EP REVIEW: TAYLOR MOMSEN'S PRETTY RECKLESS CHRISTMAS

Reviewed by Cecilia Pattison-Levi

Taylor Momsen's Christmas extended play (EP) ‘Pretty Reckless Christmas’ is a rock and roll-infused Christmas release. If you must listen to Christmas music, then this EP is good for not torturing people as the music is good. It has the Pretty Reckless band signature sonic palate of loud, emotional, and uncompromising style tinged with those holiday sounds.

The EP’s highlight is the live version with an ‘Intro’ from the time before the piano and that young voice deliver ‘Where Are You Christmas?’. For those who didn’t know, Taylor Momsen was a child actress and starred alongside Jim Carrey in the 2000 Christmas ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas’ film when she was just seven years old. She played the character of Cindy Lou, the little girl at the heart of the story who questions the Grinch’s grumpiness and eventually convinces him to join in on Christmas. Cindy Lou sings the ballad ‘Where Are You Christmas?’ and 25 years later, Taylor Momsen has revisited and recorded a new version of the song. It blends her childhood vocals with her current singing style. The song eventually cranks up into a bit more of a Pretty Reckless vibe.

Other than Taylor Momsen’s trip down memory lane, the EP has five other songs four original holiday tracks and another Grinch classic. The four original songs are the jazz-pop with 1960s leaning melody and vocals in ‘I Wanna Be Your Christmas Tree’. Then, the rocking blast of ‘Christmas Is Killing Me’ that complains about socks and autotuned Christmas carols in shops follows. Then, the acoustic guitar and jingle bells bring in ‘Blues On Christmas’. I know how she feels!? The last original song is ‘When We Were Young’ that reflects in acoustic guitar nostalgia before the lovely piano breaks the song into the last song.

The EP closes with ‘Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You’ from the Grinch film, where the blended vocals of childhood and adulthood meet. Taylor Momsen said in a statement: “I was just a child when I first sang it, and I never could’ve imagined the way the song, and the film, would stay with people for so long and unknowingly shape my career path as an adult”. ‘Pretty Reckless Christmas’ is all a bit more adult and it blends bold rock with that timeless holiday spirit.

If you love Christmas holiday music – then this is the best sort to play.