As Christmas draws closer, millions of people will be making their old favorite holiday albums. You know – that’s what they’ve been hearing for decades.
Not that there is anything wrong with that. We take in this most wonderful time from Nat King Cole’s “The Magic of Christmas,” Johnny Mathis’ “Merry Christmas,” the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Anne Murray’s “Happy Christmas” and other such classics. I like to listen to the track during. The year.
Still, we also love listening to new Christmas albums – of which there’s no shortage, as countless pop/country/rock stars churn out new product each year in the hopes that their albums will yield a good amount of Christmas Trees. are wrapped. 25.
Here’s a roundup of some of the top new seasonal offerings from 2021, all of which can be listened to via the major streaming services. So, make some space between Mathis and Murray and stream some of these new Christmas albums this season.
“When Christmas Comes Around…,” Kelly Clarkson
The multi-talented superstar, who should top the list of the busiest celebs across Hollywood, returns with his second Christmas offering. Like earlier seasonal outings (2013’s “Wrapped in Red”), “When Christmas Comes Around…” is a grand showcase for Clarkson’s pristine and versatile vocal work. The album is upbeat and satirical at times, such as when the singer is notifying a certain person that “Christmas ain’t canceled (Just You),” but mainly just as fun as Clarkson feels. That she’s having the time of her life playing “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” and “Jingle Bell Rock”.
“King Size Manager,” Josh Turner
Josh Turner is considered one of the best, and certainly the most distinctive, voices in all of country music. The multiplatinum-selling artist makes great use of those crystal clear, valley-deep vocals on her debut Christmas album, with four of the 11 tracks being originals. Highlights include Turner in “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by his wife and four sons, “Joy to the World” with Grammy-winning bluegrass artist Ronda Vincent, and the ukulele with “Mele Kalikimka My ‘Ohana”. Master Jake Shimabukuro and acclaimed Hawaiian trio Ho’okena.
“I Don’t Want Christmas To End,” Zach Williams
Listeners wouldn’t want this Christmas album to end. This is one of the best seasonal offerings to come in years, filled with interesting renditions of traditional favorites. Watch the rowdy, Southern rocking version of “Go Tell It on the Mountain”; revived “Run Run Rudolph” which should please fans of Chuck Berry; and (Memphis) “Mary, do you know?” Truly, “I Don’t Want Christmas to End” is worth playing long after December 25 has passed.
“How does Christmas sound?” kirk whaleum
The acclaimed saxophonist answers his own question as he introduces a great-sounding batch of seasonal tunes to fans. Whalem, whose many achievements include providing the sax solo on Whitney Houston’s blockbuster rendition “I Will Always Love You”, is in top form as she performs “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You”. Deals with choice. ,
“The Seasons,” Steve Perry
The Journey faithful will definitely want to celebrate “The Season”—Perry’s first Christmas album and only his second full-length solo outing since the band’s departure from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band in the late ’90s. Apparently, fans missed his voice, noting that the first week’s sales of this collection of standards resulted in “The Season” debuting at number 6 on the pop charts.
“It’s Christmas,” Tasha Layton
The prolific pop singer, who earned a substantial amount of airtime this year with the inspirational “Look What You’ve Done” single, is shining on this six-song seasonal offering. Layton covers a decent amount of music territory, from a light-hearted cover of comedian Heywood Banks’ “Didley Squat” to a grand rendition of the classic “O Holy Night,” and each one of the six tracks is a winner.
“A Different Christmas,” Bryson Tiller
With contributions from Justin Bieber, Kiana Leday, Poo Bier, Tayla Parks and Tiller’s daughter Halo, the R&B star does a good job with her first collection of holiday tunes. Tiller reportedly came up with the idea for the project, wondering what it’s like to spend Christmas alone—something he himself has done in the past. “I was watching Christmas movies and next to the Christmas tree and it was a weird day. And I was like, ‘I can’t even figure out what it’s going to be like to do this this year,'” he said in an interview with Essence. said.
“We Want Christmas,” Matthew West
After delivering the amazing “Gobble Gobble” from 2020 — one of the greatest Thanksgiving songs of all time — this popular Nashville singer-songwriter turns her attention to a different holiday. It is West’s second top seasonal outing after 2011’s “The Heart of Christmas” and features a solid mix of holiday standards and inspired new material (such as the title track). And, yes, that includes “gobble gobble”—which, we warn you, can take weeks to get out of your head once.
And one for Thanksgiving fans too:
