2 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!
Discover my top 10 albums of 2018 here
Discover my top 10 albums of 2017 here
Discover my top 10 albums of 2016 here
Discover my top 10 albums of 2015 here
Discover my top 10 albums of 2014 here
Discover my top 10 albums of 2013 here
And so another year of documenting all the new Christmas music released comes to an end. Each year I wonder if there will be enough new material to keep me going for the 60 days I commit to uncovering new musical baubles - and each year (7 now!) I'm delighted to find that there is. Alongside a plethora of brand new Christmas compositions (see my list of the very best here) there were a multitude of holiday albums I fell in love with - and that will now be part of my ever-growing catalogue of Christmas songs each year moving forward. Here are a few of the best...
TOP NEW ALBUMS OF 2019 HOLIDAY SEASON
Ben Adams - All Wrapped Up: While it doesn't feature his rather brilliant original composition (and duet with Morissette) This Is Christmas, All Wrapped Up sees Ben take on the classics and breathe vibrant new life into them. Across the 9 tracks he makes this an intimate affair, driven by his obvious love for the most wonderful time of the year. It is the type of album which reminds you of times gone by whilst being the soundtrack to all those new experiences. He chose wisely which songs to interpret and bought along some splendid duet partners to add to the charm of the collection...
Best song ~ Driving Home For Christmas (with Sara Skjoldnes)
Bien ~ Holiday Cheer: Tres Bien as the French should always call them. I've spied a couple of holiday singles from them in past years so am utterly thrilled to discover they have put together an album of holiday cheer, aptly called Holiday Cheer. They take their knack for putting together sing-along lyrics which are immersed in irrepressible melodies which have the ability to enchant all the live long day. The songs are all sung with genuine enthusiasm (and with some splendid chiming backing vocals) that the album instantly feels like your new favourite future oldie
Best song ~ the title track, Holiday Cheer
Timi Dakalo ~ Merry Christmas Darling: I was a bit behind in finding out about the delights of Mr Dakolo's vocals as he has been recording music for over ten years now. It just gives me much more of his back catalogue to delve into. For now, however, I'm totally luxuriating in his lush selection of 11 classic and contemporary holiday standards across an elegant opus which really tracks every heightened emotion the most wonderful time of the year has to offer. The title track alone (a duet with Emile Sande) is well worth the entry price...
Best song ~ his take on the Judy Garland standard, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Chantal Kreviazuk ~ Christmas Is A Way Of Life, My Dear: I first heard the dulcet tones of Canadian chanteuse, Chantal Kreviazuk, via the magic of the Dawson's Creek soundtrack; her song Feels Like Home was an enchant(al)ing introduction to her music. Over the years I've became a full on believer - immersing myself in her albums and spinning one off singles (like her duet with Avril Lavigne on O Holy Night). It was that duet that made me long for a full album of seasonal songs from Ms Kreviazuk and, finally, my Christmas wish has come true. Christmas Is A Way of Life My Dear is a charming exploration of the magic and emotions delivered with ethereal, shimmering arrangements.
Best song ~ the music box majesty of Shine leading into Christmas Is A Way of Life, My Dear
Meg & Dia ~ December, Darling: The reunion of Meg & Dia has been one of the musical delights of 2019. The album happysad bought uplifting melodic resolution to the complexity of human emotions. In hindsight, then, it is little surprise that they channel that creative surge into an album full of seasonal wonder. December Darling is not only a love letter to the highs and lows of Christmas; it is a love letter to the festive music genre. They blend timeless evergreens alongside their own compositions - and what is remarkable is how these new songs stand proudly along the music you've sung for years.
Best song ~ other than the title track (one of my top original Christmas songs of 2019), Christmas All The Time
Idina Menzel ~ Christmas, A Season of Love: An eclectic mix of songs with some thrilling guest appearances makes for a diverse album of holiday jubilation - cohesively held together by sumptuous arrangements and her powerful, dramatic vocal. Whether injecting nuanced new insight into the much loved instrumentals or sharing the stage with a bevvy of vocal partners, she manages to make old seem new whilst indulging listeners with some of their most favourite festive melodies.
