Over the last decade Brian Setzer has been a very busy man. From 2000 to 2010 he has released sixteen CDs—an average of two a year. This past July, Setzer released Don't Mess with a Big Band which was recorded live during his 2009 tour of Japan. In October, Brian gave to thee Christmas Comes Alive! again recorded live, this time in Knoxville, Tennessee during last year's holiday tour.

Christmas Comes Alive! contains 15 tracks which are all in the standard BSO fashion—heavy on the Frank Comstock arranged horns and full of backing vocals. Personally I prefer Setzer sans the Orchestra. It's hard to imagine how long it's been since we've had the pleasure of hearing Setzer play basic rockabilly as he did during the classic Stray Cats era. When you think about it, Setzer hasn't put out a trimmed down recording since 2006's 13, or arguably since 2001's Ignition.

This being his fourth Christmas recording, Setzer again pulls from previous tracks that you have heard before, the only difference this time is that they are live. "Dig that Crazy Santa Claus" opens the CD and is quickly followed by "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus", "Winter Wonderland", "Stray Cat Strut with You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch", "Zat You Santa Claus?", "Jingle Bell Rock" and "The Nutcracker Suite" just to mention a few. New gifts on this recording are Setzer's renditions of "Sleigh Ride", "Run Rudolph Run", "Blue Christmas" and a nearly seven minute rendition of "Fishnet Stockings".

Christmas Comes Alive! is standard formulaic modern Setzer. As an artist, I would love to challenge him to try some different arrangements, but I suppose commercially he must be doing something right considering he has just received his 11th Grammy nomination for the Santo & Johnny classic "Sleepwalk" in the category "Best Pop Instrumental Performance".