The season has officially begun! Last year, I argued in favour of listening to Christmas music all year long. This time, I present you ten of the best Christmas albums of the past ten year.
Over the last years, many great artists have curated their own take on Christmas classics, as well as created some fantastic new songs for the repertoire. I’ll try to select only ten of them, to try to paint a picture of how new classics are born all the time- we just don’t know it yet.
10. Gary Barlow – The Dream of Christmas
Take That’s front man took a high risk offering a Christmas album with a lot of new tracks but… it pays off! What a great tribute to the seasons! A lot of great vocals and melodies that will definitely pass the test of time.
9. Robbie Williams – The Christmas Present
Another Take That alumni- with some daring new songs that reflect the new-spirit of Christmas, Robbie Williams offers a great festive album. The collection of classics under his trade mark revitalization of crooners are accompanied by the idle, new-age, very millennial take on the season to be jolly. Fabulous songs like Slade’s “Merry Xmas Everybody”, and new songs like “Snowflakes and “One Last Christmas” are the pinnacle of a great album.
8. Darren Criss – A Very Darren Crissmas
Glee’s roof raiser Darren Criss is surprising nobody by crafting a fantastic Christmas album with off the chart’s collaborations and great harmonies. All that glee made to serve Christmas can’t be that bad, but no one can tell me ‘We need a little Christmas’ by the cast of Glee isn’t one of the best modern seasonal tracks.
7. Eric Clapton – Happy Xmas
True superstar of music, Eric Clapton puts together a bluesy but joyful album with killer guitars, tender vocals and a clear picture of how Christmas is for an industry legend such as him. “Christmas Tears” and “For Love on Christmas Day” are true revelations for a gloomy Christmas night, when there’s more rain than snow.
6. Idina Menzel – Christmas: A Season of Love
Elsa and Olaf signing Christmas carols? All that and more can Idina make happen. With this album, Broadway’s favourite Idina Menzel has crafted a Christmas experience completely out of this world. Collaborations with Josh Gad or Ariana Grande are just one of the many great things that Idina can achieve while making a strong Christmas album.
5. Norah Jones – I Dream of Christmas
Norah is easily one of the best contemporary singer-songwriters, and she strikes again with a hit album of simple and beautiful Christmas song to melt every Grinch’s heart out there. I won’t say more than that for you to listen to the rest, and get in to the spirit.
4. Ingrid Michaelson – Ingrid Michaelson’s Songs for the Season (Deluxe Edition)
Ingrid is many things; add to the list- a new Christmas staple. If her own take on Christmas classics isn’t enough for you, the extensive list of collaboration (including the hit song “Christmas Valentine with Jasen Mraz) will definitely keep you wishing for more.
3. Dolly Parton – A Holly Dolly Christmas
Holly Dolly is here! Dolly Parton is a music mastermind and powerhouse, and she doesn’t need to prove anything more. Yet, she continues to amaze us with fantastic collaborations (like Christmas giant Bublé or country legend Willie Nelson) and her incredible voice to make Christmas a little bit more Dolly.
2. Seth MacFarlane – Holiday for Swing!
It is well known that the incredibly versatile Seth MacFarlane has a soft spot for musical theatre and big bands, so he has shown on his different movies and TV series. With a track record of very strong albums crooning over his favourite songs, on 2014 Seth brought to life a well-rounded Christmas album that is a worthy adversary of any classic Sinatra holiday tune. With only known songs, his spin on “Little Jack Frost get Lost” with pal Norah Jones, or “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Sara Bareilles, are definitive gold.
1. Kacey Musgraves – A Very Kacey Christmas
Grammy award winner Kacey Musgraves is at the top of my list with one of the best Christmas albums I have ever heard. Kacey’s angelic vocals, combined with beautiful arrangements and some very special guests brings the magic to a season already packed with joy. A heart-felt performance of old classics, with some jolly twists every now and then, have brought us a well rounded and balanced album.
Notable collaboration with Willie Nelson in “A Willie Nice Christmas” or “I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas” take the gleeful cheer of the season, while “Christmas Makes Me Cry” or “Present Without a Bow” put the mellow and melancholic tone to the festivities. Yet, the best representation of Musgraves talents is shown on how easily she can revitalize some not-so-popular tunes like “Mele Kalikimaka” or “Feliz Navidad” just as much as true classics like “Let It Snow” or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”.
An absolute win, a Christmas album to list to over and over now and until next December.
