First off, please dismiss any preconceptions implied by either the artwork – baubles and toy soldiers, or the title, as this album is so much more than a mere novelty seasonal offering to be dug out reluctantly for a tokenistic spin each December. Given, it’s an undeniably slightly askew concept to risk branding your debut album so festively, but beneath that veneer you’ll find an album abundant with impressive material that’s as politically charged as it is entertaining, which can be experienced throughout the year, yet depressingly will probably be as thematically relevant next Christmas as it is today. Hailing from rural Southern Pennsylvania, Jefferson Pepper is a seasoned performer of over 20 years. With incisively written social commentary providing the bedrock for his songs it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, given the album’s title that Pepper offers a somewhat alternative perspective on current American foreign policy as well as issues closer to home. Either way Jefferson Pepper proves to be a fascinating commentator with this mightily impressive set. Crisply produced and effortlessly capable of switching from the full-on rock assault of M-16 to the comparatively pastoral country of Bethlehem, PA, or the traditional old-time of Soldier’s Joy and back again via a barnstorming version of Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land, with a slew of fine players in tow, ‘Christmas In Fallujah’ collectively makes for an album that is as eclectic as it is challenging, yet catchy as hell throughout. Admitting that his musical mentors include the likes of Son Volt, Emmylou Harris, The Ramones, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Talking Heads and Johnny Cash among others, certainly promises a lot, but for once Jefferson Pepper is someone who actually delivers. Melding all manner of Americana-oriented influences – roots rock, country, folk and bluegrass infused with a smidgen of punk's energy, ‘Christmas In Fallujah’ repeatedly hits the button and after 20 years, as another year comes to a close, Jefferson Pepper has delivered one of 2005’s best. Geraint Jones December 2005

One of the c.d.’s most intriguing tracks is Pepper’s punk — and totally fitting — version of Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.” For the politically liberal music lover on your shopping list, Christmas in Fallujah might be the perfect gift. — Tom Geddie

Pepper doesn't address war in the generic terms John Lennon or Marvin Gaye use in their virtually classic holiday songs. He holds nothing back in his musically light and folksy assault on the hypocrisy of contemporary foreign policy. From "palaces and bridges, we've burned them all down" to "never taught to know the difference between Osama and Hussein," the specificity of this song makes it rise far above any other peace-on-Earth carol. By taking the lyrics of many classic Christmas jingles and turning them on their heads ("Uncle Sam made a list; he's checking it twice;" "that's not the sound of reindeer up on your roof"), the songwriter uses mainstream seasonal culture to present a stinging commentary on precisely that culture from which he sought inspiration. Pepper avoids the mistake of generic, and therefore bland, complaint in favor of a stark yet nuanced attack of the Iraqi quagmire. Perfect party music, is it not?

Christmas in Fallujah van Jefferson Pepper is de eerste cd van een nieuw Amerikaans label, American Fallout Records. En wat voor één. Eigenzinnigheid is troef en als Pepper zich druk maakt om de eenheidsworst in de hedendaagse architectuur dan is het eigenzinnigheid waar ik erg van kan genieten. Titelnummer is een aanklacht tegen de oorlog in Irak en geen Sky Radio-vehikel. Dan Bern eat your heart out ! Zo’n nummer dat bij de derde draaibeurt al aanvoelt als een klassieker. In bijna alle teksten geeft Pepper blijk van een zeer kritische blik op de samenleving en hij laat zich niet door één muziekgenre strikken om die blik wereldkundig te maken. Roots-rock, takke-herrie rock, zeikballads, classic rock, bluegrass, folk en op This Land Is Your Land (de enige cover) lijkt het alsof The Ramones de The Pogues na staan te doen. Wat een joekel van een plaat. Te bestellen via www.americanfallout.com (Patrick Donders)

Gli Stati Uniti politicamente non stanno vivendo un grande momento, la Guerra in Iraq sta avendo sulla musica e più in generale sulla gente lo stesso effetto della Guerra in Vietnam. È nato così un nuovo filone di protest song, di cui capo fila si può senza dubbio considerare Steve Earle, su questa scia si pone Christmas in Fallujah, album di debutto di Jefferson Pepper. Un doppio debutto sia per lui sia per l’etichetta indipendente che lo distribuisce, la American Fallout che in parallelo ha dato alle stampe anche un interessante compilation promo in cui presenta una carrellate delle sue possibili proposte per il futuro. Christmas in Fallujah, racconta un America, diversa da quella fiera e invincibile propostaci dai giornali, ma piuttosto quella di un soldato disorientato come nel caso della title track o dello Stato in disfacimento di Armageddon for Sale. Il disco vibra di una vena barricadera, di un accusa senza mezzi termini a base di rock come nel caso di Innerstate Highway o della bellissima ghost track Plastic Illuminated Snowman. Tuttavia se dal punto di vista emotivo questo disco è una bella sorpresa, a livello musicale lo è un po’ meno, essendo Pepper legato ai classici stilemi roots-rock. Tutto ciò non è un male in quanto spesso permette a Pepper la zampata di classe come la rilettura in chiave cow-punk di This land is your Land di Woodie Guthrie o quella sofferta del traditional Soldier Of Joy. Al di là di tutto comunque Christmas in Falluja è una bella sorpresa essendo un bell’esempio di rock militante con tutti i vantaggi e gli svantaggi del caso. Resterà inascoltata la voce di Pepper? Salvatore Esposito

Mr Blue Boogie