When it comes to holiday music, I’m anything but a Scrooge, and have felt that way since my Tiny Tim years. Of course, they called them Christmas carols back then, and all the traditional artists – Nat King Cole, Perry Como, Dean Martin and Bing Crosby – were heard all through the house.
They’re all long gone now, but their music remains today in many forms, including on my Christmas playlist. "Bah, humbug!" you say? So shoot me with a Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle. But while everyone and their mother seem to produce a Christmas album these days, I say bring it on. Punk, folk, pop, rap, no matter the genre, the holiday song is music to my ears. Even country, which doesn't always go hand in hand with nostalgic memories of chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
Three first-time holiday releases from female country performers have been in heavy rotation on my iPod this season, all for different reasons. Faith Hill’s Joy to the World, Gretchen Peters’ Northern Lights and Sounds of the Season: The Julianne Hough Collection will warm the soul this Christmas almost as much as a hot toddy. Santa, all three girls have been very, very good this year.
Faith Hill: The Superstar from Star
The gorgeous Mississippi Girl who grew up in the little town of Star southeast of Jackson is shining the brightest this holiday season. Backed by a heavy publicity campaign, high-profile appearances on magazine covers (Ladies' Home Journal, Shape) and the early morning (The View, Today) and late-night (Lettterman) talk-show circuit, this show of Faith expanded to her own special for PBS’ Soundstage, which is getting almost as many repeat showings on GAC as A Christmas Story does on TNT every Dec. 24-25.
Her 11-song CD (almost 37 minutes long) was released by Warner Bros. Nashville on September 30, way before even the most organized shoppers had prepared their Christmas wish lists.
So how’s it sound? Very traditional, which is a good thing for those looking for some joyful noise by a popular, platinum-selling artist who treats tried-and-true classic material with the utmost class and respect. The disc has risen as high as No. 2 among Billboard's Top Country Albums, yet Hill hardly seems like a country singer here, backed on various cuts by a big band (“Santa Claus is Coming To Town” really swings), an angelic choir (“Silent Night”) and a booming orchestra (“Joy To The World”). She has the pipes to pull it off, and the versatility to lend the proper reverence to holier hymns such as “Away In The Manger” and “O Holy Night.”
Article comments
1 - mea25
great review of Julianne, but could not read all of it because her picture is in front of some of the review. Please fix, thx. Great album, luv it all. i must have listened to it a zillion times. every morning i get up, i play her christmas album over n over again. Its such a joyful album, luv the duet w/Vassar too, luv the instrumental part of the songs too.
2 - Kevin
If I could be so bold as to plug our new Christmas album consisting of 17 original songs from lots of new indie bands from all over the world including the Cloud Room, Idaho, Jape and the Very Most. Here is where you can listen to it all. We think it's great but then we are biased and obsessed with Christmas.
3 - Michael
Thanks for the comments, mea25. That glitch has been fixed. Must have been the Grinch at work.
4 - carmen
Good review on all the albums. Love the Faith Hill album I listen to it almost everyday on my way to work. Yea, I'm a traditionalist I too miss ole Bing.
5 - Jess
Great review! Thanks!! I have both the Julianne and Faith Hill albums -- both are amazing! I LOVE christmas music, so I am easily pleased -- I will say I prefer Juliannes over Faith's in all honesty though! Its short, but cheaper so it works out! But Julianne really keeps the songs classic, while still adding her own little twist and personality! I really like that, you can tell shes having a blast singing them, but it doesn't take away from the traditional songs!! The duet with Phil Vassar is AMAZING! they blend the two songs so well you would never know, i listen to it everyday over and over! and She also does really well with the classic "Have yourself a merry little christmas"
6 - Michael
I agree with your comments, Jess. I was really surprised by how well Julianne sings but I guess I shouldn't be. She's a very talented performer and I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
7 - Heather
I liked both of these albums but I was a little disappointed in how short Julianne's was. There were only 8 tracks and one was just an intrumental while another one was just her talking about her holiday traditions that she doesn't care enough about to follow this year. That left only 6 songs where she sings and that's kind of a stretch for a CD but at least it was cheap! I also could have done without some of the heavy country twang but I guess that is what Julianne thinks makes her country.