After weeks of fumbling through Spotify with the most stylistically limited season of releases ever, and three attempts to find the proper order for the playlist, the results are in. The odd phenomenon this year is that virtually every entry fell into only two genres–country and western artists, and a capella, the new age staple of Christmas fare, with a handful of former reality show winners in the mix. Even so, the entries were overall remarkably strong, with one sub-problem–almost every artist released the same 5 songs on their CD [literally, everyone this year seems to have arranged Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, The First Noel, The Christmas Song, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree for every album], so I was automatically restrained by an even smaller selection than it appeared since I could only use one of each. Oddly, there were significantly more quality releases than last year, but significantly fewer available cuts due to this massive overlap. But it seems to have worked out. It’s not the strongest ever, but it’s certainly entertaining and reflective of the year in review.
First again: the criteria. (Regular readers can skip this paragraph. The rules will never change.) In this analysis, points are awarded more for taking a particular selection of music and making it not only entertaining and fresh, but showing the artist one is famous for being in the interpretation–within the boundaries of the material. In other words, we do not want to hear your bluesy, jazz-infused “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” any more than we want to hear your punk rock “O Holy Night”. Also, while new original breakout singles are encouraged, the CD should be heavy on standards and classics. Plus the one you all know: under no circumstance may your CD contain a cover of “Christmas Shoes”. That is grounds not only for disqualification, but for permanent banning from all future lists. Now the results…
THE COUNTRY COUSINS
Rascal Flatts, The Greatest Gift of All
The country trio crank out a selection of festive holiday fare with some mixed results. They succeed with selections like an Earth Wind & Fire inspired Joy to the World, and oddly with a bassanova Let It Snow!. But there are some misfires like a bizarre Deck the Halls that seems to be sung directly over the Beach Boys’ Surfer Girl. (Side note, I compared last year’s best album winner MercyMe as having a fun sound like the Beach Boys meets Rascal Flatts. Now that I’ve heard that juxtoposed sound, I apologize to MercyMe, who do it much more justice!) (Grade—B-)
Sarah McLachlan, Wonderland
No one expects Sarah McLachlan to be a bundle of holiday joy, but this CD is ridiculous. Wonderland plays less like a celebration of holiday festivity and more like 45 minutes of background filler for one of her sad puppy commercials. Filled entirely with slow, low key, barely instrumented arrangements which she barely sings and more whispers over in a near parody of her breathy sound for which she’s know. Who knows, perhaps she had laryngitis and had to record under a time constraint. Or maybe this was music to put puppies down to? Or, more plausibly, McLachlan is becoming a caricature of herself. Thanks Lilith Faireans for this one, you get what you deserve. The rest of you, don’t even bother. (Grade—D; spared a letter upgrade from a total F solely for the puppies)
Chris Young , It Must Be Christmas
Even I have to admit, good country music can occasionally be good music. Young surprisingly scores with a critic whose ears bleed when subjected to country music. Solid versions of all five of the overlapping songs mentioned above plus catchy rockabilly versions of the Darlene Love classic Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and Holly Jolly Christmas. Pairing up with Brad Paisley on The First Noel works. Pairing with Boyz II Men on Silent is the one failure, their styles just clashing too harshly. But Young has produced a successful debut CD with a nice blend of fun pop, and classic hymns and standards. (Grade–A)
Brett Eldridge, Glow
If there was a category for CD that makes me most angry, it would be Eldridge. The successful country star releases his first Christmas CD opposite fellow Opry mate Young. And the two could not be more disparate. Young takes the good ol’ boy route that his fans expect. But Eldridge reveals a totally polar side, striking up a big band and swinging his carols like he was Harry Connick III. There isn’t a weak entry in the lineup. Eldridge takes a very traditional and classic route here and lands solidly with broad cross appeal. He swings hard on Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!, Winter Wonderland, a fun Baby It’s Cold Outside with Meghan Trainor, and the severely neglected classic It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. Then he pulls it back to croon beautifully on The Christmas Song, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and the original title song. Thus here is where the anger is geared. We find out that Eldridge normally wastes his days twangin’ and hayseedin’ it up, which turns out is a heavily layered put on, and he can actually sing like this. But on the other hand, I envision some guy named Joe Bob buying this CD in West Virginia and naming it his most disappointing of the year for this very reason and smile. (Grade—A very unexpected and well earned A+)
Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood, Christmas Together
After taking a decade long hiatus to raise family, which is admirable, Brooks and Yearwood team up to reemerge with this year’s holiday entry. Brooks has fun with a (very very white) Feliz Navidad and a typically Brooksian humorous Ugly Christmas Sweater. Yearwood gives us a light, vampy Santa Baby and a nice turn on Dolly Parton’s Hard Candy Christmas from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. And the two team up on an standard Baby It’s Cold Outside, the hideously saccharine Marshmallow Christmas (a waste of anybody’s studio time), and with Brooks’ idol James Taylor on What I’m Thankful For, Brooks’ attempt to generate a Thanksgiving song. The overall outing is pleasant and well received, if not breaking any new ground. Also, with the time off, their voices are either showing their age and lack of practice, or perhaps (as I always suspected) Brooks never really could sing and made an entire career coasting on his good natured country boy next door charm. (Country music fans are notoriously not very discriminatory on their artists, especially the men). But welcome back, it’s nice to have some familiar faces in the mix this year. (Grade–B)
THE A CAPELLA ACA-NTINGENT
Home Free, Full of (Even More) Cheer
The one group that has the distinction of actually being a member of all three subsets this year, country a capella season 4 Sing Off champions Home Free, have picked up on the trend being more and more apparent these days. Taking the superior 2104 album Full of Cheer, they rerecorded a live number and added new material to evolve into a more fleshed out collection. Intact are their definitive contemporary renditions of Elmo & Patsy’s Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, and the title song, possibly the funniest and cleverest Christmas novelty song ever recorded, as well as their stirring arrangements of the classics Silent Night and O Holy Night. The centerpiece of this year’s edition is a stunning, reverent version of the classic hymn How Great Thou Art. Home Free understands their dynamics. While successful contemporaries Pentatonix have a definitive sound, they play favorites on the lead lines. But these good old boys are a quintet of unusually strong and even lead vocalists. They freely and effectively pass the lead line around like a schoolyard game of hot potato. But when the money is down, they always return to their strength, sterling silver voiced power tenor Austin Brown, to bring them home. Brown’s big finish on any song is guaranteed to leave goosebumps on every tract. Awesome improvement to an already pretty perfect CD. (Grade—Easy A+)
Pentatonix, A Pentatonix Christmas
The reigning royalty of the a capella world returns with their third new Christmas CD, and it’s everything the others have led us to expect.. Showcasing bass, Avi Kaplan, the most accomplished currently in the field, they put their contemporary yet sometimes unconventional spins on arrangements such as an African flavored O Come All Ye Faithful and a fun 50s doo wop I’ll Be Home For Christmas. Lone girl in the circle Kirstin Maldonado earns her share of leads, including the pseudo slinky Good To Be Bad, a kind of new age Santa Baby. It’s hard to top Pentatonix when it comes to innovative, original sound as they continue to push the limits of the genre. (Grade—A+)
Peter Hollens, A Hollens Family Christmas
Peter Hollens is the ninth natural wonder of the world. His usual MO is one man a capella arrangements with him singing the bulk to all of the lines laid down separately. He’s an amazing singer, artist, and arranger. His clear tenor multiplied over 6 tracks is otherworldly. His hymns are near tear inducing, his standards sheer velvet. He pulls in guest artists in appropriate tracks, most notably Jackie Evancho in Happy Xmas (War is Over), and a sublime collaboration with Home Free on Amazing Grace (worth the price of the CD alone), the most stirring rendition since Judy Collins hired the bagpipes in the early 70s. If only he had arranged a few more upbeat selections, he’d have been unbeatable. (Grade–A+ not even depending on extra credit for being the whole group)
Straight No Chaser I’ll Have Another…..Christmas Album
