Top 10 Christmas albums (for me this year anyway)
No surprise that I love Christmas music. Seriously love it. Perhaps it’s because I really can only get away with listening to it maybe a month and half out of the year – two months at most (though in Grand Rapids, one radio station began Christmas music before Halloween – crazy people!). But now that I’ve been listening to Christmas music for a few weeks now, here are MY top 10 Christmas albums/songs that have been in pretty much every Christmas playlist I’ve created this season… (in no particular order I might add.)
Sara Groves | O Holy Night:
Sara’s Christmas album came out this year. I’m a huge Sara Groves fan, and this album is why. She didn’t try to be anything she’s not. She just recorded a really great Christmas disk filled with heartfelt originals and well done standards. The whole album is great, but you have to check out “A Cradle in Bethlehem.”
Harry Connick Jr. | When My Heart Finds Christmas
I’m not sure that I listened to this album once last Christmas. This year I needed to hear those songs again with the big band and the sappy melodies. This is one of my favorites from this album: “(It must have been ‘ol) Santa Clause”
Jars of Clay | Christmas Songs
This album came out last year but I got it really close to Christmas and never really had a chance to listen and appreciate it. “Peace is Here” is quickly becoming one of my favorite Jars of Clay songs.
Reliant K | Let it Snow Baby… Let it Reindeer
This is another album that came out last year. I’ve only been a Reliant K fan for the past few years. I’ve really come to appreciate the balance between their straight up fun songs and their honest thoughtful ones. My favorite of this particular album is “I Celebrate the Day.” It’s just a great Christmas track that highlights their songwriting abilities.
Aimee Mann | One More Drifter in the Snow
I’m not quite sure why, but ever since I saw Magnolia and listened to the Aimee Mann songs on the soundtrack (more specifically “Save Me” and “Wise Up”), I have just been a huge fan of hers. Last year she put out a really great Christmas album. I love her version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” While so often this song is covered with such nostalgic undertones, Aimee’s arrangement has a nice hook that breathes life into the words yet stays true to the fact that this song is indeed a Christmas standard.
Herbbie Hancock feat. Corrine Bailey Rae | “River”
This is another track I first heard last Christmas. It’s featured on a Starbuck’s compilation that my brother-in-law brought home from work. Over all the compilation is fairly killer, especially Rufus Wainwright’s cover of “What are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” But as soon as you watch this video and listen to her sing the classic Joni Mitchell song, “River,” you’ll know why this is on my top 10 this Christmas.
Shawn Colvin | Holiday Songs & Lullabies
I’m not sure when this album came out, but I found it this year while searching the Holiday music section of the library back in early November. I can’t say I’m a huge fan of Shawn Colvin in general, but ever so often I hear a song of hers that makes me like her. The art work on this album was really good, and that is always a plus in my book, so I checked it out. It’s a great album, folksy in all the right places to make a really nice down-home Christmas album. One of my favorite tracks is “Little Road to Bethlehem.”
Sufjan Stevens | Songs for Christmas Volumes 1-5
I love all of these albums; literally, there are so many great moments on these EPs that I don’t know where to begin. His version of “Come Thou Fount” is my favorite. His “Once in Royal David’s City” gives a really old song some fresh indie-cred. Not to mention the tension he expresses in the humorous “Get Behind Me, Santa!” I only which he covered “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus,” but now I’m just getting picky. For the list I’ve chosen “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Enjoy.
Frank Sinatra feat. Bing Crosby | A Sinatra Christmas Album
This is just a great Christmas album where Sinatra gets all of his friends and family (hear their version of “The 12 Days of Christmas”) in on the project. “We Wish You the Merriest” is just one happy song sung between two of the greats.
OC Volume 3 | Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah
I just never get sick of this album. I know, know, I shouldn’t be, but I’m a fan of the O.C. I mean really, where else can you get such melodrama portrayed with some of the best TV soundtracks of the past five years? It’s just good TV. I really enjoy several songs on this album, but the one that comes to mind every time is Ron Sexsmith’s “Maybe this Christmas.” This is not him singing it, but it’s really good nonetheless.
How about you? I know you disagree with me… so let me know what’s on your ipod this Christmas season!
