth.

[Jordan]

Yeah. Children's laughter brings joy beyond our dreams Full of hope to give these times in which we live Please, no more lists send no more gifts. Well, I take a gift. What I really want for Christmas yeah. Christmasy is great. There's some great instrumentation and stuff too. The band sounds fantastic on a lot of these. I think the more modern Christmas songs, the ones that Brian wrote as well as, you know, like Deck the Halls.

[Ben]

Or.

[Jordan]

Some of the other ones on.

[Ben]

Here.

[Jordan]

Give the band a great opportunity to kind of like, do their thing and show off a little bit. I think there's the whole squad of players at this moment in time is really fantastic. And there's a nice, like, harmonica on Christmasy and great backing vocals, very dramatic arrangement. I love this. I don't know what that reviewer guy was talking about saying. This was a shitty song. This is great.

[Ben]

I don't know. The whole thing is boring. If you are expecting something other than a bunch of Christmas songs.

[Jordan]

Well, that's right. Like, who's getting like a Brian Wilson Christmas album in 2005 and being like, all right, I'm gonna really tear this guy a new one on this. Like what?

[Ben]

Like, yeah, this is the one time you gotta just like, pick your battles. And even if you were out to. Out for blood, trying to be like, okay, Brian Wilson, he's better than this or that. Like, like, this is the one time where you're like, all right, points don't count. It's Christmas album.

[Jordan]

That's right.

[Ben]

So, yeah, I give it, you know, two stars. Two stars. Yeah.

[Jordan]

Yeah. Good stuff. Which brings us to Reason for the Season, Mike Love's third solo album from 2018. Seemed like you were enjoying yourself listening to this recently.

[Ben]

It was a little bit challenging listening to this all day. I'll be honest.

[Narrator]

The reason for the season we believe happened way back when the reason for the season so many believe it happened in the little town of Bethlehem so many great things about this time of year get togethers, giving gifts and holiday cheer Pretty decorations on a Christmas tree Music of the season and the family.

[Ben]

I found it a little bit challenging to listen to this all day.

[Jordan]

You've only been listening to it for one day and you're already feeling challenged.

[Ben]

I was saving it, you know, so I could be fresh, because I. Yeah. And I did listen to it a lot today. And, yeah, it's. This is like.

[Jordan]

It's pretty.

[Ben]

Pretty brutal, especially the second half. The second half of this record. And this record is.

[Jordan]

Yeah. When they get to all the Christian shit again.

[Ben]

37 minutes or something.

[Jordan]

It feels like an hour.

[Ben]

It's not so great. I felt myself very much not relating to this somehow. This is a Christmas record that ducks and dodges all of the songs written by Jews.

[Jordan]

It's funny that you mentioned that, because there's an interview about this album. I don't know what. Someone was interviewing Mike Love about this Christmas album in 2018. God bless you for even trying to do that. And one of the questions that the interviewer asks is what prompted Reason for the Season, the album. And Mike's response is, I wanted to give people a gentle reminder that Christmas is a Christian holiday.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

It celebrates the birth of Jesus over 2000 years ago. So there's not gonna be a whole lot of Jewish material on this album coming from my.

[Ben]

I mean, I'm not saying that I need a Christmas album to be Jewish, but as we said earlier, I do.

[Jordan]

I'm saying that I don't need that.

[Ben]

Gentle reminder that it's a Christian holiday holiday.

[Jordan]

Gentle remind. He's using, like. Like 2017 era Twitter language to talk about Christmas. Gentle reminder.

[Ben]

Yeah.

[Jordan]

To everyone out there, Christmas is a Christian holiday.

[Ben]

Yeah, actually, yeah, it is. Reminded me. I'll give you that. It reminded me that this is a Christian holiday. I was not thinking about anything else by the end of this.

[Jordan]

Stranger no crib for his men the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. What do you think of the COVID of this album?

[Ben]

Well, let's describe it.

[Jordan]

It looks like a Shutterstock Image that you'd pay 59 for the rights to.

[Ben]

Yeah. It looks like a screensaver from, like, a Windows computer and 2005 or 11 or. Yeah. Early 2000s. Which is to say it's like the aurora borealis over a mountain range at twilight. And then there is the star. The star in the sky which you know as Jesus.

[Jordan]

That's right.

[Ben]

Coming to earth or whatever the hell.

[Jordan]

Yeah, something like that.

[Ben]

And then Mike Love. Reason for the Season and a very sort of elaborate gold gilded frame. Gilded frame. It's a weird looking album cover but.

[Jordan]

I'll have you know the COVID photo of the Aurora Borealis was taken by one Brian Love.

[Ben]

There's a Brian Love off an.

