Top Christmas Albums of 2008 by Christian / Gospel Artists

Home for Christmas does everything right with perfect harmony, a jazzy pop, big band, classical mix type of style that practically glows and a sense of passion that sadly, many Christmas releases lack. This is not a case of "We haven't done a Christmas album so here ya go - yay." This is the real deal folks.

Original tunes like the gorgeous "Hallelujah (Light Has Come)" blend with standards like "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" for pure Christmas magic.

Bottom line - BarlowGirl delivers the must have Christmas album of 2008.

Listen For

• "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" - Purchase/Download
• "Panis Angelicus" - Purchase/Download
• "Go, Tell It On The Mountain" - Purchase/Download

Mandisa brings new life to several traditional favorites on It's Christmas. The jazzy "What Christmas Means To Me" kicks the album off with an upbeat smile. The sentimental ballad "Christmas Makes Me Cry," a lovely duet with Matthew West, hits the bulls-eye without being sappy. Michael W. Smith joins Mandisa on the soaring "Christmas Day," showing off her range beautifully. "Mary's Little Boy Child" delivers with a slightly reggae feel and a lot of fun.

The bottom line is that Mandisa will make this holiday a very special one indeed with a blend of styles.

Listen For

• "Oh Holy Night" - Purchase/Download
• "Feliz Navidad (with Joy To The World)" - Purchase/Download
• "Children Go Where I Send Thee" - Purchase/Download

Sara Groves combines traditional faves and new tunes to make O Holy Night one of the most enjoyable releases of the 2008 Christmas season. The album starts off with an excerpt from "Star of Wonder" that leaves you wondering what's going to come next. The original "Peace Peace" is encouraging while being bluntly honest about how difficult it can be to find peace. Groves' version of "Silent Night" is much longer than usual due to her personal "Sara" outro spin, yet it doesn't drag.

Bottom line - haunting and whimsical at the same time, Groves leaves listeners wanting more.

Listen For

• "It's True" (featuring Toby Groves) - Purchase/Download
• "O Holy Night" - Purchase/Download
• "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" - Purchase/Download

Christmas ala Casting Crowns is all about worship. "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful" is based around an acoustic guitar and two melody lines that mesh perfectly, rather than competing. The tender "Silent Night" is a blend of harmony and awe. "Away In A Manger" has an almost mountain feel to it, bringing to mind a quiet night long ago. "Sleep Little Jesus Boy" (Purchase/Download) is as quiet as it is full with strings that make Hall's achingly beautiful crooning stand out. The closer, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," is one of the most richly gorgeous instrumentals you'll hear this year.

Bottom line - The Casting Crowns charm is all over this release.

Listen For

• "God Is With Us" - Purchase/Download
• "Joy To The World" - Purchase/Download
• "Away In A Manger" - Purchase/Download

Travis Cottrell, Beth Moore’s long-time worship leader, put everything into his first Christmas release ... his heart, his soul and his passion. He takes a kitchen sink approach to the song selection and delivery as well, mixing classical with jazzy pop, sacred songs with fun secular tunes and originals with standards. Natalie Grant joining him on "Ring the Bells" doesn't hurt either. They sound as though they've spent a lifetime singing together. Appearances by the London Symphony Orchestra ices the cake.

Bottom line - Travis Cottrell delivers Christmas joy as it should be - heartfelt and full of love and life.

Listen For

• "Jesus Saves" - Purchase/Download
• "Once More" - Purchase/Download
• "Home For Christmas Again" - Purchase/Download

On Glory In The Highest Shane Barnard and Shane Everett meet Christmas as only the popular duo can. Three original songs blend with seven traditional carols and all 10 songs get the signature Shane & Shane treatment.

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" delivers solid harmony with a contemporary flavor. "Glory in the Highest," one of the new songs, is a beautifully moving ballad. The jazzy "White Christmas" brings to mind Chester Cheetah, the Cheetos mascot - cool glasses, beanie and all.

Bottom line - Shane & Shane know how to mix things up, so everyone can find something to love, without getting too far out there.

Listen For

• "O Holy Night" - Purchase/Download
• "Born To Die" - Purchase/Download
• "Away In A Manger" - Purchase/Download

Lenny LeBlanc mixes traditional carols with three originals for a release that is as soft as it is soulful on his first Christmas project in a 30 year career.

"Christmas Night," an original, reeks of Christmas spirit. "What A Wonderful World," not generally thought of as a Christmas carol, makes an appearance on Christmas Night with LeBlanc infusing it with classic blues. You have to admit that seeing the world with "Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights" is perfect at Christmastime.

Bottom line - LeBlanc high standards are met time and time again on his Christmas release.

Listen For

• "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" - Purchase/Download
• "O Come O Come Emmanuel" - Purchase/Download
• "Christmas Night" - Purchase/Download

Full of familiar tunes like "A Mighty Fortress/Angels We Have Heard On High" and "O Come All Ye Faithful," The Christmas Collection features the first new Christmas music recorded by Grant in several years with four new songs to grace our holiday. The jazzy "Baby, It's Christmas," one of those new tunes, was written with husband Vince Gill as a salute to romantic Christmas Eves. "I Need a Silent Night," another newcomer, is a plea for peace in the midst of the commercialized craziness.

Bottom line - Amy Grant covers all of the bases with this collection ... faith, fun and the familiar.

Listen For

• "Count Your Blessings" - Purchase/Download
• "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" - Purchase/Download
• "Winter Wonderland" - Purchase/Download

Just like kids at Christmas, A pureNRG Christmas is high-energy, high-impact all the way. Just listen to clips of "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" or "Jingle Bell Rock" and you'll see what I mean. The only time the tweens slow down is for "Silent Night." Personally, I would have liked to have seen "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" get the same less than 90 mph treatment, but you can't fault them for their enthusiasm ... they are kids after all!

Bottom line - If you need a boost to your flagging energy at the end of a shopping marathon, you'll get it here and your teens will love it!

Listen For

• "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" - Purchase/Download
• "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!" - Purchase/Download
• "Joy To The World" - Purchase/Download

If there were to be an opera of Christmas, This Glorious Christmas would provide the perfect music even though half of the tracks are instrumental. The Wolaver clan is that talented. Take "When The Christmas Baby Cries" for instance - it gives us the best of both worlds, with Annie's wonderful voice and instrumentation that is purely gripping. Want music only? Take the instrumental dream track "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" ... it leaves you feeling as though you're watching everything unfold from a cloud.

Bottom line - each track offers a classical treat for listeners.

Listen For

• "Go Tell It On The Mountain" - Purchase/Download
• "Red, White & Blue Christmas" - Purchase/Download
• "When The Christmas Baby Cries" - Purchase/Download