Despite the cover image of a Santa frying in an electric chair Christmas On Death Row isn't half as funny or perverted as you hope it might be. Death Row (now known as Tha Row) play it pretty much straight down the line. Guess's version of "White Christmas" is surprisingly traditional as is 6 Feet Deep's "Frosty The Snowman". In fact this album echoes heavily the Christmas specials put out in the 70s by groups and labels such as the Platters, James Brown and Motown. Christmas On Death Row was first made in 1997, after the death of Tupac and the exodus of major talent from the label (principally Dr Dre). It's left to Tha Dogg Pound and Snoop Dogg to provide original material and star quality, which they do to a certain extent on "Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto" and the bouncy "I Wish". However, don't expect to hear any of these cuts booming from radios, jeeps or clubs. No matter how hard they try, Death Row can't make Christmas hip(hop). In fact Tha Row is caught between two stools, trying to live up to their rep as gangsta rap's premier home while making a mint from the season of goodwill to all men. Unsurprisingly it just doesn't work. --Jake Barnes