As 2023 winds down to its conclusion, it’s worth checking out a Christmas music sampler from Bongo Boy Records entitled Let’s Have A Rockin’ Christmas Vol. 8. After 8 years of Christmas rock album compilations, Bongo Boy pulls out the stops on their 11-track Christmas 2023 spectacular.

Let’s Have A Rockin’ Christmas Vol. 8 combines a cross-section of gifted musicians on a decidedly New York / New Jersey style pop-rock album with some original songs but also some unexpected cover songs, all with themes about Christmas.

A good example of the original tracks here are “Christmas With You” by an artist called Boys’N’Barry, in addition to “Under The Christmas Tree” by a band known as Studeo. Both tracks are standout, infectious pop-rock tracks infused with a colorful holiday spirit.

Also here is a classical guitar version of the holiday favorite “Greensleeves”, performed by America’s favorite instrumental rocker Charles Brown, played to perfection. Taking an understated and relaxed approach on a mostly pop-rock album, “Greensleeves” sounds very fresh and the time of the season holiday sentiment fits right in.

The lead-off track “Christmas Must Be Tonight” by The New Bardots, featuring the guitar sounds of Gar Francis and Wayne Olivieri on vocals, sets the mood grandly with a rave-up rock cover of the Robbie Robertson classic and actually puts together the defining rock version of the low-key original by The Band.

Every track on Let’s Have A Rockin’ Christmas Vol. 8 is tastefully played and all in all, it's a good choice for rock and pop fans seeking a colorfully decorated album of contemporary Christmas-flavored sounds.