Best New Christmas Albums of 2017
If you’re a fan of Christmas music like me, you might be wondering if there’s any new stuff out this year. Well, there is! I’ve gone through most of it, and compiled a list of my favorites here. Check it out
Reba McEntire – My Kind of Christmas
I don’t listen to much Reba unless it’s Christmas time. I think it goes back to when I was a kid and my mom would have her album on the record player. Her voice just reminds me of Christmas, and this album does not disappoint. However, this one is different from her others. This one is all acoustic with just piano and vocals. Reba’s touring piano player, Catherine Marx, is the real spotlight on this album. Her playing and arrangements are really well done. Add that with a few guest singers helping Reba out (Kelly Clarkson, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Darious Rucker, and more), and this album is a must play for any Christmas music lover.
Favorite Tracks
Winter Wonderland: Imagine Scott Joplin playing Maple Leaf Rag while wearing a Santa hat and you’ll get the premise of this arrangement. Ragtime Reba is kind of fun.
The Christmas Song: Gorgeous piano arrangement on this one. Simple yet perfectly Christmasy.
White Christmas: Again, the piano arrangement on this couldn’t be more perfect.
Leslie Odom Jr. – Simply Christmas
Ok, I’m cheating on this one. This actually came out last year, but whatever. This is a very sentimental Christmas album. Best known for his Tony Winning performance in Hamilton, Leslie Odom Jr, has such a pleasing voice, it’s almost tailor made for singing Christmas songs. This album blurs the line between Jazz and R&B, but either way, I really like these arrangements and the way he sings them. He almost reminds me of Johnny Mathis from way back in the day, another Christmas favorite of mine.
Favorite Tracks:
I’ll be Home for Christmas: Soft jazzy vocals with a sentimental little trombone solo.
Merry Christmas Darling: A nice mellow version with acoustic guitar and R&B vocals.
Ave Maria: For me, Harry Connick still wins the contest of who sings this better, but Leslie Odom comes real close. Simple, yet with his voice you just can’t go wrong here.
Lauren Diagle – Behold
I had never heard of this girl until I heard her sing a duet on the new Reba Christmas album. Her voice was so unique I had to look her up, and sure enough, she has a Christmas album out. This one is a bit more jazzy, fully equipped with instrumental solos from trumpets and saxes that you’d expect to hear at a late night jazz club. Her vocals, though, are what really pulled me in. Think Adele, meets Pink, meets Amy Winehouse. For those looking for traditional Christmas songs, with a modern jazzy twist, check this one out. I dig it.
Favorite Tracks
Jingle Bells: No, really. A fun jazzy take on a typically boring song.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas: This one is simple and classy. Her smokey tone, and jazz voicings in the background will make you want to sit by the fire with a glass of wine.
Christmas Time is Here: Her Amy Winehouse comes through on this one. Plus bonus points for a sultry tenor sax solo.
A Pentatonix Christmas (Deluxe)
These guys are crazy good. Stupid good. It’s no surprise that their new deluxe album is as well. A Capella for almost all of it, but you’d never know it, cause at times this album really grooves. If the A Capella thing isn’t your cup of tea, I get it. But these guys are the best at what they do.
Favorite Tracks – There’s seriously so many great songs on this album…it’s hard to pick.
White Christmas: Wait for it. It starts out pretty standard, but then….what a fun arrangement.
Deck the Halls: The beat-boxing on this one is way cool. I love this one.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays: This is a new one, but I like it. There’s a definite Boyz II Men vibe here!
How Great Thou Art: A Capella with Jennifer Hudson singing lead. C’mon, that’s just cheating.
Let it Snow: Another Boyz II Men vibe. How cool would a collaboration be!?
There’s a lot of modern Christmas stuff on here, but if you’re like me, the classics are still the way to my old Christmas heart. Good news, there’s two new albums this year worth checking out to fulfill your inner child from years ago.
Frank Sinatra – Ultimate Christmas
It’s Frank Sinatra singing his most loved Christmas Songs…need I say more?
Christmas with Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
All the Elvis Christmas songs you’ve heard before, but this time with an orchestra.
But WAIT. Don’t forget about the Christmas Singles!
There’s a TON of new singles out this holiday season, but here are a few of my favorites.
Sam Smith – The River: One of my favorite songs of all time. Sam Smith nails it.
Demi Lovato – I’ll be home for Christmas: Shocker, I’m not a big Demi fan…but she does a real nice job on this.
Norah Jones – It’s not Christmas Until You Come Home: I don’t know this song, but I really like it.
DMX – Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer: Ha! Just kidding, this is TERRIBLE.
Speaking of terrible, there’s a lot more new Christmas albums out there this year. Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, Sia, 98 Degrees, Fantasia, and many more. I’ve heard all of these…and meh. I don’t not like Gwen Stefani…but her voice doesn’t really suit Christmas songs for me. I think Blake Shelton is a funny guy, and I like him on The Voice…but I’m not really a fan of his voice. But, if you like his other stuff, you might really like this. Sia was just too weird for me. 98 Degrees..meh. Fantasia, I was excited for. I love her unique voice. The problem with her Christmas album is everything was just very mediocre. She did a duet with Cee Lo Green of Baby It’s Cold Outside. A great idea, with a great duet partner. The only problem is that Cee Lo already did this song with Christina Aguilera and it’s WAY better. In fact, his Christmas Album, (Cee Lo’s Magic Moment), that he released in 2012 is still one of my all-time favorites.
I hope you all find some Christmas music here that you like, and you know, I just might make this a yearly thing…
