Miracles on Christmas Day, Sunbird Records***
It’s amazing the amount of effort put into Christmas records. Each year the usual suspects line up with the same batch of songs, squeezing every last bit of kitsch out of them. It’s a horse whose race has been run.
Texan singer-songwriter Kimmie Rhodes does fall back on a classic tune or two, but her Christmas message is more personal, if not exactly challenging. Of the 12 tracks on this pleasing collection, nine are her own; their themes of seasonal miracles, angels and friendship might not stretch the imagination but Rhodes, her son Gabriel and a set of fine musicians approach these rich melodies with a degree of freshness that sets them apart. The gentle Texas swing of Little Touch of Christmas, the folky warmth of Angel Unawares, and the Tex-Mex colours of Wake Up Sleepy Town, with Joel Guzman's accordion striking a signature sound, are particularly impressive.
See kimmierhodes.com
Download tracks: Wake Up Sleepy Town, Angel Unawares
