Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson - "Winter Song"
Brandi Carlile - "The Heartache Can Wait"
Lenka - "All My Bells Are Ringing"
KT Tunstall - "Sleigh Ride"
Alice Smith - "Silver Bells"
Nicole Atkins - "Blue Christmas"
Fiona Apple - "Frosty The Snowman"
Meiko - "Maybe Next Year (X-Mas Song)"
Holly Conlan - "I'll Be Home For Christmas"
Katy Perry - "White Christmas"
Colbie Caillat - "Misletoe"
Priscilla Ahn - "Silent Night"
Kate Havnevik - "Winter Wonderland"
Catherine Feeny - "Christmas Song"
Hotel Café Medley - Auld Lang Syne (Charity Medley)
Time to check in and check it out with the 2008 arrival of Hotel Cafe Presents ...Winter Songs, an all-female singer-songwriter holiday album which features a collection of the classics as well as brand new originals incl... more »uding a duet by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. Also includes tracks by Katy Perry, Colbie Caillat, Fiona Apple, KT Tunstall, and Brandi Carlile. In the year of the female singer-songwriter, the timing is prime for this release.« less
Time to check in and check it out with the 2008 arrival of Hotel Cafe Presents ...Winter Songs, an all-female singer-songwriter holiday album which features a collection of the classics as well as brand new originals including a duet by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. Also includes tracks by Katy Perry, Colbie Caillat, Fiona Apple, KT Tunstall, and Brandi Carlile. In the year of the female singer-songwriter, the timing is prime for this release.
"Each of the songs on this album reflect the style of the various singers, and there are a few standouts. Fiona Apple's version of Frosty, Sara Bareilles does a lovely job with hers, and Silver Bells is a full-throated, gorgeous rendition. In fact, all of the songs are well done with one glaring exception: Katy Perry. Her rendition of White Christmas makes me think that she was either drunk while recording, or deliberately mocking the song. Really unlistenable. It's a pity that such the one track would be so jarringly off-key in the midst of a very good mix."
Almost awesome album
Amy M. Dunlap | Sewickley, PA United States | 12/18/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Honestly, I bought this album because Ingrid Michaelson sings "Winter Song" with Sara Bareilles. I was pleasantly suprised to find the Priscilla Ahn "Silent Night" - yes, it's that one they played at the beginning of ER. Some other very nice tracks are Meiko's "Maybe Next Year", and Colbie Caillat's "Mistletoe". I did NOT like KT Tunstall's "Sleigh Ride" - very jarring and kind of scary. I wansn't crazy about the oversung "Silver Bells" either. But I disagree with other reviewers about Katy Perry's "White Christmas". I found it quite sweet and a nice take on an old chestnut. I highly recommend this CD, but I'll admit it's very uneven."
Very Decent Christmas Album
kcbarbie | Kansas City, MO | 12/04/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I've enjoyed most of the songs on the holiday album, especially Sara Bareilles' Winter Song with Ingrid Michaelson and the Lenka song. Each artist put their own spin in these songs and for the most part they are enjoyable. It's worth buying if you're looking for a modern all female Christmas album."
Interesting interpretations of holiday favorites
Kevin Nicholls | Milford, MI | 12/15/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this disc mostly for the first track, but after listening to the whole album, it's really grown on me and introduced me to some artists I hadn't been aware of.
I won't bore anyone with a track-by-track review. Suffice it to say that the entire album has a folksy Lillith Fair type of cadence to it, which is great when you're tired of being beaten to death with the usual holiday fare.
That said, I seriously doubt that this album will have the universal appeal (or staying power) as the Very Special Christmas albums. Nonetheless, it should be a welcome addition to anyone's holiday collection."
Naughty? Nice? New? Traditional? It's all here.
Carrie Lynn Frost | Missouri | 12/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD features both new and traditional Yuletide tunes, performed by an impressive all-female lineup of artists. For me, the original standouts are Lenka's "All My Bells Are Ringing", which has a sweet, fifties-era feel to it ("Take my heart this Christmas", she sings, "I'll wrap it in a ribbon and a bow"), and Meiko's "Xmas Song (Maybe Next Year)", which has a sultry, soulful feel ("I don't think Santa's coming this year", she confides, "I've been a bad, bad girl . . .". Standards are not neglected, with fresh versions of "Silver Bells", "Blue Christmas", "White Christmas", "The Christmas Song", among others. Finally, the true "reason for the season" (for me, anyway) is not forgotten with a haunting, meditative "Silent Night". Then it all wraps up with "Auld Lang Syne" to ring in the New Year. All in all, you won't be disappointed if you add this to your holiday CD collection.