The album opens with “Angles From the Realms of Glory,” to which Lennox adds a Middle Eastern sound, and “Lullay Lullay (Coventry Carol),” features some great new vocal twists to make it a dark, emotional whirlwind.
“Now That’s What I Call Christmas” is a great addition to anyone’s library of holiday music.Īnnie Lennox, “A Christmas Cornucopia” (Decca)Īnnie Lennox proves herself a pro at mixing old- and new-world sounds on her first holiday album, “A Christmas Cornucopia,” which features a combination of English and French classics, along with an original song. There’s also a bonus CD with a collection of artists that might have contributed to “Now That’s What I Call Music: The 1950s Edition.” There are holiday renditions from Johnny Mathis, Elvis Presley and Bing Crosby.īetween the two discs, you can find a holiday song that fits your mood. The first set is iTunes-friendly with artists such as Lady Gaga singing “Christmas Tree” and Rihanna crooning “A Child Is Born.” You get what one would expect on the fourth installment of a “Now That’s What I Call Music” holiday recording: A pop-centric variety of Christmas music performed by today’s hottest acts. “Now That’s What I Call Christmas 4” (EMI) Though she is a child, Jackie has a magical, soaring voice that shows her fellow reality show contestant how a Christmas album should be done. In case you make it that far, put on “O Holy Night,” the EP by her label mate, “America’s Got Talent’s” Jackie Evancho, to combat the holiday jeer. The arrangements don’t help her out, sounding like dreary background music: You’ll need a pick-me-up after listening to this all the way through.
She coos shakily and rarely uses the full potential of her voice. While she became a YouTube sensation for displaying heavenly but powerful vocals on “Britain’s Got Talent,” here she sounds like a timid child. The choice of music isn’t the problem here.
On the second album from the “Britain’s Got Talent” sensation, Boyle offers up a selection of holiday classics, plus a few others, including Leonard Cohen’s now-ubiquitous “Hallelujah” and the puzzling choice of Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” Like a lot of presents received during the holidays, Susan Boyle’s “The Gift” doesn’t live up to expectations. With the release of “Merry Christmas II You,” Carey proves that there is such a thing as building upon perfection. Luckily, Carey redeems herself with a new recording of “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” The song was first released in 1994, but 17 years later, it is still a welcome addition to any holiday album. Most of the songs on the album will fill your ears with holiday cheer, but Carey does hit a sour note, specifically on “One Child,” a sappy song that comes toward the end of the album. Carey then switches to the R&B track “When Christmas Comes. In one of the more touching moments on the album, Carey teams up with her mother, Patricia Carey, who sings the chorus on “O Come All Ye Faithful,” in operatic tones. She seamlessly transitions from this pop tune to more heavy material that features the wide rang of her voice. The fun-filled track, which Carey wrote with her longtime collaborator, producer Jermaine Dupri (and Bryan-Michael Cox) showcases Carey at her best. “Santa is going to come and make you mine this Christmas,” Carey playfully croons. On the single, Carey sings about a lost love and how she longs for Santa to bring him back. This time around, with its catchy hook, the up-tempo “Oh Santa!” gives “All I Want for Christmas” a run for its money. Despite the multitude of hits she has racked up over the years, one of her most enduring songs is “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The track has become a modern holiday classic, setting the bar for any new seasonal music Carey wanted to release. The stakes were high for Carey with this release. The record is a mix of classics such as “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “O Holy Night.” It also includes new recordings, including the first single, “Oh Santa!” Mariah Carey insists that Christmas is her favorite time of year, and it shows on “Merry Christmas II You,” Carey’s second holiday album. Mariah Carey, “Merry Christmas II You” (Island Def Jam) Here are some of the new Christmas music collections available now. Need some new Christmas music? Here are the latest albums in stores.