12 Days of Christmas (Albums) #8-13 Baker's Dozen

#8 - 13 Sufjan Stevens Presents Song for Christmas
Every year it's an issue: how does one stomach the onset of holiday music? With an endless stream of overplayed pop stars stirring what Sufjan Stevens calls "That Creepy Christmas Feeling," how does one navigate the sound of the season? Back in 2001, Stevens began making annual EPs of traditional carols and songs mixed with his own holiday-themed tunes. With 2006 and Volume 5, he's compiled a perfect gift for the Christmas-inclined indie rockster: all five EPs in one box, separately slipcased, plus a booklet filled with lyric sheets, chord charts, a Rick Moody essay, and more. Yes, Stevens knows that "Jingle Bells" features him playing (as he notes) "insipid piano," but he also writes gorgeous arrangements. Check out the three versions of "O Come O Come Emmanuel"; each aches. And "O Holy Night" from Volume 3 is lo-fi genius, never mind anyone's resistance to theology; it's a time-stopper. Stevens's own tunes are unmistakably his, hushed vocals highlighting a unique mix of whimsy and yearning--much like the justly-lauded Illinois and Michigan. In the end of the liner essay, Stevens writes that the Christmas story is about love, and on that note, he proclaims that these songs and the "Creepy Christmas Feeling" prompt "a transformation of the heart" for him and bring out affection and reflection. Isn't that a great holiday vibe? --Andrew Bartlett

12 Days of Christmas (Albums) #8

#8 Sarah McLachlan Wintersong
(From Amazon.com)
An album like this could cement Sarah McLachlan as a middle-of-the-road crooner ready for the Andy Williams Christmas Show, but there's more beneath the surface of Wintersong than just Christmas chestnuts, over-roasting on an open fire. Longtime McLachlan producer Pierre Marchand blurs the borders with ambient sound effects, distorted guitars, and subtle echoes. He adds a Mark Isham-esque muted trumpet solo emerging out of reverse echoes on "I'll Be Home for Christmas" as if viewing the song through a distorted mirror. Violins that sound like they're being blown through a Leslie speaker combine unpredictably with a banjo on "O Little Town of Bethlehem." And on the seventh song, McLachlan finally kicks the album into another gear, turning "The First Noël" into a storming entreaty backed by tribal drums and surging low strings. Her voice is like the serene angel amidst the raging storm. I wish McLachlan had taken more chances like this, instead of the subtle framing she employs around melodies that remain true to form. Surprisingly, the more contemporary songs by John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, and Gordon Lightfoot are the least inventive. Her reading of Mitchell's incandescently wistful "River" is overly faithful to the original, and Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" sounds like karaoke, right down to the Spector-esque production and children's choir. But given that Lennon's prayer for peace still remains unanswered, that fidelity could be intentional. Regardless, this is familiar Christmas fare delivered in an intimate and ethereal fashion that will satisfy those who believe in the nostalgic spirit of the season. --John Diliberto

12 Days of Christmas (Albums) #5-7

I'm heading out of town for a couple of days and will not have access to the 'ol computer so I figured I'd get the blog updated in advance as to not disappoint my dedicated readers.

#5 A Charlie Brown Christmas
Now I'm certain that for many people this would be tops on their list of Christmas albums. I'm not knockin' it, but I'm also not raking my albums in any particular order (sorry for those of you who like to watch those VH1 "most _fill in the blank_ celebrity" countdown shows). Regardless, this one is a classic. : )








#6 Christmas with the Chipmunks
I want to see the new Chipmunks movie. It looks like a lot of fun in that pop-culture glossy-eyed kind of way. I don't really recall watching much of the chipmunks, but I do remember hanging out in the basement in Montana as a kid listening to the record player blast out those shrill chipmunk harmonies. Who knew something so annoying would be so AWESOME!






#7 Mannheim Steamroller: Fresh Aire Christmas
And, to finish up this trio of market savvy Christmas faves, I'd like to say that this is one of those childhood albums that that just transports me back in time. In particular, in 1991 when my oldest brother was performing with the local high school band for the annual Christmas concert, he played the "Cantique De Noel (O Holy Night)" arrangement from Mr. Chip Davis on piano with a flute soloist and left the auditorium absolutely stunned. It truly was beautiful. And I was very proud of my brother. I still am.

12 Days of Christmas (Albums) #4

From my earliest days, I remember hearing all sorts of music around the house. Peter, Paul and Mary, the Carpenters, John Denver and other great folk artists. It was awesome! Amy Grant was one of the artists that got played regularly around our house and her 1983 Christmas album entitled "A Christmas Album" was a staple of Christmas music around our house.

12 Days of Christmas (Albums) #3

Album #3 is from that vocal powerhouse group Take 6: He is Christmas which incidentally is ranked #9,430 in the most purchased music at Amazon.com. Way to go guys.

I you love vocal jazz, these guys are top notch. Grab a glass of wine and enjoy the smooth sounds of Take 6 this Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas (Albums) #2

Album #2 on this 12 days list is George Winston's December and was amazed to see that the 20th Anniversary Edition is now available and it includes a couple of extra tracks!

Of all the piano-Christmas albums out there, this one has always just had a special place in my heart--it' just seems to bring out the holiday spirit in me.

Funny thing is that it's the ONLY George Winston album I own.

12 Days of Christmas (Albums) #1

Here are 12 of my favorite Christmas albums, one at a time for the next 12 days!

#1 Christmas Songs with the Ray Brown Trio
My supervisor and partner in crime in the music department at the church found this CD in the discount rack a few years ago and purchased it on a whim. She let me listen to and instantly fell in love with the groove as layed down by Ray Brown (my favorite bass player) and his powerful trio and guest artists.

AMAZON.COM has this to say:
Ray Brown's got the right idea about making Christmas music: swing it, shout it, blues it up and down, riff with it, and, above all, never let it become boring. With a handful of top-line jazz vocalists on board, and a sax and guitar sitting in with the trio, he and his cool company can't miss the mirth of improvising or the mistletoe magic of rejuvenating a baker's dozen seasonal standards. Dee Dee Bridgewater demonstrates her versatility on "Away in a Manager" while the sublime Diana Krall scats with the creeping bass line on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." With Nancy King, Etta Jones, Marlena Shaw, Vanessa Rubin, and Kevin Mahogany singing, Brown delivers the goods musically (just check out his lyrical work on "Rudolph."). --Martin Keller