The former Indiana frat boys are back with another album of cheer and hijinx. Stylistically, they are starting to show their age (over 30! gasp), and the style they helped define now sounds dated by the extreme work being done by their successors, Home Free, Hollens, and the reigning champions of boundary definition Pentatonix. Still, their inherent fun and comraderie shows through (how many of your college buds do you still talk to, let alone work and travel with?) on most of their vocal selections. But while most are more of the same from their previous CDs, To Christmas (The Drinking Song), is a fun throwback to what they do best–poke fun at themselves and our culture, much like with their sassy classic 12 Days of Christmas (that incorporates other carols as well as Toto’s Africa). Here they drink to the party season from Thanksgiving to New Years taking stops at contemporary conventions like Black Friday, Starbucks red cups, shopping on Amazon.com and Groupon for the lady. They have a cult following that will love this. The rest will not be disappointed. (Grade—B+)
THE REALITY WINNERS and the rest
Jordan Smith, ‘Tis The Season
The Voice finalist releases a strong, versatile CD showcasing his crystalline range, and in a variety beyond what one would expect. Yes, he delivers sumptuous renditions of O Holy Night, Silent Night, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and a variety of other appropriately solemn hymns, but he also goes full rockabilly while Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree and channels a big bad Cab Calloway turn on an extra vampy You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. A great first entry into the field, and one with promise for future editions. (Grade—A+)
Kris Allen, Somethin’ About Christmas
American Idol Season 9 underdog winner Allen does a charming selection of carols and standards that salute the down home Arkansas roots of his childhood Christmases. He likewise does all five of the common core carols this year, and is pleasant throughout. His arrangements lean more toward the sedate than the upbeat, and his accompaniment is a minimum to salute the vocals instead of the bands. Unfortunately most of his arrangements suffer not because they are poorly done, but becasue so many did better ones this year. He does include a few original pieces that work, notably the fun pop 50s inspired Baby Won’t You Wait Until the New Year (to Break My Heart). But Allen’s eager puppy dog appeal shines throughout, and those who chose him over the more flamboyant Adam Lambert will not be disappointed. (Grade–B+)
Matthew West, Unto Us
Christian singer West, the most dependable individual artist in the holiday arena, likewise takes the small budget track of taking his previous well received The Heart of Christmas and adding new material to update to a bigger project,. West is a little vanilla in voice but he’s infections and his selections all indeed have the Heart of Christmas in them. He is even more relaxed than on Heart and cuts loose with some great arrangements, including everything from a moving title song to an unusually upbeat church song Join the Angels to a reverent O Holy Night. West comes through with every Christmas release and is a welcome addition to any playlist. (Grade–A-)
She & Him, Christmas Party
The quirky girl persona of lead singer/actress Zooey Deschanel doesn’t read when we don’t see the pretty girl acting loopy visual with it. The selections are varied, but, as always with Deschanel, forced off-kilter quirky. All I Want for Christmas is You comes across as especially dull being about a half beat too slow and under arranged compared to all it’s competition. This is a fringe album for hardcore Deschanel fans only. The title is especially misleading. (Grade—D+)
Leslie Odom, Simply Christmas
The Tony winning, recently departed star of the Broadway phenomenon Hamilton is not throwing away his shot, ridings his year in the limelight with a pleasantly sedate Christmas CD. Production costs are tight, and most arrangements feature a piano, maybe drums, and occasionally a third instrument as sole accomplaniment. This is a perfect CD to listen to with a glass of wine by the fire. His silky voice is a throwback to the old Nat King Cole/Johnny Mathis carols. (Grade—A-)
2016 MOST DISAPPOINTING CD
This was a hard call this year because I was really forced to place more emphasis on disappointing than on just plain bad. I struggled with perhaps calling out Garth & Tricia for not eliciting as much star quality as they should have, being Opry royalty. There was even a moment I considered perennial favorites Home Free because they didnt’ include as much new music as I would have liked to the original version. Or Odom or Allen because they didn’t have enough money to make big enough arrangements. But that was fair to none of them, and Deschanel’s weird little coffee house band isn’t even on the radar enough to be considered. So I copped out (having really had no expectations for her to let down) by naming Sarah MacLachlan’s dreary Wonderland (which is pretty much the antithesis of the title) as the Most Disappointing CD of 2016. Anticlimatic, I know, but the only fair way I could award a title this year. Where’s a LeAnn Rimes or Mariah Carey Polar Express caliber trainwreck when you need one.