[Jordan]

Off an island in Norway. I sent you the screenshot of.

[Ben]

I know you did, but I thought that was a mis. I thought that was like a mistake.

[Jordan]

No, that's one of Mike's children. Mike's child, Brian Love.

[Ben]

That's interesting.

[Jordan]

Who shot the COVID of this album and appears on this album along with many other love children which we can get to All Love. That's literally just all of the Mike Love children.

[Ben]

Haley Love. H A Y A I G H. Yeah, that's right.

[Jordan]

Christian Love. Christian Love.

[Ben]

Christian Love.

[Jordan]

Brian Love. Hailey Love. And Amber Amba Ambha A M H A Love. That makes up the group known as All Love. Here on Reason for the Season and also Hanson. And then Hanson appears. Yes, on Finally It's Christmas, track two, Finally It's Christmas, which I think was an original Hanson Christmas song that had just come out in 2017. And then Mike re recorded it just the year after and brought Hanson in to do the backing vocals. There's really firing on all cylinders creatively.

[Ben]

Mike times on this record where. Where Mike's voice sounds like that filter people put on where it's like.

[Jordan]

It'S so bad.

[Ben]

It's like they auto tuned him gently but it kind of made it like this wavy. He does not sound good.

[Jordan]

It's like disintegrating as you're hearing it.

[Narrator]

Jingle bell, jingle bell Jingle bell rock Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun now the jingle hop has begun.

[Ben]

It's pretty and everything else sounds very. It's very sterile. Like it's like a doctor's office. Like it has the sound of like Christmas lights that are just bright cold white. That is kind of the vibe.

[Jordan]

Like.

[Ben]

Like modern farmhouse style house plopped onto a recently demolished, charming old house that was on the land they bought.

[Jordan]

Yeah. All the houses that are going up like in West Hollywood these days where they knock down the bungalow and then build out these big enormous soulless boxes.

[Ben]

Black and white. Yeah. And then they fill it with just like whatever like starter pack shit you get. Where somehow there's been a mandate we can't have warm looking lights anymore.

[Jordan]

Those houses Are like, filled with like. Like can. Likes, you know, like recessed lights in the ceiling. Just row after row after row of these bright, just like blinding lights.

[Ben]

Yeah. No lamps, no floor lamps.

[Jordan]

It's just all ceiling lights. It's like it's 2pm in the afternoon 100% of the time in that house.

[Ben]

Yeah. Including like, the area around the tree where, like, atmosphere is not what we are getting. We are getting. We are getting full contact, full frontal.

[Jordan]

You're seeing everything whether you want to or not.

[Ben]

Surgical clarity of this Christmas gathering in 4K. The TVs got motion smoothing on.

[Jordan]

Oh, it goes without saying there's shit.

[Ben]

Going on with motion smoothing in this house. That it would take a safe cracker. It would take like the finest minds of humanity to figure out how to turn it off.

[Jordan]

That's what listening to reason for the scene is like. God, I'm listening to it right now. I got the little Saint Nick. His voice just is shredded, man. And like, not in a cool way or a fun way like it is with Bob, where, like, Bob knows his voice is shredded and he's not making any attempts to hide it or gussy it up or anything. He's just leaning fully into it. This is like Mike's voice is barely even functional, but it's so plumped up with silicone and cheap lipstick and stuff.

[Ben]

Oh, God. Yeah. It feels like lip filler. This is like the lip filler Christmas. This is what, like a Trump Christmas feels it is.

[Jordan]

I bet they're playing this down in Mar a Lago. I gotta say.

[Ben]

Probably. Probably. I. I do feel like this is kind of. It feels like an important other side of the coin to. To really be. Be looking at. Because this is part of why people end up being angry at Christmas time. Like, you encounter enough stuff like this and then when the pure of heart Christmas stuff is in front of you, the Brian, you're like, well, fuck this shit. You're already kind of just ready to tear it all down. You've seen enough, you've heard enough. And the spirit of the season is actually kind of lost. Even as you try to explain what the reason for the season is, you're not really feeling it. Part of Christmas in the modern day is that you are kind of inundated more and more with things that feel.

[Jordan]

Like, did you notice Reason for the Season? The song is just shortening bread.

[Ben]

Yeah, of course.

[Jordan]

It's so fucking funny.

[Ben]

You would think that the other one would have shortening bread. And it doesn't, right?

[Jordan]

Yeah, exactly. That's the twist on this. I mean, what's so funny about that is you just know, like back in 1978, 79, when Brian is going crazy over shortening bread, Mike is just like this fucking guy just always singing this shitty song that no one likes and stuffing it onto this album where it doesn't belong. And now here he is, 40 or 50 years later, and he's just taking short and bread and putting this, like, AI generated series of Christmas lyrics on top of it.

