Between Christmas Presence and Presents (More Reviews...Boo Hoo or Woo Hoo?)

 Love Rennaissance (LVRN) "Home for the Holidays"

This compilation is a pleasant surprise with engaging renditions of "Santa Baby," "This Christmas" and "The Christmas Song" by artists such as Kitty Ca$h, Summer Walker, 6lack, and the collective these artists and other of the label have recorded under, LVRN. However, the standouts include the laidback latin-style guitar and lullaby-like vocals that say wish you more than "Feliz Navidad," but sweet dreams as well. Another standout is that indelible riff that starts the "12 Days of Bhristmas" off right. While the nod to James Brown in "Ghetto Christmas" is noteworthy. Finally, to poetic license Kitty Ca$h, "Interludes, we all love interludes," and it wouldn't be the same without em' 

Robbie Williams "The Christmas Present"

I have only heard a few Robbie Williams albums, but enough to know that this record would be pretty special. If I had to make an edible analogy, I would say this album is like the PieCaken. It is rich in quality original tunes and covers. It is decadent, and a little too much for me, but can be appreciated in\ smaller slices. 
I preferred the original tunes to the covers, but the latter were very nice. I'm impartial to the carol of the bells that accompany "Rudolph" on his Christmas Eve run right after "Coco's Christmas Lullaby," or the sarcastic nonchalance of "Yeah, It's Christmas."

While there are tunes where the connection to the holiday is obvious, many of which on the first record, songs like "Soul Transmission," "Idlewild," and many more on the second record have a more obscure connection. The latter of which reminds me of "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg, except the holiday celebrated is a week earlier. "Snowflakes" is another charmer, even with its negative connotations it can still be enjoyed, unless you take yourself too seriously.

Love Rennaissance "Home for the Holidays Vol. 2"

The songs from the first volume return as family would for the holidays, while most of the interludes take a raincheck, except for "Kitty's Wish List," which reinforces that she still needs what she asked for, as it remains the same. The new additions to the family bring their own flare to renamed classics like "Christmas Come Home" or merely reinvented classics that soulfully sing "Let It Snow" tersely before singing about a silent night for the majority of that selection. I think of it as an extended gospel prelude to the solo performance of "Silent Night," both very tasteful and engaging. The single "Might as Well Have Coal" is a pleasant addition to the canon, and it not only can light a fire, but is one.