Jennifer Hudson, “The Gift of Love”
Jennifer Hudson has achieved a ton in her profession — together with profitable an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, making her the uncommon performer to EGOT, because the expression goes — however a vacation album? That’s new territory. “The Gift of Love” is her first, filled with big-hearted classics like “O Holy Night,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Auld Lang Syne” and “Carol of the Bells,” which options the a cappella-meets-Zulu music South African group The Pleasure. The album additionally comprises some creative originals. In that class: “Almost Christmas” with Widespread.
Little Massive City, “The Christmas Record”
One other massive identify in up to date music has launched its first vacation album. Little Massive City’s “The Christmas Record,” produced by the legendary Dave Cobb, is a rustic music spectacular. Like Hudson’s, this one is a set of acquainted tunes together with originals — just like the opener “Glow,” and the cheery vocal concord of its refrain: “That shine, that shimmer deep inside of you / Find that magic, let the light in you show / Let it go / Let it glow.”
Toby Keith, “Christmas to Christmas”
In February, nation famous person Toby Keith, successful crafter of pro-American anthems who riled up critics and was cherished by hundreds of thousands of followers, died at 62. Within the time since, he’s been eulogized and celebrated, and that continues with a newly remastered reissue of his 1995 vacation traditional, “Christmas to Christmas.”
Clay Aiken, “Christmas Bells Are Ringing”
Clay Aiken — the onetime “American Idol” runner-up and politician — has returned along with his first studio album in over a decade, “Christmas Bells Are Ringing.” His voice sounds as candy and theatrical as ever.