Idina Menzel

This CD cover image released by Warner Bros. Records shows "Holiday Wishes," by Idina Menzel. Menzel brings the soaring voice that made her famous this year in the Disney hit movie to her Christmas album "Holiday Wishes." The Tony Award-winner puts her own spin on holiday classics like "Silent Night" and "Do You Hear What I Hear?"

(AP Photo/Warner Bros. Records)

The soundtrack to your holiday celebration can take on a number of different tones this year. Sure, there are plenty of standbys already out there, but recent releases should have something to offer for a variety of music fans, from those who love a certain power-belter also known as Adele Dazeem to those who favor a capella mash-ups. There are also a few more conventional takes worth noting. Here are some thoughts on five of the latest.



That's Christmas To Me; Pentatonix (RCA Records)



Fans of "Glee," "Pitch Perfect" and all manner of a cappella singing are likely to already know Pentatonix - the five-member group that won "The Sing-Off" - but their peppy new holiday recording isn't always what you'd expect. The group's ultra-polished delivery, with seamless blending and smooth musical lines, remains consistent from a soft rock "Sleigh Ride" to a gentle "Silent Night." But while there's a certain slick, squeaky-clean quality throughout, the arrangements cover ample ground. "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" pulls in handclaps, beat-boxing and call-and-response for a pop-gospel feel. A mash-up of "Winter Wonderland" and "Don't Worry Be Happy" has a reggae vibe that's a little odd - it had me picturing snowy palm trees. Still, this is an upbeat, sugary recording with crowd-pleasing potential - especially since it adds one song that's not quite a holiday tradition but fits within the wintry mode and has captured the public imagination like few others: "Let it Go" from "Frozen." Here and elsewhere, the singers show off their impressive range and musical skill.



Holiday Wishes; Idina Menzel (Warner Bros.)



Speaking of "Let It Go," the voice behind the signature hit is back. Idina Menzel leaves out Elsa, but the musical theater diva's belting prowess is still absolutely there - maybe to a fault. Menzel can bring her voice down and sweeten her delivery, but her strongest point is, well, her strength. She's a powerhouse. In "Baby It's Cold Outside," there's just too much iron in her sound to completely sell the whispery purr the song calls for. "All I Want for Christmas Is You," on the other hand, provides a worthy showcase. She also finds room for big, dramatic money notes and impressive riffs in "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "What Are You Doing New Years." If you love her voice, it's working here - and the full, festive band with horns complements her well. Still, her musical choices can seem arbitrary, with odd lyrical emphases, and some songs are overly drawn out.



A Michael Feinstein Christmas; Michael Feinstein (Concord Records)



Michael Feinstein has practically cornered the market on male cabaret singing with his respected interpretations of the Great American Songbook. His holiday recording shows why, with a welcome lack of vocal grandstanding and a smooth, clear, crooning tone. He tends to sing the songs in tasteful arrangements in which tradition stays intact but with understated jazzy piano riffs, and he employs an appealing dusting of vibrato at the ends of phrases. His phrasing and dynamics are always sound. Still, he can sometimes sounds strained or thin, most noticeably when holding out the final note of "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas," a song that's been given a lively showtune feel - you can almost see the kickline at the end. Compared with the previous two vocal releases, Feinstein is refreshingly laid back and classic in his performances and song choices, which range from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" to "The Christmas Waltz."



The Wonders of Christmas: Elora Festival Singers; Noel Edison, director; Michael Bloss, organ (Naxos)



Don't want your carols jazzed-up? The Elora Festival Singers offer a still more traditional option with pristine choral singing that emphasizes the spiritual aspect of the season rather than the tinsel. A placid solo straight-toned soprano opens the recording in "Once in Royal David's City," and the purity of sound continues. The men are solid in "What Child is This?", which features a simple but appealing descant. Greater harmonic variety than in the more pop-oriented albums can be heard particularly in the lush polyphony of "Neciens Mater Virgo Virum" and in "The Holly and the Ivy." Organist Michael Bloss adds to the stateliness of the Singers' mixture of English-language, well-known tunes; hymns; and early music, as well as compositions by Benjamin Britten and John Tavener. The album is the Grammy-nominated Canadian choir's eighth for Naxos.



Seasons Greetings: The Allentown Band; Ronald Demke, conductor (Allentown Band)



An ensemble that has been around for nearly 200 years, The Allentown Band rings in the holidays with plenty of grandeur. The brassy, American community band sound is just right for "Sleigh Ride," which they play with precision and colorful touches, from the clack of galloping horses to the playful ringing of bells and the ceremony of expertly executed fanfares. There's also a wonderfully smooth, golden horn solo in "O Holy Night." The opening "Christmas Festival" medley is also full of easily recognizable songs, but much of the album is devoted to a broader swath of music. The players, who perform at a professional level, give their takes on music with Russian, Celtic and Brazilian influences.

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