1976
(0 votes, average 0 out of 5)
Written by Gregg Shapiro, Staff writer
Dec 2, 2010
Photo: Courtesy
‘Glee’
Here’s a great big holiday surprise (not!): Ryan Murphy and the folk$ at Fox have come up with a seasonal soundtrack. “Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album” (Columbia) features the talented cast making their way through a series of traditional and contemporary holiday selections in full-tilt “Glee” style. The most-spirited include “We Need A Little Christmas,” “Merry Christmas Darling,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” (a duet by Kurt and Blaine), “The Most Wonderful Day of the Year” and “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (a k.d. lang/Matthew Morrison duet).
Shelby Lynne
Shelby Lynne tosses her Santa hat into the ring with “Merry Christmas!” (Everso/Fontana). Like the Indigo Girls, Lynne combines her renditions of season classics, including “Silent Night,” “White Christmas” and a “Sleigh Ride/Winter Wonderland” medley, with her own compositions. “Ain’t Nothing Like Christmas” is a celebratory song of the season, while “Xmas” reminds us of what Lynne can do musically with heartbreak.
The Puppini Sisters
The Puppini Sisters sound like they were born to sing holiday songs. They put Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas” into their personal time machine on “Christmas With The Puppini Sisters” (Verve), giving the song timelessness. The same goes for George Michael’s “Last Christmas” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas.” Familiar favorites like “Santa Baby” and the ukulele-driven “Mele Kalikimaka” are given the respectful treatment one would expect from the Puppinis.
Ronnie Spector
“Best Christmas Ever” (Bad Girls Sounds) marks Ronnie Spector’s return to holiday music. The inclusive “It’s The Time (Happy Holidays),” the buoyant “My Christmas Wish” and the radiant “Light One Candle” make this one Christmas gift you won’t want to return.
The Canadian Tenors
The Canadian Tenors give “The Perfect Gift” (Decca) an especially Canadian flavor. The vocal quartet teams up with fellow country-person Sarah McLachlan on her “Wintersong.” The title tune and “Instrument of Peace” were co-written by Stephan Moccio. They also perform “Huron Carol,” written by Canadian Jesuit Jean de Brébeuf. In an unusual twist, the Tenors extend the Canadian connection to include Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” (complete with bagpipes).
Celtic Thunder
Celtic Thunder keeps the thunder to a minimum on their holiday disc “Christmas” (Decca). The inclusion of new or lesser-known songs, such as “Christmas 1915,” “Going Home For Christmas” and “Our First Christmas Together,” serves to enhance the familiarity factor of the rest of the tracks.
Kat Parra & The Sephardic Music Experience
On “Dos Amantes” (JazzMe), by Kat Parra & The Sephardic Music Experience, former Cisco Systems graphic designer-turned-jazz musician finally explores her Jewish heritage. The CD closes with the song “Hanukia (Hannukah).” Some may also recognize “Fiestaremos,” a version of “Hatikvah.
