A Classic Christmas

Holiday classics with a pleasing Southern flavor.

Artist: Toby Keith
Genre: Holiday Label: Show Dog Nashville Parental Advisory: No Edited Version Available: No Release Date: 10/16/2007

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this two-disc set includes an extensive selection of traditional and modern Christmas songs -- almost everything that would be considered a must on your family's holiday song list (except perhaps "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer"). If you celebrate Christmas and can handle country music, there's nothing objectionable about this CD; the whole family will love it.

Families can talk about Christmas music and country music, and how well the two genres blend together. Have you listened to lots of Christmas music before? How about country music? Do you enjoy both? Why or why not? Do the holiday songs you're familiar with sound different sung in a country style? Do you like the way Toby Keith sings them, or do you prefer to hear them sung in a more traditional manner? What do you like or dislike about his renditions?

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Larisa Wiseman

You don't have to be a big country music fan for Toby Keith's A CLASSIC CHRISTMAS CD to get you in a holly-jolly mood. While the country star infuses 20 Christmas favorites -- half traditional and half contemporary -- with his Southern twang and country-music stylings, his delivery of the songs lets the words and beloved tunes come across clearly to leave you with that warm, fuzzy holiday feeling. Keith's musical style is a slightly better fit for the upbeat contemporary songs ("Winter Wonderland," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Please Come Home for Christmas") than the traditional ones, but his soulful voice makes most of the latter bunch ("O Come All Ye Faithful," "Joy to the World," "Go Tell It on the Mountain") work as well. Country music fans will love the extra touches such as the twangy guitars, the occasional fiddle, and the drum work. It's pleasant, classic holiday music for the whole family.

If your kids are into a variety of music, including hip-hop, they might enjoy Yo, It's Christmas!. Ardent tweenage country music lovers should check out a couple of albums from big country stars: Lee Ann Rimes' Family and Keith Urban's Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Thing.

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