Grinch Mini Lp by Ralph Champagne Revue: EP Review

by admin December 18, 2025

December 18, 2025

Ralph Champagne Revue lean fully into festive mischief and old-school charm with Grinch Mini LP, a Christmas EP that feels both gloriously retro and knowingly tongue-in-cheek. Following the cult buzz of Introducing Ralph Champagne, this release marks the arrival of a full ensemble assembled by punk legend and producer Blag Dahlia, who clearly understood that the world needed a lounge crooner with swagger, humor, and impeccable taste. Packed with studio heavyweights and wrapped in vintage pop sensibility, the EP plays like a holiday party hosted by someone who knows every standard, every joke, and exactly when to spike the punch.

The ride kicks off with “Drinking Up Christmas – Dexter Mix,” bursting out of the gate with punchy, engaging horns, jingling bells, shimmery percussion, and a gliding piano that never sits still. Ralph’s deep, charismatic voice tells its festive tale with warmth and wink, sounding like he’s holding court at the bar while the band swings hard behind him. Backing vocals swell in soulful revelry, hyping every line and keeping the energy buoyant, like a room full of people refusing to let the night end.

Then comes “Mr. Grinch [Extended],” which opens with a playful, mock-ominous choir chanting “pa ra ra pam pam,” instantly setting a cartoonish tone. Ralph slips into a thick, coarse, almost spoken-word delivery, gleefully tearing into the Grinch’s grotesque qualities with relish. Lines like “You are a crooked jerky jockey…Mr Grinch” land with theatrical flair, balancing humor and bite without losing the groove.

“Something New” shifts gears but keeps the momentum high. Thumping drums and bold horn blasts carry Ralph’s smooth, charismatic plea for excitement, before a female vocal enters soaring and sensational, while ethereal backing harmonies float underneath. At just over a minute long, it’s short, sharp, and exhilarating, leaving you wanting another spin.

With instrumentals rounding out the tracklist, Grinch Mini LP feels like a festive, playful, and endlessly re-listenable sampler platter. Ralph Champagne Revue manages sounding timeless and current at once, even in chaotic times, with a little swing, wit, and holiday sparkle.