Lovely contemplative solo piano takes on two dozen , mostly, holiday standards. Ffrench is described as a "Classical Soul superstar' but this album leans more on the classical/jazz/easy listening side of things, a la George Winston. An excellent album.
Voctive - It Feels Like Christmas
I was all in on the acapella boom of a number of years ago that birthed the monster that is Pentatonix but after awhile I fell off the bandwagon, and out side of classic acts like The King’s Singers and Chanticleer, I don’t have a lot of it in my seasonal listening rotation.
Voctive’s new album of Christmas tunes might change that slightly. Its good old fashioned vocal harmonies, nothing genre shattering and sometimes that can be a good thing.
Chris Issak - Everybody Knows It’s Christmas (Deluxe)
One of my faves from last year adds four “new” tracks.
Maddie and Tae - We Need Christmas
This one isn’t Deluxe, but Extended (does that mean we might still get a deluxe! Oh Joy!)I thought it was okay back in 2020 and the new additions are as decent and workmanlike as the rest.
Forest Blakk - Wake Up (It’s Christmas Time)
Solid 4 track mini-album (maxi-single?)
Jon Pardi - Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi
My favorite country Christmas album of the season so far, if only because it actually wants to be a country album. Plus he does a cover of All I Want for Christmas is You that doesn’t make e feel like raming candy canes in my ears.
Lola Kirke - Hard Candy Christmas
Hard Candy Christmas is becoming a tough one to cover, there are already a few really good ones and of course the original is a classic. Kirke does a nice job here but doesn’t really make the song her own. If you don’t already have a handful of go-to covers of HCC you could do worse.
Excellent jazz Christmas album from pianist Sands. Absolutely going into this year's rotation.
David Foster & Katherine McPhee - Christmas Songs
Expanded from last years mini-album. Excellent tracks crafted by an expert producer and a remarkable singer.
Julie Benko & Mykal Kilgore - (I Never Had a ) Christmas with You
Nice soul tinged duet. I liked this one quite a bit.
Tyler Shaw - Christmas All Over Again
Perfectly good cover of Tom Petty’s holiday hit.
Lisa Biales - At Christmas
Solid Blues rock number.
Dami Im - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Decent jazzy take. Part of the genre I think of as Hallmark Movie opening credit songs.
Jess Moskaluke - Counting Down Christmas
Okay pop/country track.
Justine Blazer - Joy
Uneven album veering between teenybopper girl pop, and various shades of country. The closer the songs lean towards country the better. There’s only one song here that I thought was half decent, and judging by the name I would have assumed I’d hate it, and that’s “Kitty Kat Christmas”
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.
It's that time of year again so here's the first of this years round-ups of new Christmassy releases...
Christmas - Cher
This one was never going to rate high with me, I haven’t really been a fan of Cher’s output since the early 80’s. Guests include the Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder and Michael Bublé.
A Cher Christmas album from 30 to 50 years ago would have been awesome, but this does nothing for me. That said, if you’re a fan you’ll probably love it.
The Greatest Christmas Hits - Pentatonix
If Pentatonix had the restraint to keep their Christmas releases down to one every six or seven years or so, I’d probably feel a lot less disdain for them.
This release combines 23 of their “Holiday Classics” with 8 more new tunes. Which is which? Don’t know, don’t care. I can take the odd Pentatonix track on the radio or playing in a store while I Christmas shop but I can’t imagine putting myself through 31 straight songs.
As always I’ll add the disclaimer that this is just my personal opinion and if you like this stuff then that’s awesome and I’m honestly happy for you, I'm just not a fan.
Dear Santa - One Republic
Decent pop tune, nothing groundbreaking. Honestly, if I hadn’t known this was from a massively popular and well established group I might have thought it was a better than average Hallmark Movie title track by some relatively unknown performer. There’s also a piano version of the song that’s pretty good.
Not bad and definitely the best thing I’ve heard today.
Like a Child - Blessing Offor
Well that didn’t last long. Sorry One Republic, this three track single from Blessing Offor , especially "Like a Child", has risen to the top of today’s chart. The only blemish is the egregious use of autotune in Little Drummer Boy, it’s time producers let that affectation go. Offor even manages to make a decent job of covering "Wonderful Christmastime”
Everything You Want - Matt Rogers + Muna
Not a Christmas song, just a mediocre pop song that references Christmas.
