The Twelve CDs of Christmas

So you’re looking for a new, meaningful, refreshing Christmas album this year?

I humbly submit the following “Twelve CDS of Christmas”*

(no particular order)

      1.    Noel – Hindalong, Daugherty, et al.

   So unique, so blissfully wonderful

      2.    Carol – American Boychoir

    Was this CD created in heaven and floated down to earth like a snowflake?

      3.    Come, Let Us Adore Him – Various

                    Some really wonderful original songs

      4.    Holy Night – Kevin Max

                    Creative and quirky

      5.    Christmas Songs [box set] – Sufjan Stevens

    Honest, raw, real and hey!  Banjo!

      6.    Your King Has Come – Various

                  More beautiful arrangements and standout original tunes.  Best version of Silent Night. ever.

      7.    Peace on Earth – Casting Crowns

                  This is a bar setter in terms of refreshing the songs without totally changing them

      8.    Lost Christmas Eve – Trans-Siberian Orchestra

                  You must read the story that comes packaged with the CD to really get the power of this album

      9.    Humble King – Vineyard Music

                  Great standards, some old forgotten tunes and some great songs from around the world.
                 Also my first introduction to one of the best Christmas Carols ever written –
                “The Wexford Carol”

10. Christmas Portrait – Carpenters

                        seriously, how could this not make the list?

      11. Christmas Songs – Diana Krall

                jazzy, cool and comforting

      12. Merry Christmas – Johnny Mathis

               Childhood nostalgia

*exceptions:

-- The album “The Word Incarnate” by Stephanie Seefeldt (née: Martens) will always
    make my favorite Christmas albums – there’s so much of who I am wrapped into
    the album.  It is unfortunately no longer available

-- “Behold the Lamb: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ” by Andrew Peterson is so much more than a ‘Christmas’ CD that I play it throughout the year.  Yes, it is Christmas, but it is just such an awesome worship project that I can’t relegate it to just a Christmas list

Holiday Novelty – perennial faves that are fun, but not Christ focused:

        ·      Christmas in the Stars – A Star Wars Christmas
     (pure cheese and really nothing to do with Christ)

        ·      Muppets & John Denver – A Christmas Together
       here comes the fun

        ·      Muppet Christmas Carol Soundtrack

             Still my favorite version of the Dickens classic