Album Review: Duck Dynasty's "Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas"

With their stardom higher than perhaps anyone in America at the moment of Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas, it was inevitable that the family would find the time to craft such an album of Yuletide fare. But is it worth the time for anyone but the show's biggest fans?

Family patriarch Phil Robertson doesn’t sing but he talks the verses of “Christmas Cookies” while George Strait sings the chorus of the song he made famous. Meanwhile Missy sings the classic “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” while Sadie Robertson is joined by Alsion Krauss for “Away In A Manger” (Mia Robertson says a bible verse before the song kicks in). Uncle Si Robertson takes on “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” with results you’d expect (he later tells the story “The Night Before Christmas” which is a new version of the story Duck Dynasty style, as written by Willie Robertson). Duck Commander CEO Wille sings three songs including the opener “Rajun Cajun Redneck Christmas,” “Hairy Christmas” with buddy Luke Bryan and the bonus track “Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy.” Willie sings well enough on songs like this. 

Missy and Jase sing “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (Well, Jase speaks, Missy sings). Jase performs the Duck call (think Kazoo) on “Duck The Halls” while the whole family ‘sings’ the verses, something they do on “Silent Night” as well. The Robertson kids and Si perform “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Perhaps the most surprising song of all is Reed Robertson, Jase and Missy’s teenaged son who could have a career as a singer if his football playing career doesn’t take off. While his voice isn’t as full-bodied on “Camouflage And Christmas Lights” like Rodney Carrington’s original version, it’s definitely a revelation. Missy also performs “Why I Love Christmas” with the song’s writer, Josh Turner.

To be totally honest, Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas is completely a novelty album and given how much the family has merchandized their likeness and Duck Dynasty brand along with partners A&E, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise (that it was to me) that they’d release something like this album. The family is tight, they use the whole family on this record and it’s definitely something the fans of the show will love. It may come off as a bit of a novelty album people who don't follow the program but that doesn't mean it's not a well-made album, which Duck The Halls: A Robertson Family Christmas most defintiely is.

*Now, for that ZinePak. If you’re a gigantic fan of the family or Duck Dynasty, you’ll definitely want to buy the Walmart-exclusive magazine which includes 64 pages and has exclusive Robertson family photos (before the beards!), recipes, a scented Christmas Ornament (best for a car), and Christmas Gift-tag stickers. It’s the version I’d give to a duck dynasty family member. 

Originally posted: 2013-11-18 15:11:00

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