This time of year I’m always curious to see which divas are releasing Christmas albums. This year only one diva released an album worth buying, at least in my gay opinion, and that’s Ingrid Michaelson. Ingrid did a CD signing in New York City to promote the new album which I went down for. Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate and I had to bail before the event happened. Better luck next time.
As I mentioned in an early post, timing is everything with holiday music. I waited until December first before downloading Ingrid’s new album, and it’s definitely got me in the holiday mood. Songs For The Season is one of the most traditional Christmas sounding albums that I’ve bought in a while. Ingrid puts her own spin on a handful of classic songs but remains true to their old school charm. “Happy, Happy Christmas” is the only original song on the album, obviously so, with it’s distinct Ingrid Michaelson sound.
Otherwise, Songs For The Season is a time warp back to the Big Band era “Looks Like A Cold, Cold Winter”, Doo-wopping “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”, and “Christmas Time Is Here” brings flashbacks to A Charlie Brown Christmas. There’s even a part in the Hawaiian “Mele Kalikimaka” where I believe Ingrid was able to channel Marilyn Monroe’s breathy vocal over a ukulele beat.
Songs For The Season is loaded with a bunch of guest artists as well. Marilyn was only there in spirit but Christina Perri, Will Chase, Grace VanderWaal, Allie Moss, Bess Rogers, and Leslie Odom Jr. all lend their talents. It brings back that feeling of what Christmas is all about, spending time with family and friends, while Ingrid puts the best gift under the tree.