A Classic Christmas - Gavin DeGraw
Decent collection of a half dozen holiday standards. You won’t want to throw out your old LPs but as neo-crooners go this is pretty good.
Let it Snow - Various Bocellis
Single from forthcoming Deluxe version of last years' family affair. Meh.
We Wish You the Merriest - Seth MacFarlane + Liz Gilles
Brian from Family Guy releases a solid holiday track. Nice arrangement , nice vocals, can’t complain (and I do love to complain!).
Christmas Time is Here - Johnny Mathis
I’ve saved the best for last. An expanded version of the E.P. the legend released last year. Sure he’s not the singer was , umm, 50+ years ago but ⅔ Johnny Mathis is twice as good as the vast majority of releases you’ll listen to this year. Kristin Chenoweth guests on "Santa Claus is Coming to Town".
I'm generally a fan of Neil's Christmas stuff, and everything here is previously released, but I was fairly meh about this compilation. Maybe it's just not programmed to my taste, so don't let that stop you from checking it out.
A Very Very Cassie and Maggie Christmas
A fine collection of original festive tunes and engaging arrangements of old favorites from popular Canadian folk duo.
Christmas with Cliff
Cliff Richard
Another legendary artist defies the ravages of time, though not quite as extraordinarily as Johnny Mathis. Cliff's voice and delivery aren't what they once were but he's still produced a holiday album well above the standard set by many contemporary acts. I'm absolutely grading on a curve cause I've always been a fan so listen accordingly.
Snow Blossoms: Lost Country Christmas Classics
Terrific collection of lesser known holiday tunes
Home For Christmas
Con Funk Shun
Started slow, but after a couple of iffy tracks, the songs really start to work - Christmas Kind of Day, My Favorite Things, Do You Hear What I Hear, and Christmas for Two are prime cuts
Second Edition: A Very South Bay Xmas
I didn't really find anything worth hearing again apart from Mack Ogden's My Holiday Angel. YMMV, and it's for charity, so check it out at Bandcamp
Juste après novembre
La chorale de Y'a du monde à messe
I know nothing about this group from Quebec but their Christmas album is emerging as one of my favorites this season.
Holly Jolly Christmas / On Christmas Eve - John Owen-Jones
Christmas with Aled and Russell
Solid Classical Crossover Christmas Collection
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White Winter Hymnal - Jade Bird
Not the best cover of of this tune I have but not at all poor.
An Old-Fashioned Christmas with The Alcoa Singers (1979)
Featuring a number of songs from The Stiguest Man in Town (sadly those few songs are the only ones I could find streaming.)
And, while I'm at it, I might as well include the original television soundtrack to The Stingiest Man in Town from The Alcoa Hour in 1958
Arthur Godfrey - All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth (1967)
Kid's album from Godrey and The Richard Wolfe Children's Chorus. Godrey's reputation took a major hit back in the fifties when he fired popular singer Julius LaRosa while on the air. My father knew LaRosa personally and hated Godfrey from that moment on, a hatred that persisted well into the 70s and 80s as I began my interest in old time radio, vintage pop and classic movies. so, I have mixed feelings about "the old redhead" and the drunken uncle unctuousness of his performance here makes this one a tough sell for me.
A far more palatable holiday release is the much earlier Christmas with Arthur Godfrey and All the Little Godfreys. A more traditional album with a more diverse array of vocalists, including the aforementioned LaRosa, make this more enjoyable, though still inessential effort.
From 1980 comes the lackluster bargain bin easy listening/ elevator music of The Birchwood Pops Silent Night. Not even worth using as background music.
A Christmas Card (1987) The Forester Sisters
Nice 80's country release.
I'll close with a handful of recent shares from legendary vintage Christmas music blogger Ernie (not Bert). For years Ernie has been rescuing rare, forgotten, out of print Christmas vinyl and giving it new life while exposing a whole new audience to the songs and sounds of Christmas past. The work he's done over the years has been a magical gift to holiday music lovers. Let's take a peek at just the tip of the iceberg of what he's got going on so far this season...