Best song ~ the duet with her Frozen pal, Josh Gad, on We Wish You The Merriest
Monalisa Twins ~ Christmas: The Monalisa Twins love for sixties music has clearly influenced their sound and they have a great knack for crafting driving backbeat from their drums to propel their engaging rhythms and amazing harmonies. Check out their album Orange for a splendid journey through melodic hooks, bright guitars and vivid emotions - it is an album that bypasses fading fads in music to give you something more lasting. As does this opus of seasonal songs - even though you may only bring it out for 4-5 weeks of the year, its impact will be no less evergreen...
Best song ~ All I Want Christmas To Be
Dylan Scott ~ Merry Christmas: When I originally wrote about Dylan Scott's 2017 EP, Merry Christmas, I finished the article by stating "Here's hoping he releases another five tracks next year to make a complete album". It took a year longer than anticipated but Mr Scott has indeed added some new seasonal songs to double the length of his project, creating a full holiday album. Dylan is a natural raconteur of festive fare, taking well known standards and injecting them with a little bit of his own personality and flair.
Best song ~ a deep and resonant It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Joe Stilgoe ~ Christmas Album: If there is anyone who can embrace the range of emotions that seemed so much more sharpened at this time of the year, it is expressive singer Joe Stilgoe. It means his Christmas Album is a seasonal selection box of goodies that you will keep coming back to year after year. To make it feel like a convivial affair, he has bought along a cavalcade of revellers to join him on some choice cuts. It is guaranteed to make your season merry and bright; a radiant soundtrack to your Christmas memories present and future.
Best Song ~ the effervescent joy of The Night Before
WINNERS OF CHRISTMAS 2019 (ie, I couldn't pick just one absolute favourite):
John Barrowman ~ A Fabulous Christmas: Christmas (and by association Christmas music) is utterly fabulous, yet there are apallingly few Christmas albums with that jazz-hands inducing word in the title. No Fabulous Christmas Portrait by The Carpenters. No Fabulous Kylie Christmas by Ms Minogue. And no Merry Fabulous Christmas Mariah Carey by the crisp chomper herself. Luckily for the world John Barrowman has corrected that with his dazzling new opus A Fabulous Christmas; a selection box of songs which is more of an entertainment experience than just a festive collection of dazzling tunes. Thanks to opulent arrangements and effusive vocals, Mr Barrowman immerses the listener into a fully realised winter wonderland; a sleigh ride of a journey which tantalises all the senses and explores all the emotions of the Yuletide period.
Best song ~ What Child Is This
Lea Michele ~ Christmas In The City: Of course Lea Michele needs no introduction. The actress-singer who shot to fame via TV show Glee has been in the spotlight ever since thanks to a couple of rather splendid albums (Louder and Places), regular acting gigs and her amazing advocacy work for LGBTQ+ rights. She's now wrapping up some of her favourite seasonal memories into one whole album of festive magic thanks to the release of Christmas In The City. The collection of classic songs (and one original) are a reflection of Lea's experiences with growing up in New York City through the music which provided the soundtrack to her memories. And that is what every Christmas album should be - a celebration of all emotions linked to the most special time of the year.
Best song ~ Christmas In New York
Robbie Williams ~ The Christmas Present: I classed it as glad tidings of great cheer when Robbie Williams announced that the follow up to his 2016 album, The Heavy Entertainment Show, was to be a Christmas album. As more news leaked (including that rather superb cover art you see above) and the world learned that it was to be called The Christmas Present - and a double album to boot - well, the anticipation had me tingling from head to (mistle)toe. He brings his proven ability to provide cheeky charm alongside heartfelt emotion. It also feels like a giant communal singalong as Mr W invites a sack load of celebrities along to join him on songs old and new. Now that's some heavy entertainment...
Best song: Time For Change
**Ghosts of Christmas Past**
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