Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

It always seems that the commercial nature of the Christmas season is apt to make "Christians" of a lot of mainstream artists who suddenly record albums of carols and go wet-eyed about their childhood remembrances of hearty family fires, Christmas night services and all the other sentimental claptrap and emotional baggage that is attached to the season. At least Glen Campbell sings of the coming of a Saviour who actually saved him and turned his drug-addicted life around. However, that still doesn't excuse him from delivering this selection of obvious Christmas fodder. His intention was to create an album of traditional favourites and yes, he has done that, but does the world really need another version of "Silent Night" or "Away In A Manger" (or you fill in the blank dear reader!) even if it is our Glen who's singing them? I think the answer has to be NO! Especially since just about every other Christmas album I've heard this season has "Silent Night" on it! Purrrlease! This is very nice easy listening music and if you're a fan you'll want to spend Christmas with Campbell's crooning, and I guess there's nothing wrong with that. For the majority of us though, this tired, obvious and slushy pap is no better than the Christmas Muzak that has been playing since October in the shopping centres of Britain. Yawn!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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