(All images in this section come from Ernie (Not Bert))
A pure nostalgia bomb. Albums like this were a staple of my parents and grandparents generation at Christmas time. So many visits to so many friends and families homes during the holidays had this sort of thing backgrounding their festive hospitality. Listening to this, I can smell the olfactory warm hug of hot cocoa, Gingerbread and fresh Christmas tree.
If you never experienced it the way I did this may seem like dull, old fashioned elevator music ripped from vinyl that's seen better days. For me it jumpstarts a Proustian rush of pure joy and contentment, with just a tad of melancholy for times, people and places now past.
Seasonal radio program featuring festive reminisces from crooner Martino between appropriate musical selections, mostly from Martino himself, naturally. Martino recounts tales of Christmas during his humble Philadelphia childhood and a look at how the Martino's past and present celebrated the holidays.
A nice flashback to Christmas radio back in the day.
A cute novelty single from Barefoot Man,, Santa Got a Sunburn is worth at least one or two listens, though the flip, Grandpa's Christmas Fiddle, perhaps less so
Speaking of novelty singles today Ernie offered a bit of a novelty post - eleven tracks by artists whose name begins with "Little". So we get everything from blues great Little Milton, bandleader Little Bobby Rey and a bunch of kid novelty acts with tracks like Have a Gluey Christmas, A Oscar for Santa and Picture Of Mommy Twisting With Santa. The Little Milton track is the best of the bunch with Rey and the "Little Toodles", a kid act that seems to have an older girl singer, also providing listenable fare.
More rare and wonderful finds from The Ernie-verse include a selection of holiday themed films strip soundtracks.
They all have there own nostalgic charm, even without the accompanying visuals, though Holidays - The Spirit of Christmas from Eye Gate House is hampered by a particularly harsh beep to indicate when the teacher should move the strip along, making the terrible voice acting and on the nose storytelling where young Wendy visits Mr. Oldman, and old man, and Mr. Riches, a rich man, armed with holiday gifts.
A far more pleasant and professional sounding releases come from Singer featuring less brutal, and sometimes even lovely, cues. The Beasts at Jesus' Manger , How We Got Our Christmas Customs, The Baby King and the children's story The Lollipop Dragon Helps Santa are quaint, charming listens.
Ernie also offers up a trio of excellent releases from Cathedral Films ; The Story of Jesus - The Nativity (two different versions) and Stories for Christmas - The Christmas Donkey and Peter and the Hermit.
I'll finish off my Ernie's with another filmstrip release, though these play more like a regular album. Christmas Songs in Latin and Christmas Songs in Spanish featuring solo operatic performances. accompanied by Organ of various hymns and carols. An interesting one time listen. especially the Latin selections, but not much more. Still. A treat to have the chance to experience this all but forgotten Christmas media.
Nice enough mini album with highlights being the energetic take on Santa Claus is Coming to Town and a terrific big band-ified Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (the arrangement is such fun ill forgive McPhee's cringe shout out to Rudolph at the very end.)
Under a Winters Moon (Live at Knox Church,Stratford,Ontario/ 2021) Loreena McKennitt
McKennitt's voice is as transcendent as ever on this live recording which combines traditional hymns and carols with relevant readings including Dylan Thomas's A Child's Christmas in Wales. A lovely performance best listened to rather than relegated to background duty.
Recommend
Winter Morning Sissel
Another ephemeral voice is heard from on this 7 track offering from Sissel joined by The Tabernacle Choir.
Recommended
Ellie Holcomb Sing : Christmas Songs
Nice mix of both praise and Christmas songs (sacred and secular).
Recommend
Miracle in a Manger. Jason Crabb
Fine collection if mostly familiar tracks from Christian artist Crabb
Recommend
A Very Yinzer Christmas
Pittsburgh area regional compilation. sporting a generous 26 tracks. Not too many familiar names for those of us not immersed in the Pittsburgh scene, I'm only familiar with a few; Donnie Iris, Norman Nardini and Joe Grushecky.
