Top new Christmas albums

Photo by Christina Rutz used under Creative Commons License

By Amy Lauver, Staff reporter

The Christmas season is finally upon us. It is now officially socially acceptable to listen to Christmas music.

However, I have been listening to Christmas music for over a month now, and if you’re like me, you just can’t get enough. Of course I love the classics, but I also love it when current artist put their own spin on those classics, as well as write new Christmas songs. This year, many artists have released new Christmas albums, and I could not be more excited.

A few acclaimed Christian artists have been releasing their new Christmas albums since late September. Steven Curtis Chapman has recorded his album, Joy, for the Christmas season. With 13 festive Christmas songs, this is the perfect album to get you in the “joyful” spirit.

Francesca Battistelli’s album, Christmas, is very upbeat and jolly. Her rendition of “What Child Is This?” puts her own style in this song, along with the many other Christmas classics she covered. Jeremy Camp gives his own modern twist on timeless songs like “Let it Snow” in his new album Christmas: God with us. He keeps a worshipful heart in his cover of classics such as “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” The up-and-coming Christian rock band, Ashes Remain, has released an EP of their first five Christmas songs recorded. They give Christmas songs a rugged sound with their style.

Many secular artists have released new Christmas albums as well. In her album, Christmas in the Sand, Colbie Caillat’s iconic, quirky sound gives a new feel to those timeless songs. She teams up with other artists like Gavin DeGraw in “Baby It’s Cold Outside.” Lady Antebellum puts a country/rock spin on Christmas songs in their new album, On This Winter’s Night. Christina Perri, the artist behind the song everyone fell in love with, “Jar of Hearts,” has released an EP called A Very Merry Perri Christmas. Perri’s unmistakable voice puts a lofty tone in her covers of songs like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”

I love Christmas music instrumentals from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller. If you like instrumental Christmas music, then I encourage you to listen to August Burns Red’s Christmas music. Their new album Sleddin’ Hill is Christmas carols recorded with just instruments and given a rock/metal sound. This is my favorite Christmas album out right now.