It’s the most wonderful time of the year yet again and Christmas albums have been flying off the shelves since early November. However, one in particular has gone supernova since its release in late October: Michael Bublé has recorded another Yuletide album, the aptly named Christmas.
Shifting an incredible 141,000 copies in the USA within its first week, and starring duets with Shania Twain and Latin-star Thalía, Christmas is bound to go multi-Platinum very soon indeed. It has already surpassed Bublé’s first Christmas offering, Let It Snow, but is far off his now 29-time Platinum selling album, Crazy Love.
To the album itself, despite being a collection of covers, the hint of jazz flowing throughout brings a new spice to some Christmas classics. The Canadian crooner’s chilling renditions of Silent Night and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas are the outstanding highlights, along with a cheeky, upbeat rendition of Jingle Bells alongside The Puppini Sisters; the London-based a capella trio.
A masculine touch to Eartha Kitt’s Santa Baby and the Mariah Carey classic All I Want For Christmas (Is You) polishes off a well-rounded album. However, even with much hype about the duet with Shania Twain, it doesn’t seem to bring the same powerful, emotive vocals as years gone by. Her weak sounding part in the duet of White Christmas was the single low point in an otherwise fantastic album.
If you’re willing to shell out the extra pound or two, I thoroughly recommend the Deluxe Edition, featuring Bublé’s interpretations of Winter Wonderland and Frosty the Snowman. Also included is a collaboration with perhaps seven of the most talented men on the planet, Naturally 7, a R&B/Soul group who are best-know for their Vocal Play, or the creation of different sounds by using their voices. Their unique version of Silver Bells is the cherry on top of another standout Christmas compilation.
In a word: Predictable. But not in a bad sense.
Bublé has worked his magic and bought some stale Christmas anthems back into the modern era. With his suave grace, Bublé has bought the swing back into Christmas once more…
