Erin O Donnell

Christmas Time Is Here

Inpop Records

This is my favorite holiday release this season, and possibly the greatest since Rebecca St. James' Christmas album. O Donnell captures that great traditional Christmas spirit with a personally inspired, smooth-jazzy holiday recording. As she was putting this project together O Donnell drew on childhood memories of Christmas, and one of her favorite holiday classics “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” (Hence the title-track.)

There are two sides to the songs as “Christmas Time Is Here” is both festive and serious. The swing beat of “Frosty the Snowman/Winter Wonderland” is giddy and joyful, and the Latin/salsa sound of “Angels We Have Heard on High” will have you dancing around the tree. On the serious side, the melancholy sound of “I'll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” are very touching.

My favorite song of course is the title track; when I hear this song I always picture Snoopy skating around the ice rink like there he has no troubles in the world at all. I also enjoyed the beautifully crafted version of “O Come O Come Emmanuel” to which Erin sings with nothing but Producer Ed Cash on guitar. Just before recording this song, Erin and her husband Brad found out that they would be expecting their second child.

A new song on the CD is called “Christmas Kiss” and it was written by Brad back prior to marrying Erin , when he and Erin were in College. It's a cool song that could become essential for young couples “engaged” in the holiday spirit.

In short, this is the best Christmas CD you will find out there today. Erin 's sugary vocals and the jazzy production are like cuddling up next to a fireplace. This is a great for CD for couples young and old.

- Ken W.