2016 BEST OVERALL CD
And conversely even though there were no blowaway entries like the embarrassment of riches in the 2013 race between Leona Lewis and Kelly Clarkson, virtually every one of these solid entries this year could be considered. But in the end, I found the new age dilemma of last year with the new trend for smaller artists to rerelease previous material in a supplemented album. I understand they have lesser budgets and studio time is expensive, and these little artists that could are generally the more artistic and eventful entries. With that in mind, I crown as the clear winner Home Free’s Full of (Even More) Cheer. The original album was an ectremely close second that in retrospect could have beaten Idina Menzel now her year of being the sympathetic favorite is over. The boys just work so hard to please, and they have an amazing depth of vocal lead power yet perfect blend in sound, with the sterling voiced power tenor Austin Brown as their secret weapon to take home every song. I am pleased to crown my sentimental favorite boys of Home Free Best Overall CD of 2016 (with the asterisk for being an album with rereleased material). That being the case, it feels necessary to crown a cochampion again who has released a totally new CD. Out of those remaining, to award anyone other than Brett Eldridge’s Glow the title would be disgraceful. For a country artist to go so strongly out of his field and turn in an excellent crossover big band/pop CD deserves the Best Overall CD of 2016 (with the asterisk for all new material when a previously released album wins the title). But overall, this was a fun season, and a hard playlist to select which of the 15 versions of those common core songs were the best to use, sometimes having the luxury to pick an excellent second of third best version to appropriately spread the wealth.
So, as far as the resulting playlist, this year’s may not be the strongest with the limited amount of styles and selections I had from which to choose, but it’s ultimately satisfying. And I’ve pretty much depleted the leftovers from the extra strong seaosn past of Leona Lewis, Kelly Clarkson, and CeeLo Green, so I’m coasting on what new material I’m provided. In that spirit, let me reiterate my final plea from last season, and modifiy it slightly: “I would like to issue an open ended Christmas wish to Michael Bublé, David Archuleta, Home Free, Cher, Adam Lambert, One Direction, and maybe even a Hanson reunion: All I want for Christmas (2016) is a slew of new Christmas albums from you guys. I desperately need new material with a great variety of character.” [Updates: Thank You sincerely, Home Free, for being the only one to answer the call, but I have additional excitement that the little grown up Hanson brothers have in fact announced that they are producing a new reunion album in 2017, their original Snowed In being one of the best ever released 20 years ago.]\
I am likewise extending this plea to one new group–the cast of the CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend! Guys, Glee did me a solid every year, and even the cast of Nashville turned out a wonderful collection to add to my pool. You are easily the most talented musical comedy group on TV today. I’ll even give you the playlist. Have Rachel Bloom (Crazy Ex Rebecca) lead off with a cheesy We Need a Little Christmas, let Donna Lynne Champlin (best frieind Paula) bump and grind out a big time floozy Santa Baby, kill to have David Hull (White Josh) rock out on I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, give Santino Fontana (bartender/other love interest Greg) the big velvety standards like Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and O Holy Night, and Vincent Rodriguez (Josh Chan) could finally give me my authentic Feliz Navidad (yes he’s half Asian, but I’ll take it). As a bonus, Bloom, Fontana, and Rodriguez could spoof their tragic relationship mess with an awkward trio of Baby It’s Cold Outside in the vein of their masterpiece Tap That Ass. Make it happen in 2017, guys!! Hanson just set the bar!!
With all these modifiers in mind, I give you Mark’s Christmas Playlist 2016 (in order to be played, not by merit):
ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE 2016
1. HOLD ON CHRISTMAS (MercyMe)–Had to back up for another cut from the best Christian band in the medium from last years best new CD. Fun and catchy as expected from them.
2. CHRISTMAS (BABY PLEASE COME HOME) (Chris Young)–He’s country, so it comes out a little Brenda Lee but in a guy’s range, which I always appreciate.
3. O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL (Pentatonix)–A gorgeous Hans Zimmer inspired Afrikani arrangement, sort of like Christmas morning mass at Pride Rock.
4. YOU’RE A MEAN ONE, MR. GRINCH (Jordan Smith)--Smith cuts loose out of his serious vocalist persona with a sassy big band Cab Caloway bump and grind version, as if Dr. Seuss wrote “Turn Back O Man”
5. RUN RUN RUDOLPH (Straight No Chaser)--Not their best best, and a little a capella cliched by today’s standards, but it’s still upbeat and fun, and I needed upbeat and fun this year.
6. IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS (Brett Eldridge)–Eldridge busts out of his comfort zone and swings like Harry Connick III and the big bands. Plus I rarely ever get a cover of this, one of my favorite standards. If only he had Carrie Underwood along to sing the “Pine Cones and Holly Berries” counter melody, it would be classic perfection.
7. PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (Darius Rucker)–Hootie never gets old. still drawing from his 2014 hit album.
