Now That's What I Call Today's Christmas
EMI, 2012
REVIEW BY: Benjamin Ray
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 01/20/2013
It’s tough to write a Christmas music review after the holiday has ended. At this point, we’re so burned out on the nonstop music coming from the radio, every store, and the workplace that we’re thankful for a respite from jingling bells until November.
Perhaps that’s why this NOW selection is a welcome addition to the crowded Christmas field. Although it boasts 18 “classic” songs, eight of the songs, including the first five, are relatively new ones that most people probably don’t know. The other 10 are a mix of religious and secular tunes.
The important thing is that none of these versions, as far as I know, are overplayed on the radio or mall Muzak as mentioned above. With the playlist skewing toward the tween crowd, perhaps Top 40 radio or Forever 21 play these, and that demographic will probably enjoy this. Those a little older will probably like something modern to replace the same old 60s versions that get played multiple times a day.
Current pop stars like Justin Beiber (“Mistletoe”), Carly Rae Jepsen (“Mittens”) and OneRepublic (“Christmas Without You”), light rockers Train (the annoying “Shake Up Christmas”) and Gavin Degraw, and crooners Sara Bareilles (“Love Is Christmas”) and Norah Jones (“It Came Upon A Midnight Clear”) all share space on this collection. Established stars Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato (Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime”) and Coldplay (a dull “Christmas Lights”) all put in their takes, as do Selena Gomez & the Scene (a brief, electric “Winter Wonderland”).
For country-pop fans, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, and Rascal Flatts all make appearances, while rock fans are represented by the 1996 Trans-Siberian chestnut “Carol Of The Bells,” which is wildly out of place here but still a good time.
The songs pretty much sound exactly like the artists who made them, so if you like the Beibs you will enjoy his song, and if you despise Train you will skip their tune. About the only person who shakes things up is Mariah Carey, whose “Oh Santa” is the most energetic, enjoyable thing here. Instead of going the ballad or Whitney-lite route, Mariah goes the modern Rihanna route with an R&B-flavored stomper and hushed, quick vocals. It’s a great time and proof that she still has creative spark.
Although a few are rather lifeless, there isn’t a bad song in the bunch, making NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL TODAY’S CHRISTMAS a fine, modern addition to one’s holiday catalog and a great alternative to the overplayed yuletide songs that make you nauseous by Dec. 26.