Sunday, 30 November 2025

Dylan Scott - Two Christmas Trees


25 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Stream Two Little Trees here (Spotify)

Two lovely things are true here - firstly, eight years to the day after Dylan Scott's inaugural Christmas EP, Merry Christmas, became an indelible part of my annual holiday playlist, I get to write about new music from the country superstar. And secondly, the title track, Two Christmas Trees, is a song his dad wrote in the 80s and Dylan finished just for this project. Let's start with that charmer of a new seasonal standard. It's a sensitively crafted story about how divorce impacts families at Christmas, delivered with aching sentiment from Dylan himself - and he's ensconced in beautiful guitar lines as he sings of making the most of a difficult situation. There's heartfelt sentiment in the song, most likely drawn from his own memories and experience. There's something soothing and uplifting about the production that helps you focus with singular clarity on the tale being told. 

Next up is Jingle Bell Rock. The electrifying guitar accentuates the rock'n'roll nature of the song while the propulsive tambourine drenched rhythm encourages you to click your fingers along whilst you grab the one you love and boogie (for now the jingle hop has begun). Dylan's voice, once again, takes you away from the mundane of the every day and transports you to a world where snowy landscapes and fun-filled ice rinks are the norm. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas sees Dylan kick up his heels and embrace the fun of the song, with an arrangement which sounds delectably gleeful. With sparkling backing vocals, Dylan makes this feel like its straight out of a Christmas TV Special from the 70s - and that sense of nostalgia is just delicious.

Dylan embraces the solemnity of the greatest story ever told on Mary Did You Know - the tale of what the pressure must have been like for the earthly mother of Christ. There is a reverence and humility to the song that makes the world feel hushed and peaceful; like the craziness stops even if just while the music plays. It comes to a rousing conclusion with a gloriously decadent version of Winter Wonderland. Set to swirling strings, invigorating horns and a playful piano - perfect partners for Dylan's deep, resonant tones. He seems in his element in the big band inspired setting, leading the well known melody of the song forward with mellifluous ease. He's a debonair, seductive raconteur painting a picture as vivid as any Christmas card that may sit on your mantle this holiday season. 

**Ghosts of Christmas past**
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