Album reviews: Christmas for all ears (From News Shopper)

Festive albums from Michael Buble, Justin Bieber and Glee cast reviewed

3:41pm Tuesday 20th December 2011 in Music By Shereen Low

What's hot and what's not in this week's new releases.

Michael Buble - Christmas

ALREADY a staple on the album charts, Michael Buble's Yuletide offering, simply titled Christmas, sees him working his jazzy way through classics such as Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Silent Night, I'll Be Home For Christmas and an original track Cold December Night.

The Canadian crooner's collaborations with the Puppini Sisters (Jingle Bells) and Shania Twain (White Christmas) are fun and frivolous, but his reworking with Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas will send shivers down the spine.

There's enough here to keep Buble buffs satisfied over the Christmas season, but also for new fans.

Rating: 8/10 (Rating by Shereen Low)

Kate Rusby - While Mortals Sleep

YORKSHIRE folk singer Kate Rusby has come up with the perfect antidote to those bland Christmassy compilations: an album so genuine, you'll be singing along and feeling festive in no time.

Three years after Sweet Bells celebrated her county's tradition of carol singing, While Mortals Sleep provides another dose of Rusby's unique take on some Christmas staples.

The bouncy opener Cranbook is While Shepherds Watched to the tune on On Ilkley Moor Bar T'at.

She's rediscovered some old folk tunes including the haunting Holmfirth Anthem and Diadem and even penned one of her own in the dreamy, gentle Home. A Christmas treat.

Rating: 9/10 (Review by Kate Whiting)

She & Him - A Very She & Him Christmas

AMERICAN indie-folk duo Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward's third release nails the wistful optimism of jaded adults at Christmas time perfectly.

Deschanel first displayed her vocal talents on the big screen in Elf, and sure enough Baby, It's Cold Outside makes a new appearance among the 12 covers.

The album is not exactly melancholy - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree and Sleigh Ride pick up both tempo and cheeriness - but overall it's an introspective contribution to the festive season with gems such as The Christmas Waltz and Silver Bells.

Deschanel's beautifully understated voice and Ward's expert harmonies make enjoyable listening.

Rating: 7/10 (Review by Natalie Bowen)

Joe McElderry - Classic Christmas

THE 20-year-old from South Shields, who was crowned The X Factor champion in 2009, keeps it traditional amid the modern albums this year.

His beautiful vocals soar as he takes on festive favourites White Christmas, When A Child Is Born and Holy Night, where he is joined by former mentor Rolando Villazon.

He even makes his mark on Wham!'s Last Christmas.

He makes the most of his new skills, taken from his win on ITV1's Popstar To Operastar in July, on Adeste Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful) and Santo Natale.

McElderry's Classic Christmas is sure to delight those classical fans - and those mums who succumb to his boyish charms.

Rating: 7/10 (Review by Shereen Low)

Carole King - A Christmas Carole

YOU could be forgiven for thinking the Tapestry singer hasn't got the hang of the Christmas theme as she opens with The Sound Of Music classic My Favourite Things, but coming up behind are Sleigh Ride, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and Carol Of The Bells, which positively brim with Christmas warmth.

King thoughtfully sings the Chanukkah Prayer for Hanukkah devotees before making her way through Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas and the album highlight, her rendition of Do You Hear What I Hear.

Her vocal stylings might not be to everyone's taste but fans of King should make a beeline for this 12-track album.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Polly Weeks)

Justin Bieber - Underneath The Mistletoe

LOVE or hate him, the irrepressible Canadian teen heart-throb is hard to ignore, and this collection of festive tunes should make him all the more inescapable.

Star-studded reworkings of traditional Christmas songs and smooth ballads are the order of the day, with the R'n'B-flavoured Christmas Eve the pick of the original numbers.

The pop poppet's mentor Usher turns up for the fairly forgettable The Christmas Song, Mariah Carey duets on her mega-hit All I Want For Christmas, and JB even raps alongside Busta Rhymes on a hyperactive reworking of The Little Drummer Boy.

There could be more poppy fun, but this is sure to keep fans happy for now.

Rating: 6/10 (Review by Simon Harker)

Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler Present...This Is Christmas

GIVEN their history, the indie power couple was never going to continue Christmas convention with all the usual tunes.

Instead, Emma-Lee Moss aka Emmy and the Ash guitarist-songwriter provide more off-beat offerings including a dedication to Mrs Christmas in (Don't Call Me) Mrs Christmas, Emmy's "favourite" Sleigh Me, Zombie Christmas and Jesus The Reindeer - and a cover of Phil Spector and Darlene Love's Marshmallow World.

Joined by friends Bloc Party's Matt Tong on drums and Euan Hinshelwood on guitar, This Is Christmas is infinitely cool and despite the constant sleigh bells ringing throughout, has a longer shelf life than other Yuletide albums.

Rating: 7/10 (Review by Shereen Low)

Smith & Burrows - Funny Looking Angels

EDITORS frontman Tom Smith and former Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows come together on Funny Looking Angels - a sombre, reflective yet uplifting festive offering of original tracks and cover versions.

Christmas classics In The Bleak Midwinter and The Christmas Song bookend the album, while a stripped back version of On And On - arguably Longpigs' best work - is the pick of the more unlikely covers.

Originals When The Thames Froze, with its imitation Salvation Army brass section, and This Ain't New Jersey - pretty much Sigur Ros' Hoppipolla with fresh lyrics - are emotive, warm and definite highlights on a decent first collaboration.

Rating: 7/10 (Review by Andrew Carless)

The Wurzels - Christmas Album

THERE really is nothing like a Wurzels album. With a strong West Country twang, you can rest assured that their re-workings of Christmas hits are every bit as distinctive as you'd expect.

Opening with White Christmas (including a harmonious 'Ooh arr' intro), they then run through another 11 Christmas classics. Highlights include Sleigh Ride, Let It Snow and Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree.

It might be hard to listen to the album in its entirety in one sitting, due to the cheese factor, but as far as Christmas albums go, you'll be hard pushed to find a more novel one this season.

Rating: 8/10 (Review by Polly Weeks)

Glee - Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2

THE Glee cast prepare to deck the halls with their second Christmas edition, the follow-up to 2010's best-selling album.

Most of the cast get a tune on here, from Amber Riley (Mercedes), who opens the record with her belting rendition of Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You, screen couple Darren Criss (Blaine) and Chris Colfer (Kurt) duetting on Let It Snow and the cast on finale Do They Know It's Christmas.

There are two original tracks - Christmas Eve With You, featuring Jayma Mays (Emma) and Matthew Morrison (Will), and Criss and Lea Michele with Extraordinary Merry Christmas. The vocals may be faultless, but this is one for fans only.

Rating: 6/10 (Review by Shereen Low)