Christmas CDs

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Dec 3, 2004 | by Deseret Morning News

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Reggae Pulse: Christmas Songs" (Trojan/ Sancturary)

The Rastafarians know how to celebrate. This jammin' collection gives an island groove to classic Christmas songs. John Holt's "White Christmas," Freddie McGregor's "O Come All Ye Faithful" and Yelloman's "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" bring sunny takes to these holiday staples. And the head-bobbing arrangement of Culture's "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" will have the party up and going. -- S.I.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "The Soulful Sounds of Christmas" (Rhino)

This collection of soft and mellow songs from the likes of En Vogue, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston and BeBe and CeCe Winans mostly makes you want to hunker down in front of a fireplace and enjoy the peace of the season. Traditional titles ("O Holy Night," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "O Little Town of Bethlemen") are mixed with seasonal songs ("This Christmas," "Snowy Night"), but each artist makes the song his or her own. All previously released, they combine well here. The gospelesque "Lamb of God" adds a jubilant finishing flourish. -- C.W.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Under the Misletoe" (Shout Factory)

Another "Ultra Lounge" series Christmas collection featuring Lou Rawls' "Merry Christmas Baby," Dina Washington's "Ole Santa," Nancy Wilson's "That's What I Want for Christmas" and Aretha Franklin's "Kissin' By the Mistletoe" are spotlighted with Sarah Vaughan's "Goodnight My Love," Bobby Darin's "Christmas Auld Lang Syne" and Rosemary Clooney's "White Christmas." The songs are easy on the ears and warm on the heart. -- S.I.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "The Very Best of Celtic Christmas" (Windham Hill)

The successful Windham Hill "Celtic Christmas" series has provided mellow acoustic holiday music that brings to mind snow-covered moors and hearth-blackening fires in cold, stone castles. This "Best of" collection compiles 19 tracks from the various "Celtic Christmas" albums. Altan's "Soillse Na Nollag (the Lights of Christmas)," Nightnoise's "Lully Lullay," Lisa Lynne's "Circle of Joy" and Snuffy Walden's "Sails of Galway" are just a few of the dreamy songs ideal for a good winter night's listen. -- S.I.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Wasatch Christmas 2004" (Greenland Records)

This latest offering in the Wasatch Christmas series provides an engaging look at the local pop/rock/folk/a capella scene. With mostly previously recorded selections, it's an eclectic mix, ranging from the doo-wop "Christmas Time Is Coming" by the Cadillacs A'Capella, to Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband's unusual rendering of "Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains" to pianist Jon Schmidt's elegant "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming." Songs complement each other while offering individual flavor as Nancy Hanson, Peter Breinholt, Eclipse, Voice Male and Octapella all chip in. James Conlee, producer and motivating force behind the project, adds a couple of new releases that provide a crowning touch. And the James Christensen painting on the cover captures the whimsy and offbeat character nicely. -- C.W.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "A Winter's Night: The Best of Nettwerk Christmas" (Nettwerk America)