It's very true that I'm a huge fan of Kristin Chenoweth in everything she does. Be it broadway, tv, movies, or recording, I'll probably love it. However, I'm a bigger fan of Christmas music and I'm quite picky about it. I don't like arrangements that veer too much away from the versions that absolutely scream "CHRISTMAS!!" to me. So even though I love Kristin and Christmas music, I was still a little apprehensive about this album. Come to find out, I had no reason to be.
A Lovely Way To Spend Christmas is absolutely fantastic. It's traditional and reverent as well as fun and modern. It blends the well-known (I'll Be Home For Christmas) with the more obscure (Home On Christmas Day), the religious (What Child Is This?) with the secular (Christmas Island), and the favorites (Silver Bells) with those that I don't really consider Christmas songs, but she makes them work wonderfully here (Sing). The array of styles displayed is quite impressive, with jazz and country thrown in with more traditional arrangements.
I have to say that the best part of this album, however, is that it plays like an album. There are some Christmas albums out there that just seem like the songs were recorded, and then thrown together haphazardly together on an album. This album is completely different. The song selection seems well thought out and put together and it has the right mix of fast and slow songs in the right places.
A major highlight for me is the song Sleep Well Little Children/What A Wonderful World, which is very surprising to me, since I usually don't like songs that are played at Christmas, but really aren't Christmas songs (like My Favorite Things... ick). However, Kristin mixes it up with a medley that really makes it feel like a Christmas song. The arrangement is beautiful and pristine and just a joy to listen to.
Some other highlights for me are Come On Ring Those Bells, Do You Hear What I Hear?, and the medley of Sleigh Ride/Marshmallow World. The first of the three, Come On Ring Those Bells, is a song I haven't heard in years but have certain sentimental affection towards. Kristin posesses a distinct country twang here, which is something I wasn't completely wild about at first, but she makes it work. Do You Hear What I Hear?, with it's traditional arrangement complete with horns and a little twinkling sound has Kristin's voice soaring while sounding as clear and as beautiful as ever. The song is completely enchanting, especially with the refrain of "Gloria" from Angels We Have Heard On High playing right before the last verse. The last of these three, Sleigh Ride/Marshmallow World is a fun, jazzy duet with John Pizzarelli. It blends the two songs marvellously, and even has some cute banter between the two at the end. It makes me want to go play in the snow, which is always a good thing. It just makes me infinitely happy.
One of the biggest surprises for me was the song Sing. Yes, the one from Sesame Street. It incorporates a more Christmassy second verse, complete with children's choir. Somehow it gets you in the Christmas mood despite it not really being a Christmas song. I also enjoy her using all of the pieces of songs that are rarely used now. It was a pleasant surprise to hear the introductions to I'll Be Home For Christmas, Christmas Island, and Silver Bells. For some reason, people don't sing those much anymore and I really like them!
My only complaint about the album is that there are two bonus tracks on iTunes that weren't included with the actual album. They absolutely should have been since they flow effortlessly with the rest of the album. The Lord's Prayer is particularly gorgeous and moving.
I truly believe this is one of the best Christmas albums to come out in the past few years, if not ever. It absolutely deserves to become a classic that you put in year after year. I highly recommend it to anyone who needs to be put in the Christmas spirit, or that just enjoy Christmas music. It's beautiful.
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