Admittedly, a Christmas album by one of your favorites these days usually signifies the end of an artist's growth in popularity. Back when Elvis and the Beach Boys did it, it was because the fans really wanted it from them. When someone like Aimee Mann does it, well, it's probably because it's an easy way to touch base with your existing fan base and maybe even make a buck or two. That being said, Mann's new holiday album "Another Drifter in the Snow" is a real treat. Strong originals like "Calling on Mary" and "Christmastime" -- plus Jimmy Webb's little-known "Whatever Happened to Christmas" fit in nicely with her selection of Christmas standards. It sets just the perfect tone for decorating the tree, wrapping presents -- or ignoring doing both. (However, while my friend Jesse says the reason he doesn't have more Aimee Mann in his collection is because one songs kind of "fits all," the only thing worse than an Aimee Mann of similar-sounding songs is one song that doesn't fit in -- in this case a poorly executed version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." Ouch -- that one really hurts and should be avoided at all costs.)
Although I do have holiday albums by Cyndi Lauper, Chris Isaak, Carly Simon, James Taylor, The Wilsons and many others, still I'm thinking I will be taking a pass on this one ...
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