Reviewed by Anthony Longville

I like collecting new Christmas albums, mixing up the styles. But I don't really have a rock Christmas album. My favourite rock musician of the moment would have to be America's Neal Morse. So put the two together and there's a purchase I couldn't resist. Evidently the critically acclaimed purveyor of prog rock sends songs to his family and friends at Christmas rather than the normal card (Oh for the talent to be able to do that!). So as such this 2000 release is a very loose collection. Sometimes it's children's songs - which are very cringey. At other times it's an Elvis impersonation (quite funny) or a Sinatra spoof. Sometimes it's more traditional Christian themes. Disappointingly though some of the lyrics are steeped in a more sentimental telling of the first Christmas. One of the high points is "Love Lay In Bethlehem" which is pretty much a choral piece. Fair to say that probably a number of songs here were written by Morse before his conversion. Now Morse excels at dealing with huge Biblical themes to the background of thoroughly inspirational music. A true Morse rock Christmas album could be truly awesome.