Singer Kelly Clarkson recently released her ninth album “When Christmas Comes Around…”
The album consists of 12 Christmas-themed songs and three bonus tracks. “When Christmas Comes Around…” can largely be defined as a pop album, but Clarkson incorporated elements of R&B and gospel music in many of the tracks as well.
Clarkson included covers of Christmas classics such as “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas,” “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” “Last Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “Santa Baby.” Each song was given a modern spin, whether it was Clarkson’s strong pop vocals, an electric bass or back up vocals.
The covers in this album maintain all the charm of the original songs, but it is Clarkson’s original tracks that set this album apart from other classic holiday albums.
Most Christmas albums focus on all the joy and cheer of the holiday, and while it is hard not to feel festive listening to this album, Clarkson also sheds light on some of the hardships people may experience when ending a relationship during the holiday season.
Upon the album’s release, Clarkson said in a tweet, “‘When Christmas Comes Around…’ captures how different the holidays can be for all of us during our lives, and I hope everyone can find something on the record they relate to.”
One of my personal favorites from the album was “Merry Christmas Baby.” It is sung from a neglected housewife’s point of view, and details her decision to leave her husband, all while including the usual bells and trumpets of a typical Christmas album.
“Christmas Isn’t Cancelled (Just You)” is another highlight of the album. In it, Clarkson sings about the art of moving on and insists on enjoying Christmas regardless of how others make you feel around the holiday.
All of the songs on the album are not explicitly connected, but it is easy to identify Clarkson’s intent to develop a narrative focused on heartbreak, acceptance and newfound independence, all with a Christmas spin.
An unpleasant song on the album was “Christmas Come Early,” and not due to any lack of musical talent on Clarkson’s part. While the song does display the full breadth of Clarkson’s classical singing abilities, it fails to match the energy and tempo of the rest of the album, and ultimately slows down much of the hype that is built over the course of the album.
Overall, “When Christmas Comes Around…” is a fantastic album that maintains all the staples of a festive Christmas album while incorporating its own modern and relatable twists.
“When Christmas Comes Around…” is available to listen to on most streaming apps, including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music.