12 Days of Christmas: 5 New Christmas Albums
All I want for Christmas is new music
Music is one of the greatest and most powerful Christmas traditions.
Whether you listen to it all year or only in December, Christmas music is a unique genre, and new albums are released in the genre every year.
Looking for some new holiday jams for the car ride home or to play while cooking dinner? Look no further. Here are five new Christmas albums from artists from many backgrounds, so you should find one that works for you.
“The Kacey Musgraves Christmas Show” by Kacey Musgraves
Even though Grammy-winning country singer Kacey Musgraves already has a Christmas album, she now has an old-fashioned Christmas show, too. This album is the soundtrack to the Amazon Prime Video special and features guest artists like Troye Sivan, Lana Del Rey and Zooey Deschanel.
Musgraves’ crystal-clear vocals shine as she sings live with guests and her band. The album has a good mix of classics, like “Let it Snow” and originals, like “Glittery.” While Musgraves is technically a country artist, her unique style will appeal to a broader audience.
“Our Favorite Time of Year” by Us the Duo
In 2018, Us the Duo graced Logan when they performed at the End of Year Bash. Following the birth of their daughter, the husband-and-wife duo, initially made famous through Vine, has released a brand new Christmas album.
“Our Favorite Time of Year” is a perfect album if you like a little funk in your holiday festivities. Songs like “White Christmas” will provide you with a low-key feel perfect for a night in. This album features some great musicianship, as well. The couple’s voices complement each other with tight harmonies and vocal runs throughout the album.
“Christmas: A Season of Love” by Idina Menzel
Fans of “Wicked” and “Frozen” are already well acquainted with actress and singer Idina Menzel. For those who don’t know her, this album may be the perfect opportunity to change that.
Menzel’s larger-than-life voice powers her new Christmas album with a little Broadway pizazz. Guest artists like Ariana Grande, husband Aaron Lohr and “Frozen” co-star Josh Gad join Menzel on a wide variety of holiday songs. A highlight of the album is “Ocho Kandelikas,” a rambunctious Latin song about the arrival of Hanukkah, which Menzel celebrates as a Jewish woman.
“Bing at Christmas” by Bing Crosby and the London Symphony Orchestra
Few voices are more recognizable during the Christmas season than Bing Crosby. While Crosby died over 40 years ago, his music still plays in homes and stores across the nation each December. With the new album, “Bing at Christmas,” Crosby’s original recordings are set to new arrangements performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.
This album will appeal to people of all ages, with the old-timey feel of Crosby’s performances combined with high-quality recordings of the symphony. An updated version of “White Christmas” features a performance by Pentatonix and gives new life to Irving Berlin’s iconic tune. This is the type of album you’ll want to listen to while sipping hot cocoa by the fire.
“This Warm December, A Brushfire Holiday Vol. 3” by Various Artists
If you’re wishing you were in Hawaii this Christmas, the next best thing might be this album. “This Warm December” features holiday music from artists on singer-songwriter Jack Johnson’s record label, Brushfire Records.
This album will get you into the Christmas spirit while simultaneously helping you imagine you’re on a beach. From Paula Fuga’s beautiful rendition of “Mele Kalikimaka” to “New Axe,” a charming original song by Jack Johnson, this album is perfect if you need a little calm during the craziness of the holiday season. If you enjoy this album, there are also two more volumes available for your listening pleasure.
—alek.nelson@aggiemail.usu.edu
@nelsonalek