Morissette Christmas...
By TIM DAVID HARVEY
And isn't it time for a Christmas album. Don't you think? Canadian-American singer/songwriter rock megastar Alanis Morissette already gave us one of the best and biggest selling albums of all time in 1995. 'Jagged Little Pill' moved worldwide units to the tune of 33 million records. Inspiring everything from discussions regarding her greatest hit on 'Lois & Clark' ('The New Adventures Of Superman') to the name of R&B albums (Jagged Edge's 'Jagged Little Thrill'). The 'Queen of Alt-Rock Angst' has every right to give us an album for the holidays. And her first Christmas album, not to mention her first record since 'The Storm Before The Calm' of 2022, is not for a second ironic. It's warm and inviting as the Grammy winner covers Christmas classics and offers outstanding originals to bring the festive feeling to these troubled times.
Hark the heralded alt-angel sings in the advent of this November. Bringing new life and signature styles to 'O Holy Night', 'Little Drummer Boy' and even the translation of international classic standards like 'Ave Maria'. Morrissette gifts us with 'Good Weather For Immaculate Conception' (amazing title) as the snow falls on her hood and spectacles. Merry loves company, too, and there are plenty of special guests on Alanis' Christmas card list. Julian Coryell's guitar backs the religious question of 'What Child Is This?' And Amythyst Kiah amazes on the originally sang 'Momma Mary'. The Trans Voices bring even more to 'O Tannenbaum' as Christmas across culture and continents is continued to be celebrated. All as Joy Oladokun brings their first name to the always beautiful 'Silent Night'. There's even room for podcasters in this building. As fellow Canadian Martin Short wishes us a 'Merry Christmas' too, in a classic collaboration. All as fellow 'Only Murders In The Building' Martin, Steve Martin brings backing banjo, with superstar Brandi Carlile, to a 'Beautiful Star Of Bethlehem'.
Modern Christmas numbers are also dialled up for your Christmas jukebox. Whether it be Alanis giving her heart to Wham's 'Last Christmas', for the late, great George Michael. Or her single cover of John Lennon's 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', with her home for the holiday's music video, complete with family, once again offering bed peace to a world at war. If you want it. Yet, "It's coming on Christmas, they're cutting down trees/They're putting up reindeer and singing songs of joy and peace/Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on". And when this Demi Moore lookalike covers Joni Mitchell's 'River' with real substance, that's when you realize you've been listening to that very cover for the last hour and nary another decoration has graced the tree you just put up. The high notes of "I would teach my feet to fly" for your best baby? Now, that's a conception that is immaculate.
Add the 'Christmas On The Dancefloor' cheesy, but classy, feel-good tune and the dedication 'To An Empath At Christmas Time'. "These holiday melodies/With presents all around/It’s not that I’m ungrateful/It’s just these blue chords in the sound/The depth of your perception/You’ve had it your whole life/This time of year is rugged/With all this pressure to be nice," she sings in solidarity. Adding "You don’t have to perform peace for us/Or belt out old lang syne/You are a miracle who feels deeply and is kind/Your tender perceptivity picks up signals far, wide/I see your wet eyes when you tell us you’re fine/To an empath at Christmas time" under the tree of life. This wonderful ode, and its beautiful music video, in addition to all the classics made an abode, make this the best thing the great Alanis Morissette has done since her surprise performance of 'Ironic' on Netflix's 'Everybody's Live With John Mulaney' in LA. Not to mention the best Christmas album since Norah dreamed of it like the Jolly Jones she is. Good weather indeed.
Present Picks: 'To An Empath At Christmas Time', 'River', 'Merry Christmas (Feat. Martin Short)'.
Spin This: Norah Jones - 'I Dream Of Christmas'.
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