Month: December 2016

Kacey Musgraves: ‘A Very Kacey Christmas’

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Kacey Musgraves: A Very Kacey Christmas

Kacey Musgraves charmingly fulfills every holiday wish you could possibly dream of with her delightfully satisfying Christmas album. Her inimitable take on holiday favorites mixed with striking originals make this a crucial addition to your holiday music collection. Musgraves is irresistible on “Christmas Don’t Be Late,” “Ribbons and Bows” and “Christmas Makes Me Cry,” while her irresistible version of the quirky “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” is absolute holiday perfection.

Imagine a dash of Cajun spice, a Hawaiian rainbow or two, mix in a touch of Texas swing along with an inspired Willie Nelson duet, and you’ll have Musgraves’ inviting holiday recipe your ears will readily devour. A Very Kacey Christmas should be at the top of every astute, genre-defying music aficionado’s Christmas list.

Sarah McLachlan: ‘Wonderland’

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Sarah McLachlan: Wonderland

Sarah McLachlan returns with her second proper holiday collection, Wonderland. This seasonal set contains 10 Christmas classics including: “The Christmas Song,” “Silver Bells,” and “O Holy Night,” plus McLachlan’s haunting rendition of the Canadian hymn “Huron Carol.” Produced by McLachlan’s longtime collaborator Pierre Marchand, Wonderland maintains the integrity of McLachlan’s most beloved albums, while concurrently conjuring a yen to envision Christmases of the past, present, and future.

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: ‘Christmas Together’

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Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood: Christmas Together

Country music’s super couple offer up duets and solo performances on this endearing yuletide collection. The famed duo blend together in perfect unison on “I’m Beginning to See the Light,” “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” and “Marshmallow World.” Brooks shines as he solos on “Ugly Christmas Sweater” and “Merry Christmas Means I Love You,” while Yearwood contributes playful renderings of “The Man with the Bag,” “Santa Baby,” along with a stunning version of “Hard Candy Christmas.” The only downside to this joyful holiday present is that it ends faster than Christmas day. The set’s total running time is a mere Grinch-sized serving of 27 minutes and 57 seconds, but it’s brevity is guaranteed to leave you hankering for second helpings.

Jane Lynch: ‘A Swingin’ Little Christmas!’

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Jane Lynch: A Swingin’ Little Christmas!

At first glance you might think this is a joke perpetuated by Ebenezer Scrooge himself, but Lynch and her holiday cronies deliver a serious portion of holiday cheer guaranteed to get your fingers popping and your toes tapping. Kate Flannery and Tim Davis join in on Lynch’s tuneful sleigh ride of holiday favorites including: “Up on the Housetop,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Good King Wenceslas.” Accompanied by the superb Tony Guerrero Quintet, Jane Lynch’s yuletide swing fest is guaranteed to turn any holiday gathering into an instantaneous Christmas party worthy of Santa’s approval.