Involved in entertainment since her teenage years, Brandy has modeled, acted, but for many, has made her biggest impression as a singer. A highly talented vocalist in the world of R&B music, Brandy has been dazzling since her 1994 debut album which featured such songs as “Baby.” From here she continued to strike gold with hits such as 1996’s “Sittin’ Up in My Room,” leading up to her 1998’s number #1 collaboration with Monica, “The Boy Is Mine.”
Putting out numerous top selling albums through the 2000s, after 2012’s Two Eleven, it had been eight years without any Brandy music… that was until 2020’s strong return with B7. Now balancing her family, acting and music career, Brandy surprises listeners in 2023 with her first ever Christmas album.
Put out November 10th through her own label Brand Nu, Inc. Christmas with Brandy is also her first release with Motown. Marking her eighth overall studio album, the release coincides with the premiere of the new Netflix’s film Best. Christmas. Ever.; which became available for streaming on November 16th, starring Brandy, Heather Graham, among others. A great promotional tool for this album, for those interested, Best. Christmas. Ever.’s soundtrack includes two non-album Brandy Christmas performances – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” and “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!.”
That in mind, Christmas with Brandy comes complete with 12 songs, half of which are Brandy co-written original pieces. Rather cool to see, because it does not just rely on performing rendition of other well-known Christmas songs, Brandy’s originals are quite diverse. For example, they range from the more seductive, intimate “Christmas Party for Two,” to the more family friendly, yet no less romantic, upbeat “Christmas Gift” and “Somebody’s Waiting.” This is while she presents the energetic “Shine Out Your Light” and “Christmas Everyday” successfully. However, the track “Feels Different,” while possessing a Christmas theme, is something you could imagine being an R&B hit any time of year.
Matching this bundle of Christmas-themed Brandy originals, you have some really great renditions of classics as well. Putting her own personal touch on each with her distinctive vocal stylings, standouts include “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Santa Baby,” “The Christmas Song,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Deck The Halls.” However, perhaps the loveliest and most touching is her take on “Someday at Christmas,” which is most distinctly recognizable with Stevie Wonder.
A rather smooth R&B Christmas tingling collection, Christmas with Brandy is done with passion, love, and a sincere sense of Christmas spirit. The best part is it would not be out of place to spin some of these original songs before or after the Christmas season either. A delightful edition to modern Christmas music, Cryptic Rock gives Christmas with Brandy 4 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment