For some reason, Fantasia has decided to release a Christmas album in October. Now on with the review.

Fantasia tackles classic Christmas songs such as ‘Silent Night’, ‘The Christmas Song’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ for her sixth studio album, Christmas After Midnight. Of course, the album does not break any new ground musically or artistically. But that is clearly not the purpose of Christmas After Midnight. Regardless of any complaints about relevance, Fantasia’s originality as a vocalist shines through. With surely one of the most distinct voices around, Fantasia’s delivery offers a freshness to these dusty Christmas classics. At times, she mellifluously slides over the notes. At others, she growls, she gargles, she wails. Every syllable is infused with feeling. The guttural wail she breaks out in the final third of her cover of Donny Hathaway’s ‘This Christmas’ is particularly pleasing, as is the immaculate phrasing and warmth she displays on ‘The Christmas Song’. The only weak number is her duet with Cee Lo Green on ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’. While I applaud Fantasia for not censoring that infamous lyric, Cee Lo’s vocals are muted in the background thus losing the to-and-fro conversational quality of the song. But that is one minor offence in an album full of Fantasia’s infectious energy. A particular standout has to be her take on Johnny Moore’s ‘Merry Christmas, Baby’ with its bluesy arrangement, spiralling electric guitar, and Fantasia’s stirring adlibs.

Grade: A-

(Image Copyright: Concord Records)