::ALBUM REVIEW::

Based on the cover art alone and the details of the font choice and layout, one should be hesitant and reluctant in picking up a copy of EMI Gospel's latest holiday compilation, "The Christmas To Remember". But this collection strongly challenges that popular rule of thumb stating that one should not judge a book exclusively by its cover.

There's plenty of new material floating around on this project and are greatly executed with clean, clear and polished production from serious industry veterans and feature EMI's stellar roster on some cool studio presentations. LaShun Pace blazes the opening with Cedric Thompson's feel-good urban arrangement of "Go Tell It On The Mountain". Heavy Rhodes action is captured and the background vocals from Lejuene Thompson and Tiffany Strudivant fits well with Pace's vocal deliveries. When the vamp finally kicks in, the infectious rhythms take over; allowing Pace to playfully adlib with the jubilant groove. Hearing Vanessa Bell Armstrong on "Mary Did You Know" is an ephinany in itself. She almost whispers the opening verse while floating on a relaxed arrangement provided by Thompson, but later jumps into her signature rolls and passionate vocal executions on the adventurous chorus. Darwin Hobbs leaves us stunned at his Luther Vandross comparisons on "The Little Drummer Boy". The song does move a bit slow after counting the number of verses provided and with the lack of strong instrumentation on them, but Hobbs does what he does best vocally and continues to marvel ears. Myron Butler & Levi delivers on the midtempo original cut, "Give Love At Christmas", while Darrel Petties & Strength In Praise gets down and churchy on the funky-contemporary "What A Love". Additional cuts from V3, Darlene McCoy and Kevin Vasser fill out the album's enjoyment.

There are a few revisits from the EMI catalog that are present. The blessing is that there's only three of them here and the additions are still some of modern gospel's finer holiday achievements. Smokie Norful's timeless rendition of "O Holy Night" still simmers while Antonio Neal's "Steppin' (In The New Year)", from the "Praise Life" compilation, gives the saints something cool to step to for the holiday.

The only oddball in the collection is Kierra "Kiki" Sheard & Marcus Cole's take on Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas". The arrangement from Tommy Sims is too off-centered and is challenged by a strange musical backdrop. Both Cole and Sheard have great chemistry and have voices that are compatible with one another, but the total arrangement and strange horn layout tends to threaten the integrity of the original version.

"The Christmas To Remember" is a neat stocking stuffer and is EMI's greatest holiday compilation triumph to date. It flows in the tradition of Verity's "The Real Meaning of Christmas" series and proves that with a little time, the right producers and a little love, Christmas gospel albums can be worth investing in.