Also wonderful is Keb' Mo' 's Moonlight, Mistletoe and You (Concord), with his ever-tasteful blues at the center. Kevin Moore's minimalism is still refreshing, as his trek through "Please Come Home for Christmas," for example, never adds notes and textures unless they are absolutely needed. And he's brought Melissa Manchester out of the shadows of obscurity in 2019, teaming for a really sweet duet, "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."
Two favorites from 2018 that I didn't discover until recently:
John Legend--A Legendary Christmas (Columbia): The singer our president called "boring" released a terrific holiday album last year, with familiar songs and many in need of a revival. The Jackson 5's underrated "Give Love on Christmas Day" is part of Legend's "Merry Christmas Baby," and he revives "What Christmas Means to Me" better than anyone has (partially because the original artist, Stevie Wonder, adds harmonica to the song). But the most special of all is Marvin Gaye's "Purple Snowflakes," which floats just as real snowflakes do.
Rodney Crowell--Christmas Everywhere (New West): Crowell's bleak approach to a Christmas record has angered some, yet I'm all for it. Unpredictable while treating the holidays as something that numbs our senses ("the season starts in August now"), there are several introspective tunes, while a bit of angst is always hanging around in even what is played in a jaunty style. And in the astonishing "Christmas In Vidor," he's come up with an edgy masterpiece, aided by vocalist Mary Karr's severe sense of disappointment, or worse ("my baby girl's due," she sneers. "Hope it don't look like you"). A smart rock band has got to cover that tune!