Compilations of this sort are often seriously hit and miss but, A Very Yinzer Christmas maintains a steady level of average to above average songs, As I was listening and starting to formulate my review in my mind i wanted to note the rare accomplishment of not having a bad track in the bunch. That thought persisted right up until I hit the last few tracks. At least whoever programmed the album had similar taste to mine and hid the significantly less successful cuts at the back
Step Into Christmas Elton John
5 track digital ep collecting the solid title single, the fun to hear once or twice a year novelty track Ho! Ho! Ho! (Who'd Be a Turkey at Christmas?) , the earlier, inessential, Joss Stone duet Calling it Christmas and two other songs I don't consider Christmas.
Christmas from Ireland
Anuna
Lovely Celtic choral crossover .
Singles
All I Want for Christmas is You / It's Christmas - Hush Kids
A decent subdued take on "All I Want" does as much as it can with the source material. The flip, the Hush Kids original It’s Christmas is far more affecting and a lovely Christmas song.
Wrapped up in a Bow - Jamie Fine
The vocal styling here are nit for me and the song isn't strong enough to transcend them
Last Christmas / Winter Wonderland - Remi Wolf
I honestly have no context for contemporary artists like this, many millions of listens but I've never come across them before. Is this single terrible, no, especially the go at Last Christmas but I don't imagine I'll ever want to hear it again.
Driving Home for Christmas - Tom Grennan
Overwrought take on Chris Rea's classic. Not bad but a bit much.
I haven’t watched The Voice in ages so I was unfamiliar with A Girl Named Tom but based on their holiday release, One More Christmas, I’m going to have to check them out. This is a charming and fun collection and about as poppy as I can take. The originals hold up really well among the more familiar fare.
Recommended
O Holy Night: Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square
Wish You the Best for Xmas
Per Gessle / PG Roxette
Swedish pop legend Per Gessle (Gyllene Tider, Roxette) offers this four track holiday Single/EP (it’s really two songs plus two instrumental versions of those songs).Catchy europop,
Recommended
Purple Hawaiian Christmas
Kalani Pe’a
Perfectly pleasant, if fairly generic holiday offering elevated by a warm layer of Polynesian flavor. If you like that sort of thing, you’ll like this sort of thing.
Happy Xmas
Michela Anne
Four track EP limited by its choice of four massively over-covered songs that should IMHO, just be left alone if you don't have something exceptional to add to them. Outside of a slightly better than average take on Last Christmas nothing here really stands out. Most of the tracks are fine but do nothing to justify listening to them as opposed to the existing iconic versions. It doesn't help that they include one of my least favorite Xmas songs, and a song so generic that only its original version is worth listening to. Plus, I already have a handful of amazing versions of River to choose from. Michela Anne’s take on the one song that can survive incessant cloning, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, is…fine.
Fans of the artist will enjoy this, no doubt.
A Living Room Christmas
Lunar Vacation
Three track single/EP that at least tries to salvage their uninspired choice of covering Last Christmas by making it fairly unique, fairly. I’m guessing whoever wrote the Spotify Christmas algorithm was a big Wham fan, what else would explain the glut of these covers?) The other two tracks include a a slightly left field take on Skating and a surprisingly recent cover choice Norah Jones’ Christmas Calling (Jolly Jones).
Christmas in the Car
Blane Howard
Solid country release with a nice mix of familiar tunes with fresh arrangement plus an excellent new song. There are a couple of tracks that aren’t all they might have been, a tepid take on The Christmas Song, for example., but a generally enjoyable effort.
Recommended
Christmas Night with You
Straight No Chaser
One great thing, or maybe not so great, depending,, about the Christmas music scene is that it turns would be one hit wonders into perennial chart hitters. If Straight, No Chasers’ claim to fame had been a clever cover of almost anything other than a Christmas song they would be novelty, with a small n, act. Luckily for them it led to a seasonal windfall, (not to the same extent of say Pentatonix, but still…) sadly it leads to abysmal tracks like this one being forced upon us at holiday time. Unlistenable.
We’re Home for Christmas
Our distant worlds
Minimal solo piano arrangements that barely register even as background music.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Diego de Galdeano
Another low effort solo piano EP tailor made for Spotify “Relax” “Peaceful” “Calm” playlists.
Christmas Time (Is Here Again)
Spoon
Faithful cover of the Beatles Christmas tune, so barely listenable
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