Jon B. - 'Holiday Wishes From Me To You'

The holiday spirit is alive and soulful on Blue-Eyed Soul singer Jon B.'s first Christmas album, Holiday Wishes From Me To You. But this isn't your typical holiday album; it's a combination of Jon's versions of traditional holiday songs like "This Christmas," "Away In a Manger" and "Joy to the World" mixed with original compositions that sometimes are, and sometimes aren't about the holidays.
And although Jon's heart is apparently in the right place, some of the original material is a little too melancholy and downbeat to truly be considered proper Christmastime songs.

On Jon B.'s Holiday Wishes From Me To You, things start out normally enough with a soulful version of the holiday standard "This Christmas." But Jon throws everybody a curveball on the second track, which isn't a holiday song cover at all, but a brand-new track, and a love song, at that.

The song, "Hold You Down," which is about staying loyal to one's true love sticks out on the album over Christmas songs, but not in a negative way. The song itself, with it's smokey vocals, subtle piano and angelic backing harmonies, is a nice complement to the holiday material and a great love song.

The subsequent track, "Over Our Heads," is also an original number, but conversely, it suffers from a deep melancholy and doesn't fit with the overall theme. The political message (anti-war, pro-troops) also seems out of place.

Things get back on track somewhat on "Peace On Earth," which is not a cover of a holiday song, but an original composition about the homeless. Although the sentiments of the album are good and Jon's heart apparently is in the right place, the album doesn't reach the stars because of flat vocal performances by Jon on some tracks.

What's best about the album is that effort was placed into updating the traditional Christmas songs and making them even more relevant to a modern audience of Soul music fans. Some of the traditional carols, specifically "O' Holy Night," are virtually unrecognizable, they've been rearranged so drastically.

Interestingly, despite the album being tied to one of the happiest times of the year, Jon sounds downbeat on some songs. And at some points, Holiday Wishes is rather sad and mournful. But fortunately, 10-song album ends of a positive note with "Santa's On His Way," another original song, this one telling all the little boys and girls to be patient for the arrival Santa Claus.