December 11, 2000

Publication title: People Weekly, vol. 54, Iss. 25, pg. 45
Place: New York
Writer: Unknown

Christmas Songs

This holiday who’s who of singersongwriters has the audacity to bring together Sarah McLachlan and Barenaked Ladies on a jumpin’, if jarring, adaptation of the classic “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” One would think it could only go downhill from there. But it doesn’t.

McLachlan returns to perform the ethereal “Song for a Winter’s Night,” a layered, wistful poem. And British newcomer Dido, who has been compared with McLachlan, works her wispy, understated magic on the tinkling, tragic story-song “On Christmas Day.” The eccentric 12-woman choir Mediaeval Baebes are enchanting on the avant-classic “Gaudete.” Matthew Ryan, meanwhile, serves up a raspy rendition of “Little Drummer Boy,” and Kendall Payne does a moody take on “O Come O Come Emmanuel.”