An awful lot of singers turn out Christmas albums, whether because they really enjoy the music or feel that it's a slam-dunk commercially. Some of them use the same old arrangements we've heard forever, and that's fine. Some of them pick songs that aren't widely played, which I find more pleasing. And some of them compose new songs, which I really really like. Whether the new songs become standards (come back in fifty years) or not, it shows they've decided that there's no reason to put their creativity aside just because "it's a Christmas album!"
Here's a list of new Christmas albums released in 2008. Included on the list:
And more, including an album from a male a cappella group called Straight No Chaser, whom I just saw on the television show "Christmas in Washington." Here's their version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas."
Each album is linked to its Amazon page for sampling.
Posted by Linkmeister at December 20, 2008 11:29 AM | TrackBack