Tinsel and Lights
In a wonderful twist, Tracey Thorn has recorded a Christmas album that includes only one standard, \"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.\" The remainder of the album features songs by modern songwriters such as Scritti Politti\'s Green Gartside, Stephin Merritt, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, and Jack White, plus two Thorn originals. This refreshing approach expands the holiday menu with emotionally resonant tunes that deserve their status as new standards. Mitchell\'s \"River\" is practically there, having been covered many times. Thorn sings it with her usual class and understatement, reaching angelic highs for emphasis. Ron Sexsmith\'s \"Maybe This Christmas\" follows a familiar Sexsmith path, playing as a well-rounded and thoughtful pop song in little over two minutes. The White Stripes\' \"In the Cold, Cold Night\" vamps like a dirty blues, or as \"dirty\" as Thorn is likely to get. Randy Newman\'s \"Snow\" sits her down at the piano for a wistful moment, while Gartside\'s \"Snow in Sun\" lets Thorn put a bounce in her step.
Tracey Thorn is rarely given her due for her role as a maternal figure to contemporary indie pop. A holiday album that includes White Stripes, Sufjan Stevens, Low, and Stephin Merritt covers plus originals and traditional fare, offers an opportunity to acknowledge her influence.
There is something about the melancholy quality in Tracey Thorn's voice that would seem to make the idea of a Christmas album by her improbable.
ClashMusic: Read an album review of Everything But The Girl front woman Tracey Thorn's Christmas cover album 'Tinsel And Lights' featuring songs by Stephin Merrit, The White Stripes and Joni Mitchell.
Tracey Thorn's fourth solo LP is about as good as Christmas albums get, writes <strong>Paul Mardles</strong>
A Christmas album by Tracey Thorn might once have seemed like a hoax, but the surprise is how well it suits her, writes <strong>Alexis Petridis</strong>
One of the hardest qualities to bring to Christmas music is seriousness. During a holiday that is associated with smiling faces, happy memories, and all things “JOY!,” it’s hard to not only capture the sombre reality of life outside of all this merriment, but also to create something people want to bother listening to come
Carefully chosen seasonal songs coalesce with a reflective intimacy. CD review by Kieron Tyler