Sarah McLachlan
The Classic Christmas Album
Sony, 2015
This was originally titled Wintersong. What else happens in Canada besides cold weather and their related sports? Image may be NSFW.
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I’m well aware they have seasons, but it’s not like the great Canadian summer road trip is something which has entered our collective head space as a thing. At any rate, I digress. This is Sarah McLachlan’s all-inclusive Christmas album with tracks going as far back as 1994 and it’s a great representation of her artistry.
Christmas albums aren’t meant to convert new fans. They are designed to give the fan base something tailored for their long ingrained tastes. With a long string of hits under her belt, McLachlan continues in the same vein.
This collection gives us some unexpected choices and probably the best alternate reading of John and Yoko’s “So this is Christmas (War is Over).” She plays it straight and removes the bits you never wanted to hear in the first place. (This is a Christmas review, and I won’t be negative about you know who.) And in light of the state of the world, it’s a nice thought. Joni Mitchell’s “River” is a great choice for her voice. “Wintersong,” an original composition, sounds close to her 90’s hit “Angel.”
The stand out track came from a Canadian TV collaboration with Barenaked Ladies. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings” is lively, fun and easy to hear too many times. But really, you won’t mind it.
On the Peanuts special ditty “Christmas Time Is Here”, she duets with Diana Krall. “I’ll be Home for Christmas” has a New Orleans horn thrown on it to make it swing differently.
This is a great disc for hangin’ out once the Thanksging turkey has been reduced to bone, or if you want to decompress from shopping stress. Plenty of people have done the upbeat rock/rap Christmas thing. Pour yourself a double eggnog and chill out. It is Winter after all.
-BR-
