From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #2155 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Friday, December 15 2017 Volume 16 : Number 2155 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- It's that time of year.... recent holiday albums [JoAnn Whetsell Subject: It's that time of year.... recent holiday albums SARAH MCLACHLAN - WONDERLAND (2016) Tried and true holiday staples, so not the most inspired song selection, but I still I prefer this to Wintersong. I find it has more energy. There are slight changes to the melodies that freshen it up, and Sarahs voice is as beautiful as ever. CARA DILLON - UPON A WINTER'S NIGHT (2016) Beautiful collection of traditional and original Christmas songs. The music tends toward the quieter, more serious side of Christmas, and the songs are mostly less often performed ones. NATALIE MACMASTER AND DONNELL LEAHY - A CELTIC CHRISTMAS (2016) Pure joy. Natalie and Donnells kids are excellent fiddlers so you never feel like youre listening to children playing. The album is almost entirely instrumental, joyous and beautiful, and the Celtic influences so thoroughly infuse these well-known traditional songs that they really do sound new, as much Celtic as Christmas. SIA - EVERYDAY IS CHRISTMAS (2017) I was skeptical when I first heard Sia was making an album of original Christmas songs, but these are catchy and fun. Ectophiles may prefer the three ballads: Snowman, Snowflake, and Underneath the Christmas Lights. Hope these mini reviews are helpful to anyone looking for new seasonal music. JoAnn ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #2155 ****************************