Christmas Album Frenzy

Every Christmas, we are given the opportunity to pay ninety-nine cents for the same trite overly maudlin songs sung by a parade of celebrities from all avenues of the music spectrum.  These songs feature tiresome refrains and verses that vary little from year to year, artist to artist. As most of these singers have done little to qualify them to take their turn with these perennial melodies, very few of the holiday albums that climb the charts starting in early November really deserve those positions. Ironically, albums that impress listeners based on ingenious melodies and unique lyrics are quickly overlooked in the futile pursuit for a new interpretation of a song that embodies anything but originality.
However, this year, I can definitely say that one artist has not only accomplished a task that so many others were unable to succeed in doing, but also set a high standard for artists in the future.
On October 21, 2011, an obnoxiously early delivery date for a holiday-themed release, Michael Bublé’s Christmas album excited listeners by pairing the buttery-smooth voice of a crooner with enduring classic riffs. Bublé opens the album with “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” The first thirty seconds of the song consists of mediocre holiday orchestration that is difficult to assign to real instruments or virtual ones, but as soon as Bublé’s voice infiltrates the track, I am lost in the silky quality of his flawless voice.
As the disc continues to spin through my old-time portable CD player, Bublé works his way through holiday staples, adding his unique flavor to each.  He even teams up with Shania Twain for “White Christmas” and the pair’s harmony is truly impressive. His voice makes for pleasant background music to get into the merry spirit while decorating my tree, baking gingerbread cookies, and listening to my sister count down the days to Christmas.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, Bublé’s soundtrack, “Christmas” is the seventh album of the year to sell more than one million copies, and the numbers continue to rise. While “Christmas” may have a lot to live up to (including the likes of both Elvis and Josh Groban’s very successful holiday-themed compilations), it definitely has the potential to become recognized as one of the greatest holiday albums.  I see this as a great addition to a family’s collection, setting the mood for holiday dinners and the joyous unwrapping of gifts.