Keb' Mo' lends his folksy Americana-blues style to 10 holiday tunes, including five originals written by Mo'. There's nothing here that will end up in rotation on your preferred holiday music radio station (although the romantic title track should be given the chance), but if you like Keb' Mo's rootsy music (and I do), this is a nice addition to your library. Very comfortable with enough variety to keep this from becoming simply background music, but not your typical sleigh-bell schmaltz.
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| Downbeat, December 2019, p. 77 |
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Tracks: In addition to the title track (featuring saxophonist Gerald Albright), I like the laid-back pop take on Please Come Home For Christmas with its slightly altered lyrics, as well as all the other blues tunes. Track 3, Better Everyday, doesn't mention Christmas or snow in its lyrics, but it's a catchy feel-good tune. Speaking of not mentioning Christmas, Melissa Manchester contributes to the 1937 Irving Berlin standard, I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm, and the duo's voices blend much better than I would have imagined. The only skippable tune here is the precious When The Children Sing (co-written by Mac Davis) which predictably includes a children's chorus. The album finishes with a New Year's song, One More Year With You, which is a beautiful cherry-on-top and makes me wonder why we don't have more New Year's tunes in the standard repertoire. And who wouldn't like an album, however brief, that finishes with lyrics like "all I want is one more year with you"?
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
Previously revisited for the blog:
Live: That Hot Pink Blues Album (2016)
Live And Mo' (2009)
Suitcase (2006)
Peace...Back by Popular Demand (2004)
Keep It Simple (2004)
Just Like You (1996)
Keb' Mo' (1994)
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