Christmas Isn’t Christmas - Michael Bolton + Mickey Guyton
I’m a fan, to some extent of both Bolton and Guyton but this generic bit of fluff, while inoffensive, won’t be finding its way into my rotation this year.
Manger Throne - Phil Wickham
Fairly standard Worship anthem. If you’re into it , you’re into it.
Rock the Christmas Cheer! - The Bongos
Generic tunes from artists who’ve done better work in the past seems to be the theme today. This time it’s generic indie/powerpop from critical darlings of a certain age, The Bongos.
I wanted this to be so much better.
Snow Day - Caitlyn Smith
Nice gently swinging, holiday romantic number, b/w a solid, mostly, sparsely acoustic, take on O Holy Night.
Worth revisiting.
Home For Christmas - Colton Dixon
So, Colton decided to release a song with a title that will remind people of another song and then covers that more famous version of the similarly titled song. Interesting choice.
The cover’s better than the original and the originals OK, for a modern pop tune.
There’s also a contemplative cover of Let it Snow.
Minstrels - A Winter Union
Right up my alley, this slice of festive folk sits comfortably alongside holiday tracks from the likes of Blackmore’s Night, Loreena McKennitt, Kate Rusby and Jethro Tull.
River - Chloe Flower
When I heard the first overly familiar piano tinkles my heart sank. Oh, no, I thought, yet another cover of River like almost every other cover of River. Fortunately it opened up into a more expansive Classical Crossover thing. I’m not adding it to any playlists but it’s fine.
