The McGarrigle Christmas Hour

1	Seven Joys of Mary 4:51
2	Old Waits Carol 2:36
3	O Little Town of Bethlehem 3:58
4	Il Est Né/Ça Bergers 4:35
5	What Are You Doing New Year's Eve 3:02
6	Rebel Jesus 4:10
7	Some Children See Him 3:56
8	Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 4:07
9	Counting Stars 3:19
10	Spotlight on Christmas 3:23
11	Wise Men 4:02
12	Port Starboard Sox 3:27
13	God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 3:27
14	Blue Christmas 3:36

Barnes & Noble

Imagine the McGarrigle household around Christmas: With veteran folkies Kate and Anna McGarrigle as the matriarchs of a clan that includes Kate's kids, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Anna's daughter, Lilly Lanken, and an extended family that includes Emmylou Harris, it must be a magical experience when they gather to sing carols and tell stories. The McGarrigle Family Christmas Hour allows us to become honorary guests at the family Christmas party. As in 1998's charming The McGarrigle Hour, family members trade leads and collaborate in varying permutations, this time singing traditional carols, original seasonal tunes, and other holiday fare. After the full-family chorales of “Seven Joys of Mary” and “Old Waits Carol,” Harris takes the lead for a haunting “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and from there, everyone takes turns in the spotlight. The elder McGarrigles anchor the proceedings, often providing backing on acoustic guitar, accordion, piano, and other instruments, and they helm the French carols “Il Est Né/Ça Bergers” and the originals “Port Starboard Sox” and “Wise Men.” Rufus sings his own satiric “Spotlight on Christmas” and the classic “What Are You Doing New Year's Eve,” and he duets with his sister Martha on “Some Children See Him.” Martha contributes a typically acerbic original, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year” and duets with cousin Lilly on Jackson Browne's “Rebel Jesus.” Convivial, charming, and understated, The McGarrigle Family Christmas Hour lasts just over 52 minutes, but what's a few minutes among friends? It's a treat just to be invited. Steve Klinge

All Music Guide

Seven years after the release of their 1998 album The McGarrigle Hour, Kate & Anna McGarrigle have crafted a holiday album in much the same manner, which means they've brought together members of their family (including Kate's children Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright, both of whom have been enjoying successful solo careers), longtime collaborators (such as Chaim Tannenbaum), and talented friends (among them Emmylou Harris and Teddy Thompson) for a collection of Christmas songs. Much like The McGarrigle Hour, The McGarrigle Christmas Hour is short on new compositions from Kate and Anna (just three songs, though Rufus and Martha each bring in a new tune of their own), and given the wealth of guests, it seems curious that the McGarrigles, among the most gifted singers and songwriters extant, have chosen to make themselves mere supporting players on their own album. (There are three selections on which they don't appear at all.) But while certain passionate fans may quibble, this is still an ambitious and impressively diverse set of holiday songs, ranging from the pure-voiced piety of "Seven Joys of Mary" to the seductive yuletide romance of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" and a well-mannered but passionate cover of Jackson Browne's "The Rebel Jesus." Rufus and Martha's contributions rank with the better moments from their own records, Emmylou Harris's version of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" is lovely (as is Chaim Tannenbaum's "Blue Christmas"), and on the rare moments when Kate & Anna McGarrigle do step to the forefront, their harmonies are as strikingly beautiful as ever (and "Wise Men" and " Port Starboard Sox" show they're still superb songwriters). The McGarrigle Christmas Hour isn't the new McGarrigle sisters album we've been waiting for, but it isn't a holiday-themed throwaway either, and for that we can all be grateful. Mark Deming