American a capella group Straight No Chaser released a new Christmas album, Holiday Road. There are six original songs and eight renditions of holiday classics.
The music is A capella with musical styles similar to R&B and Gospel. The album has a nice choir vibe.
The record features six original songs with an impressive range of musical styles. The song Holiday Road is an upbeat opener, with bold, dynamic energy.
Christmas is Different has a dynamic beat. The backup singers give the song a concert vibe. It reminds me of Jazz music from the 1950s.
Very Merry Christmas is a sweet, upbeat song with incredible energy. The song’s opening parallels David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.”
Good to See You (Feat. John Splithoff) is a beautiful, acoustic ballad. The rhythm is smooth. It has a lovely Boyz II Men vibe. The R&B sound is fantastic in a song like this one. The gradient composition is incredible.
Keep Me Warm is an upbeat song that reminds me of 1950s Rock and 70s Soul music. The beat is catchy, full of hope and cheer.
All Alone on Christmas has a great composition of semi-fast and fast beats. It parallels Celine Dion’s Where Does My Heart Beat Now, Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You, and Britney Spears’ single My Only Wish (This Year).
There are eight phenomenal renditions of Christmas classics – impressive a capella versions. Straight No Chaser’s cover of Underneath the Tree is fantastic. The best homage is their performance of Someday at Christmas, a heartfelt tribute to Stevie Wonder’s Christmas classic. Another one I really enjoy is their version of Blue Christmas (Feat. Mickey Guyton). It’s a lovely Blues/R&B version of an Elvis Presley classic. It’s an impressive rendition. Their interpretation of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” is unique compared to the original, which is more upbeat. When I heard Straight No Chaser’s take on Happy Xmas, it honoured the original. It feels cosy, but also contemplative, which is the song’s message to reflect on the year that passed. It then concludes the album with a heartfelt rendition of Christmas in Our Hearts (Feat. Jose Mari Chan), wrapping it up on a soft note.
The music on this Christmas album is remarkable, smoothly combining a cappella with other genres.
Straight No Chaser members’ voices are incredible. The duet Good to See You (Feat. John Splithoff) is fantastic. Their voices complement each other nicely. Another incredible duet is the cover of Blue Christmas (Feat. Mickey Guyton). It’s an impressive rendition. Mickey Guyton’s part in the tune is phenomenal. She beautifully hits those high notes. The last duet on the album is with the piece Christmas in Our Hearts (Feat. Jose Mari Chan). It beautifully honours the original one from 1990, originally performed by Jose Mari Chan.
The album has six original songs. Each tune tells a profound story, ranging from missing someone to enjoying quality time with loved ones.
Holiday Road is a charming intro to the Christmas album. It’s a heartfelt metaphor to kick off the holiday season.
Christmas Is Different is a bittersweet song about missing someone during the holiday. It’s a different vibe from the common love songs. The tune is soulful.
Very Merry Christmas is a song full of joy and positivity, with beautiful wishes. There’s a heartwarming sense of hope.
Good to See You (Feat. John Splithoff) is a romantic song that’s from the heart, dedicated to Christmas. The poetic layers are impressive.
Keep Me Warm is another romantic song about missing a significant other. In this case, it discusses looking forward to seeing the significant other later in the day.
All Alone on Christmas is a heartfelt song about feeling lonely at Christmas, a relatable subject, and a way to think about those alone in the holiday season. It also discusses the priorities and reminds you to check up on others this time of year.
The lyrics of these six are beautifully written, with heart and soul.
The album Holiday Road is available.
