Wrap Yourself Up In Kelly Clarkson This Christmas

One of the biggest challenges for any artist covering revered, or repulsive (depending on how you view the season) Christmas songs has to be breathing fresh life into a catalog of songs that often grows tedious by about the third time you've been forced to listen to it while going shopping through Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Marshall's, or any one of the number of other U.S. retailers that descend upon us, begging us to buy like there's tomorrow with money a lot of us in this country don't necessarily have. Kelly Clarkson steps up to the plate for said challenge and knocks one out of the park and onto the unsuspecting windshield of someone's newly bought automobile from start to finish of "Wrapped In Red". There are so many highlights I'm not going to do you the disservice of attempting to do justice to one and all. For the purists out there for whom some chestnuts crackle more resoundingly than others I can tell you right now the Texas native does "Silent Night" proud. Her pipes are strong in all the right places without failing to drop in a little hint of respect for tradition. It's not the by the book church organ ditty you're probably accustomed to. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" sparkles as an evening of gently falling snowflakes might. If you'd rather the rock octane pop starlet make an appearance, no problem. "Run Run Rudolph" reminds you of the Kelly with fangs from "Ms. Independent". She's always been a cut above some pop songstress. I wouldn't claim she's on the rock end of the stick but her grittiness lends itself well to that genre. It's not inconsequential fluff. "My Favorite Things" is an unabashed delight. Even during a peak hour last minute shopper's meltdown it's highly unlike hearing this song piped in over the Macy's speakers will contribute to unfurling the Grinch that holiday stress feeds on. Kelly's reintroduction to those whiskers on kittens goes down magnificently. The musical ensemble backing her jazzes up the proceedings whether with stylish piano or an electrifying brass section. All you really need to do is insert close friends or curious children and you've got the makings of a fun background collection ideally suited for trimming the newly copped Christmas tree or having a catch-up meeting with the friends you haven't laid eyes on in what seems like forever. You won't be let down by the pep brimming from "Underneath The Tree". The title track possesses a romantic bent that lights a candle, then lets the latest batch of memories burn as a featured attraction in an evening lousy with what one only hopes is undiluted love. "Wrapped In Red" merits consideration as a first class stocking stuffer for the yuletide audiophile in your life. For that matter it would make an excellent reward for your having crossed off all the people on your list, be they easy to buy for damned near impossible. Three cheers to Kelly for not phoning in a project which lends itself to a round of "Just cut me a check and let me get back to actually perfecting my art since these songs are just creaky old cobweb gatherers." Kelly Clarkson doesn't do anything halfway. "Wrapped In Red" proves that goes for Santa stuff as well.