Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Add Date: November 17

Artist: Aqua Teen Hunger Force

Album: Have Yourself A Meaty Little Christmas

Label: Williams Street

Genre: Christmas Humor

Comments: So, this marks my second Cartoon Network/Adult Swim album review. While I mentioned that one could listen to the Dethklok album without previously watching the show, I cannot in good conscience recommend this album without having actually having seen Aqua Teen Hunger Force, since pretty much all of the humor in the album depends on understanding the characters. Approaching this from the perspective of someone who isn't aware that half of the talking characters in the album are anthropomorphic food, this is just going to sound like a bunch of obnoxious characters making fun of Christmas. I mean, the humor is that they're totally obnoxious, so now I'm just confused.

Anyway, for those that are familiar with the show, this is a pretty awesome Christmas album, though it has some pitfalls. The primary baddy is (surprisingly to everyone but me) the Neko Case collaboration, which is awkward banter between Meatwad and Neko, who either had to do the song in one take or has never seen the show before. Also, a fair amount of the songs lean so heavily on the show dynamics that they have little to actually do with Christmas, though it's still fairly amusing ("The Little Drum Machine Boy") is pretty boss. One generally gets the feeling that this album was done quickly in general, since it just features the central cast (that means no MC Chris or Mooninites).

Still, there are standouts. "Twas the Night Before Jesus" is Master Shake's version of Jesus' birth, which works awesomely on so many levels. "I Sure Hope I Don't Have to Beat Your Ass This Christmas," if your show is not afraid to play ASS, is probably the best, a heartfelt duet between Master Shake and Meatwad about the glories of giving and the risks of doing otherwise. Hell, you could probably play that one and people might actually enjoy it without knowing the show.