Mariah Carey
"Merry Christmas II You" (Island Def Jam)
By Alicia Quarles, Associated Press
Mariah Carey insists that Christmas is her favorite time of year, and it shows on "Merry Christmas II You," Carey's second holiday album.
The record is a mix of classics such as "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "O Holy Night." It also includes new recordings, including the first single, "Oh Santa!"
The stakes were high for Carey with this release. Despite the multitude of hits she has racked up over the years, one of her most enduring songs is "All I Want for Christmas Is You." The track has become a modern holiday classic, setting the bar for any new seasonal music Carey wanted to release.
This time around, the up-tempo "Oh Santa!" with its catchy hook, gives "All I Want for Christmas" a run for its money. On the single, Carey sings about a lost love, and how she longs for Santa to bring him back. "Santa is going to come and make you mine this Christmas," Carey playfully croons. The fun-filled track, which Carey wrote with her longtime collaborator, producer Jermaine Dupri (and Bryan-Michael Cox) showcases Carey at her best.
She seamlessly transitions from this pop tune to more heavy material which features the wide rang of her voice. In one of the more touching moments on the album, Carey teams up with her mother, Patricia Carey, who sings the chorus on "O Come All Ye Faithful," in operatic tones. Carey then switches to the R&B track, "When Christmas Comes.
Most of the songs on the album will fill your ears with holiday cheer, but Carey does hit a sour note, specifically on "One Child," a sappy song that comes toward the end of the album.
Luckily, Carey redeems herself with a new recording of "All I Want For Christmas Is You." The song was first released in 1994, but 17 years later, it is still a welcome addition to any holiday album.
With the release of "Merry Christmas II You," Carey proves that there is such a thing as building upon perfection.
Source: Associated Press