A Review by Alex Murphy..  "5 Towns Record"

Dear Santa Claus, 

    I really haven't been that good this year, but I can explain.  I started going to college. Honestly Mr. Cringle, I'm sure you've had just as much, if not more fun than me. That gut sure did not come from cookies alone. So in short, I believe I still deserve some kind of gift. And seeing that I love music so much, how about a Christmas album packed with clever covers of classic holiday songs done in a happy pop rock like manner? Ah, you might as well just send me FTC student Christopher Sauter's Christmas album entitled "A Jolly J.E.L.L.i. Christmas" 

        Although the album was released on December 1st, it had been recorded years ago when third year student Sauter was till in high school. He recorded all the vocals and instruments himself, showing everyone through his arrangements and clever remakes of the song just how talented he really is. 

       The album opens with what could pass for a heavy rock version of a Peanuts classic known as "Linus & Lucy" A pop punk rendition of "Rudolph" is next, and then an acoustic "Frosty the Snowman" There is a very playful version of "Feliz Navidad" that has enough characters talking and singing throughout the song that it could be a classroom full of people. At this point it seems as the album has hit its close with "Happy New Year" but it is followed by "The Twelve Days of Christmas" with a unique approach that is good enough to end all "Twelve Days of Christmas" for years to come. You say to yourself that hearing someone sing the same lines twelve times over is something you would not do even if it meant saving Christmas from Burgermeister Meisterburger.  Fortunately, Sauter is creative enough to have the song break down differently every single time, including a short funk interlude.

     How will you be able to get your hands on this terrific gift item you ask? Just locate Sauter somewhere at Five Towns College and ask him for a copy, and do not forget to tip him. This album maybe be simple and fun, but it is important because it shows just how talented the students here at FTC really are. 

                                  -Alex Murphy