Christmas

1	O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 2:06
2	The Angel Song 4:48
3	The First Noel 3:19
4	White Christmas 3:33
5	It Wouldn't Be Christmas 4:24
6	Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 2:31
7	Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 2:37
8	I'll Be Home for Christmas 4:07
9	Season of Love / Pete Orta 4:30
10	The Christmas Song 3:18
11	O Little Town of Bethlehem 5:31
12	Feliz Navidad 3:10
13	The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late) Bonus Track 2:32

Barnes & Noble

From Christian teen-pop diva to Latin star, we've seen many faces of the award-winning Jaci Velasquez. Her first holiday release, Christmas, is something of a revelation -- it marks the arrival of a mature vocalist, one who sings with authority and depth -- and is not drowned out by production bells-and-whistles or Mariah Carey-style histrionics. Holiday projects tend to be tricky affairs, filled as they are with so much familiar (and often cherished) fare. Christian holiday releases are even more suspect, as they must toe that fine line between holiday cheer and spiritual reflection. Velasquez does a nice job of that here, opening with a pensive arrangement of the familiar carol "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." That's a nice introduction to the beautiful and stirring "The Angel Song," a new song penned by über-writer Chris Eaton (who penned Amy Grant's now-standard "Breath of Heaven"). Much of the meat of Christmas, however, goes in a more general-market direction, focusing on holiday tunes like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "White Christmas," and "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)." That's okay -- Velasquez's rich vocal delivery on all the material here makes this a treat in any form, and this singer certainly has a right to court a broad audience. A special treat is the new song "It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without You," a classic in the making written by Scott Krippayne and sung with all the tenderness its gentle lyric deserves. Christmas is largely an easygoing affair, making it an excellent antidote to holiday angst and the perfect addition to one's treasured holiday music. Lisa Zhito

All Music Guide

CCM and Latin artist Jaci Velasquez released her first holiday album, aptly titled Jaci Velasquez Christmas, in September of 2001. Beautifully orchestrated, with touches of traditional Christmas-style jazz and contemporary pop, the project resembles previous holiday releases from fellow Word artist Amy Grant. Produced by Christopher Harris, the project contains classic Christmas songs such as "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "White Christmas." In addition, three original tracks, including "The Angel Song," are offered. While most of the songs, even old favorites, distinctively bear the fingerprints of Velasquez, "It Wouldn't Be Christmas" is reminiscent of Mariah Carey's "Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)." Notable songs include "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," which both feature musical stylings from the 1940s era. Velasquez' strong yet tender and at times vulnerable vocals complement the musical arrangements, transforming well-loved classics such as "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" into newfound treasures. ~ Ashleigh Kittle, All Music Guide