8. THE CHRISTMAS SONG (Peter Hollens)--I hate this song. That’s how amazing Hollens is in his ONE MAN arrangement.
9. CHRISTMAS MEDLEY: ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE/HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS/JINGLE BELL ROCK (Home Free)--My favorite boys having all their usual fun, and the title song I need augmented with two bonus selections. They can do no wrong, being the best ever.
10. JOIN THE ANGELS (Matthew West)--Another good showing from West this year, this being the rare song that is simultaneously contemporary, upbeat, AND religious in theme.
11. I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (Pentatonix)–Shakes up the standard with a fun 50s Jersey Boys doo wop arrangement
12. FELIZ NAVIDAD (Garth Brooks)–Yes, it’s the gringoest of the gringo arrangements imaginable, but at least he recorded it. Ricky Martin, Bruno Mars, and Marc Antony, you let me down again.
13. THE FIRST NOEL (Leslie Odom)–The Hamilton star recorded an unassuming album that track by track got overshadowed by other artists, but he deserved to be represented and this is a lovely arrangement.
14. AWAY IN A MANGER (Home Free)–the first guys of a capella show their versatility by going solemn. And anytime Austin Brown opens his mouth…..
15. BABY, WON’T YOU WAIT UNTIL THE NEW YEAR (Kris Allen)--Like Odom, Allen released most of the same songs that others did slightly better, but this fun 50s inspired ode to holiday broken hearts comes across like Christmas Run Around Sue. Allen is good, clean, sweet holiday fun.
16. LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! (Brett Eldridge)–Again knocking another swing out of the park. Eldridge was the major surprise of the season.
17. JOY TO THE WORLD (Rascal Flatts)–A fun, gospel infused, Earth Wind and Fire inspired selection.
18. TO CHRISTMAS! (THE DRINKING SONG) (Straight No Chaser)–To be honest, the boys who took the reins from a capella legends Rockapella have peaked, and are being surpassed stylistically by their successors. But this ditty, like their sassy classic 12 Days of Christmas, is another one that just allows the former frat boys to frat it up and have fun, with references to the ever-changing contemporary aspect of the Thanksgiving to New Years corridor like Black Friday, Starbucks red cups, and Groupon.
19. HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS (Trisha Yearwood)–I know. It’s kind of against my rule because anyone who REALLY knows, knows the song isn’t exactly about Christmas but about a bunch of prostitutes who lose their jobs around the holidays. But done right, the song has made me tear up, especially when I did the show. I’ve been looking for a contemporary version since I finally realized a personal goal of portraying Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd who shuts down the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, so this one is personal. You can press skip if you need to. But Trisha does the song justice, even if she does wimp out on the big uplifting key change at the end, taking a little of the hope and holiday optimism out of the finish. This one is dedicated to Danielle, Natalie, Lizz, Carissa, Elisa, Jillian, and my other Chicken Ranch whores, and Laurie and Dickie who, as Mona Stangley and the director, were key to the memory. End of holiday sentimentality. Back to Business
20. HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS (Josh Groban)–Busy making his Broadway debut, Groban took enough time to drop a beautiful version of the classic as a Christmas gift for his fans.
21. O HOLY NIGHT (Jordan Smith)–Everything Smith’s voice is capable of, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing backup. You can’t ask for more.
22. AMAZING GRACE (Peter Hollens & Home Free)–This is how Peter Hollens cheats on his homework, by hiring Home Free to sing the other 5 lines of his arrangement. And this one is perfect, earning mad extra credit. He structures it like a perfect batting line up. First the solid, dependable Hollens leads off as a surefire hit, then passes the lead line around to the other Home Free guys, each more consistent at the plate than the one before him, leaving power tenor Austin Brown to bat clean up and take the song home with a grand slam finish. The best, most haunting arrangement of the song since Judy Collins and the bagpipes teamed up. And yes, technically not a Christmas song again, but at least a hymn, and so amazing that who cares. This is what I imagine angels sound like and that trumps all. (and yes, the theatre geek can talk sports when he wants to–#YouDontKnowMyHistory)
23. HOW GREAT THOU ART (Home Free)–Again, Austin Brown and the boys leave one speechless with a deeply affecting arrangement of, again not a traditional Chriastmas song, but another one of the most stirring hymns ever written.
(All selections available for preview or purchase at Amazon.com and iTunes, and all except the Garth Brooks/Trisha Yearwood tracks available through Spotify)