Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Oh, I thought, as I slit open the cellophane, this is the album Word Inc were set to release last year before withdrawing it as revelations of the veteran CCM star's extra-marital affair hit the US Christian press. What's this in the CD box - "A Note From Sandi: Many of you will know that for years I've struggled..." Was this, I wondered, a heart felt confessional by a repentant fallen heroine? As I read on it became clear it wasn't. The note was a $25 off promotion for a Jenny Craig weight loss programme ("I've lost over 271bs already and I feel wonderful," gushed Sandi.). Oh well, on to the music. Carols we've heard a hundred times before ("Angels We Have Heard On High"), some secular Christmas ditties ("White Christmas", "Winter Wonderland") and even "My Favourite Things" from the Sound Of Music, all sung in that soaring, theatric soprano which some find deeply moving but on these hopelessly melodramatic orchestrations by Greg Nelson to me appeared mannered and teeth-gratingly gushing.

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