Top Christmas Albums of 2014

Read my top Christmas albums of 2013 here

Honourable mentions: Seth MacFarlane, Idina Menzel, The Vamps and Weeping Willows

5= ~ Kat Tingey, Ring Out Wild Bells: Ring Out Wild Bells is an inspired collection of folk driven pop tunes that resonate with a seasonal magic that feels organic and natural in the hands of Ms Tingey. She effortless weaves an aura of pathos, celebration, melancholy and dramatic intent seamlessly together to ensure the tracklisting feels cohesive - making for a rewarding journey that will last well into 2015. Kat Tingey is a versatile and largely undiscovered treasure that should be heralded from the highest of roof tops. This whole album is a genuinely stunning celebration of the season that brings depth and majesty to every facet of what we know of Christmas. Breathtaking.

5= ~ Leann Rimes, One Christmas (Chapter One): I'm hoping that this is the first of three years in a row that lovely Leann will appear on this list as One Christmas is the first part of an annual festive tradition of musical releases from the singing sensation. I loved that there is "chapter one" in the title - instantly it makes the listener feel they are part of the story, embarking on a journey with Leann to magical festive places that they will revist (and expand on) year after year after year. It's a vibrant collection of songs that embraces the pathos and melancholy of the season as well as the joyful and triumphant. Most sparkling is her glorious cover of I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas - an experience as as uplifting as candy canes and silver lanes aglow

4 ~ Pentatonix, That's Christmas To Me: The biggest seller of seasonal songs this year in the USA, That's Christmas To Me takes on some well known seasonal tunes and adds that unique Pentatonix spin to them. If UK folk are not familiar with the act, they first shot to fame during America's Got Talent and since then have continued to dazzle with a variety of innovative covers of modern day pop songs to tantalise and tease your aural receptors. That's Christmas To Me is no different and, indeed, they seemingly sprinkle a magical wizardry over every note they sing, every beat they produce. Every song feels like it's been examined, deconstructed and then lovingly put back together to give you something a little extra special for the holiday months ahead - and because each song reveals something new with each listen, it will be the gift that keeps on giving year after year after year.

3 ~ Nick & Simon, Christmas with Nick & Simon: This vocal duo not only produced a brilliant pop album that was packed with festive favourites (including some that aren't as covered as often as they should be) but also put enough magic and sparkle into the set that it felt like a love letter to the season itself. Their affable, engaging vocals weaved through the well known melodies with a mellifluous ease whilst also putting their own spin on these perennial standards. Every song be it tinged with a little sadness or a rousing party anthem feels intimate and personal as if the boys are singing in your very living room, bringing the enchantment of the holiday season right into your own home. Massive in their native Netherlands, they are this year's best kept Christmas secret round the rest of the world. Don't miss out!

2 ~ Matt Doyle & The Whiskey Five, Make The Season Bright: I may have berated Matt Doyle in my original review of this for releasing it so close to Christmas but ultimately it doesn't matter because it instantly stood out as an enduring gem. Make The Season Bright sees him tackle festive favourites with an approach that sees him genre hop and draw from diverse influences without skipping a beat. He brings a new layer to these oft sung perennial standards that uncovers new nuances and presents them in vibrant new settings. He's ably supported by Will Van Dyke (arrangements and the gorgeous piano accompaniments) on a project that will surely provide aural rewards for many years to come. Throw in a couple of sterling duets and it's a gloriously evocative collection of music that does exactly what the title of the album promises.

1 ~ Magnus Carlsson, Happy Holidays: Magnus Carlsson loves Christmas - his back catalogue of festive favourites (both new and old) is pretty much unsurpassed. Who doesn't delight in playing his exuberant version of Holidays Are Coming as early in the season as you can get away with? And who doesn't delight in playing Wrapped In Paper all the live long day when it's Christmas in a week and a day?! He really is just the gift that keeps on giving and because his love of the genre combines with his love of boundary-pushing pop, it's always an absolute pleasure to let him become part of your holiday memories. This year he presented us with a brand new album of standards called Happy Holidays. He visited Los Angeles to record the music in the style of the great American songbook yet the album never loses that sense of Magnus that makes his music so effortlessly delicious. He's surrounded by sumptuous orchestral instrumentals that coalesce with the classic lyrics and timeless melodies, bought to life once more by his wonderfully expressive vocals. Just lovely from beginning to end.