***1/2 A Farmhouse Christmas : Joey+Rory
Playful slice of holiday spiced Americana.
Recommended.
Listen on Spotify | Listen on MOG
A Farmhouse Christmas @ Amazon
*** Christmas Songs: Kathy Troccoli
Veteran CCM chanteuse Troccoli deftly handles the tasteful selections collected on her newest release with just the right touch of torchiness to keep things interesting.
Recommended
Listen on Spotify | Listen on MOG
Christmas Songs [+Digital Booklet] @ Amazon
**** Oh For Joy : David Crowder* Band
Strong holiday effort from successful Alt-Christian band should appeal to anyone looking for to rock out a little bit this Christmas.
Highly Recommended
Listen on Spotify | Listen on MOG
Oh For Joy [+Digital Booklet] @ Amazon
**1/2 Christmas in Diverse City : TobyMac
Mixed results from the Christian Rock/Rapper's new seasonal disc. While some tracks shine, like the platter's opener featuring an all too brief appearance by the transcendent Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer) and one of the most listenable versions of my least favorite holiday standard - Mary's Boy Child (with guest Jamie Grace), others become hopelessly bogged down in a morass of bad pop and hip hop cliches.
There's more good than bad here and I guess this is the sort of stuff the kids are listening to these days, when I'm not having to chase them off my lawn.
Listen on Spotify | Listen on MOG
Christmas In Diverse City [+Digital Booklet] @ Amazon
**** The Heart of Christmas : Matthew West
An early pre-season favorite of mine this collection of both new and previously released tracks features guest spots from Amy Grant, Vince Gill, and Mandisa.
Highly Recommended
Listen on Spotify | Listen on MOG
The Heart Of Christmas [+Digital Booklet] @ Amazon
***1/2 Irish Country Christmas : Craig Duncan
Superbly crafted collection from legendary, and prolific, multi-instrumentalist Duncan. If you don't already have a goto Celtic Christmas album in your collection this could be it.
Recommended