[Ben]

Well, it wasn't AI. That's. That's the thing about this, is it? It wasn't AI. There's so much stuff where it feels like AI and we. It.

[Jordan]

It retroactively. Yeah, it. It like, it sort of predicts the aesthetics of AI before AI even exists.

[Ben]

AI is drawing on stuff like this, like whatever happens to be bubbling up to the surface for reasons that are themselves complicated and compromised. That's what's getting fed largely into these programs. You know, like, if this is what is called Christmas music, according to whatever law trump science that, you know, makes, like, Mike Love stuff come up first.

[Jordan]

You joke about that, but the Beach Boys did joke, literally perform at the White House Christmas tree lighting ceremony two weeks ago.

[Ben]

Well, yeah, then I wouldn't be shocked when, like, the next time this happens. Like the posthumous Michael of Christmas album. Is AI drawing from this?

[Jordan]

I'm getting word that Donald Trump has made it illegal to listen to any Brian Wilson Christmas music. You're only allowed to listen to reason for the season going forward. Anything else on this one?

[Ben]

Calling it a record feels funny too.

[Jordan]

But, I mean, he re records Alone on Christmas Day also. Did you catch that?

[Ben]

I caught that because I thought maybe that that was the main reason why this exists. I thought that maybe he was like, well, that song never got to come out.

[Jordan]

Yeah. Justice for Alone on Christmas Day. In 2018, this brilliant gem of Mike Love's songwriting can finally be heard by the public.

[Ben]

It is his best Christmas song.

[Jordan]

Sure, it's a good song. I like it. I like the original version a lot better, but this bears some passing resemblance to that.

[Ben]

Yeah. And then by the end, it just feels like he disappears. I can't even hear him in the last.

[Jordan]

No, you can't hear him at all for the last half of this thing. All love. It's all love.

[Ben]

It's just like a family singing hymns in that room with only overhead lighting.

[Jordan]

Well, yeah, with the motion smoothing television and the fluorescent can lights. We buzzed right by Brian Lud. I just like. Can we spend two minutes? What Is the psychology going on there? Mike Love naming one of his children.

[Ben]

Brian Love, and then also doing Shortening bread.

[Jordan]

There's some sort of complex brain mechanism at work there. I'm not sure that I've unpacked it fully myself, but I don't know. Cause obviously, Mike loves Brian and has a relationship with him and it goes on with him, but he also, like, resents the hell out of him, obviously. And, like, they have years of legal battles and, you know, difficulty working together and so much. Just like, dark, deep shit in the past. And then, like, to name your kid Brian Lark.

[Ben]

It's odd. I don't know what to make of that, but I get.

[Jordan]

I mean, I want to, like, give him the benefit of the doubt and, like, say this is, like, him honoring his cousin and, you know, one of the great artists of the 20th century. Like, ah, I don't know. I don't know if I can get there.

[Ben]

Well, let's just give. Give this a nice little rating of 1 out of 3.

[Jordan]

One celestial star. You know, there's one shining star on the COVID of this album, so that is exactly how many stars it gets from Jokerman podcast.

[Ben]

We never talked about the record. Unleash The Love from 2017.

[Jordan]

No, we will.

[Ben]

Will we?

[Jordan]

There's gonna be a whole. Yes, there's gonna be. I mean, I think we gotta do, like, a power. Yeah, I'm sure the Talkhouse guys are loving hearing all of this. I think we're gonna have to wrap it all up into one, because he has, for some reason, started releasing, like, tons of albums over the last couple years. He's released, like, three or four or five albums just since, like, 2017. And this is after only having ever released the one Mike Love album all the way up until. All the way up until then. I don't know what's going on there. Anyways, I think we can cram them all into one final sort of Mike Love power hour when we get to the end of the series.

[Ben]

For the.

[Jordan]

Real freaks and sickos out there.

[Ben]

You know, if there's one thing I want to leave this episode with, what's the most important theme to you in a Christmas.

[Jordan]

Me?

[Ben]

Yeah. In A Christmas Story, what's the most important theme?

[Jordan]

I think that, you know. Forgiveness.

[Ben]

That's what I was gonna say is forgiveness. And that's what I want to end this on is great. I like to think that maybe we can decide that forgiveness is still on the table for Mike Love. Maybe he even named his son Brian in a moment of feeling like I'm going to forgive. And we can forgive Mike love. We can forgive that whole family for this record.

[Jordan]

Fair enough.

[Narrator]

Sleep in heavenly peace.

[Ian]

Jokerman.

[Ben]

Hi, this is Brian.

[Narrator]

I'd like to wish all of you.

[Ben]

And your families a very merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.