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For obvious reasons, Christian artists take the Christmas season more seriously than their mainstream counterparts, which is why you'll find a relatively higher percentage of new Christian holiday albums year after year. Christmas music this year has been somewhat downplayed in the industry, many of the albums releasing a little later than typical, and few of them recorded by a single big name. Nevertheless, we've uncovered 12 new recordings to celebrate Christ's birth with—one for each day of the Christmas season.

Carolyn Arends | Denver & The Mile High Orchestra
Peder Eide | Kim Hill | George Huff | The Katinas
Russ Lee | Erin O'Donnell | Andrew Peterson
Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Absolute Favorite Christmas | Gloria

Christmas: An Irrational Season (2B Records)
Acoustic pop and folk

Since the mid-1990s, Carolyn Arends' pastor has asked her to write a new Christmas song for their church every year, and her annual Christmas concerts have become increasingly popular with audiences. So it was only inevitable that the singer/songwriter released a full-length album, which takes its name from a Madeline L'Engle poem. Seasonal gems include "The Lord's Servant," offering depth while looking at the role of faith during the first Christmas night and present day. Similarly, "Do Not Be Afraid" (from 2001's Travelers) beautifully depicts the Annunciation from Mary's perspective. Still, the songs don't offer much insight into the "irrational season" notion—that the Christmas story flies in the face of reason. Nor does the style vary enough, and the few carol covers aren't unique. But Arends' warm and pleasant acoustic pop sound is a good match for Christmas—especially for fans of Amy Grant's holiday albums. Not quite a classic, but this is still a good Christmas release. Visit www.carolynarends.com to listen and buy.

Timeless Christmas (Reel Loud Records)
Big band jazz and pop

Seems only appropriate that Christian big band leader Denver Bierman & his 12-man Mile High Orchestra would record a Christmas album. It is, after all, the most wonderful time of the year, when people seem more willing to embrace classic jazz for the sake of nostalgia and tradition. Don't expect either of Harry Connick Jr.'s amazing Christmas albums, and you're likely to be impressed. The talented band mixes up their sound with contemporary pop and funk arrangements, and they've either done a better job of integrating it with their base jazz sound, or else the varied context of a Christmas album is more forgiving of their extreme eclecticism. Interspersed with familiar favorites are originals like romantic "This Christmas, All I Need Is You," a playful "Frosty the Bluesman," the Dixieland stomp of "Jesus Child," and a cool funk/rock cover called "King of Glory, King of Love." The album is only marred by a slightly messed up track listing (quality control, anyone?) and fairly second-rate production values. Still, much of Timeless Christmas is done in the right spirit—musically and thematically.

Christmas: Come On In (Eide Music)
Adult contemporary pop

Minnesotan Peder Eide has enjoyed success as an independent worship artist, but buzz for his Christmas album has been strong enough to get Christian bookstore distribution. Though maybe a little over-hyped for such a simple and predictable pop album, Come On In is still likeable—a polished voice singing to AC pop that resembles Scott Krippayne and the instrumental-based Glad, though he also recalls Ian Eskelin on his cover of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." There are straightforward arrangements of the usual carols, as well as "In the Bleak Midwinter" and David Meece's "One Small Child." These are joined by three originals co-written by Eide, including "Let Us Remember" and "Love Has Come," both about God's love manifested by the gift of his Son. "Come On In" captures the invitational spirit of Christmas as a time of welcoming Jesus and others into our homes. The only real surprise here is that a relative unknown has released a Christmas album on par with most signed Christian artists. Available in stores or at www.pedereide.com.

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