New Christmas CDs, the good and the bad
That's right...tis the season.
I love Christmas music. Every year I try to pick up at least one new Christmas CD. This year, so far, I've bought two. Both are 2006 releases. One is very good, the other no so good. Let's begin with the not so good....
Sarah McLaughlin - Wintersong - Booooooooooring. Not even Sarah's beautiful voice could save this one. This disk is about as slow and boring as you can get. I don't mind music that's soft and low key. It's nice to put on some easy listening to relax to or as background music when you have guests over. But really, this one would just put your guests to sleep. If you're too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve, this CD is the cure.
Now, on the flipside...
Kim Stockwood - I Love Santa - I don't expect anyone outside of Canada to know who Kim Stockwood is. In fact, most people in Canada don't know who Kim Stockwood is. Kim hails from Newfoundland. She put out a couple of solo CDs in the late '90's, before joining up with two other Canadian songstresses to form the group Shaye. She's now put out a solo Christmas CD which is, IMO, one of the best new Xmas CDs that I've heard in many years. Kim has a fantastic voice and a great sense of humour, which often comes out in her singing. I Love Santa is a fun, campy, CD that really sets off Christmas on an upbeat tone. There are a couple of original tunes on this and a few old standards, but even many of the old stardards have new arrangements to freshen them up. If you haven't heard of Kim Stockwood, she's worth checking out and I Love Santa is a good place to start.