Customer Reviews

The Season for Romance

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Lee Ann Womack definitely takes the high road for this collection of Christmas standards, with a couple of new songs (title cut and "Forever Christmas Eve"). The CD is a bit more jazzy than country (perhaps an homage to one of her influences Etta James), with its BIG horns throughout "The Man With the Bag" and "Let it Snow/Winter Wonderland".

The duet with Harry Connick Jr. on "Baby It's Cold Outside" is destined to become a classic - they contrast perfectly and Lee Ann is as sassy as she was for "I'll Think of a Reason Later". The title song is about the unexpected, but wonderful yuletide bliss that will "get you if you give it half a chance". In my opinion, Lee Ann's version of "Silent Night" is the best since Stevie Nicks' in the 80s. Then the CD closes with the highlight - "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" - a transport right from the 40s.

Lee Ann Womack is one of the best voices ever and her holiday CD is nothing less than spectacular.

In 2002, five major country artists released Christmas albums - an unusually high number - but they are all enjoyable and different in their own ways. For example, Patty Loveless' album is much more upbeat, and much more traditional-sounding. Lee Ann has chosen to go for a more relaxed, easy listening style which has little to do with country music. This will not please any country fans who were disappointed by Lee Ann's other 2002 album, Something worth leaving behind. For the rest of us, who enjoy that album, this is another masterpiece.

As with Patty's album, this includes many Christmas standards, but only Silent night appears on both. On this album, there are just two new songs, including the title track which sets the mood of the album. Rather like Carly Simon's Christmas album (another great 2002 release that I've also reviewed), this may be best appreciated in the quieter moments of Christmas, though it would be great at any time.

Lee Ann chose to include the rarely-recorded first verse of White Christmas (setting the scene in Beverlry Hills and ending with the line - It's December the 24th and I am longing to be up north) - Irving Berlin would be proud of her, and so am I. Lee Ann is one of my favorite singers, whatever style she sings, having proved her ability to sing coountry, pop and easy-listening with equal brilliance.

This is an excellent Christmas album which is likely to appeal more to Carly Simon fans than Patty Loveless fans, but I feel privileged to be a fan of all three.

One would expect LeeAnn Womack's first go at a christmas album to be nothing short of lovely. And it is lovely. Not only does this southern bell add her own unique touch to holiday favorites, but she also gives us 2 new songs to cheer about. Both of the CD's original tunes were co-written by top Nashville songwriter Greg Barnhill, known for his haunting hit for Trisha Yearwood "Walk Away Joe". Lucky LeeAnn! The two original tunes, especially the title track, are timeless masterpieces, sure to be enjoyed by all. LeeAnn Womack might as well add another 'hit' record to her accomplishments. Buy "A Season for Romance"!

I'm not a big country music fan, but I loved "I Hope You Dance" and decided to get Lee Ann's Christmas album. It has significant jazz and adult contemporary influences. Not at all what I expected, but very, very nice. There's a good selection of songs and her voice is crystal clear. Highly recommended!

Lee Ann Womack reaches back into a bygone era, assisted on "Baby It's Cold Outside" by Harry Connick, Jr., to make a timeless Christmas disc. Shock your grandparents, and put some music that they haven't heard, but will appreciate in the CD player this Christmas. She has such a beautiful voice, and really respects the songs that she sings. She is confident enough to not just play with songs to demonstrate just how great her voice is, and destroy the meaning of the songs. This will be in my most played Christmas discs pile for years to come. It is classy and beautifully done.

Lee Ann and her creative team have come up with a lovely
seasonal album.
No rooty-to-toots on this album to jar the
jazzy, stylish, romantic ambiance.
This would be the album to listen to while drinking a glass of wine
and snuggling with your honey on the couch.
Some wonderful arrangements of familiar
tunes. Rich with guitar and piano to highlight Lee Ann's
almost sultry vocals.
Stand outs: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Forever Christmas Eve.
A jaunty The Man With The Bag
and a great version of What Are You Doing Christmas Eve.
I was surprised by the non-traditional route she took.
Many of the country artist christmas cds I have tend to
go for tried and true arrangements.
I hope she tackles a cd of the american songbook sometime.

She is a country star, right? However listening to this cd you realize that she does not have any boundaries.
She takes a lot of Christmas standards and does not turn them into country standards, but uses some jazz.
Her rendetion of BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE is by far the sexiest version of that song I have heard in a long time. Her duet with Harry Connick, Jr for BABY... sizzles. There is so much warmth and sexuality coming from this song. She uses her very smoky and sensual voice on her version of HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHIRSTMAS. I love the strumming on the drum on this song. On WHITE CHRISTMAS you feel like you are sitting somewhere in a jazz club. She keeps very true to the original by not altering the whole feel of the song. There is also a sense of childness and fun with the song THE MAN WITH THE BAG. The only problem I have with the cd is her version of SILENT NIGHT. It sounds slightly miscued. It seems the music is going faster than her. Then the biggest mistake on this song is the use of a saxaphone. It ruins the beauty and the majesty of this song.
Overall it is a good cd to have for Christmas. She proves that she is more than just country music.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Not your average Christmas CD, this is very romantic and she sings beautifully. The duet with Harry Connick Jr is my favorite. Great Christmas CD!!!

I've always been a Lee Ann Womack fan and I have every cd of hers except this one, just because I've never been a fan of Christmas cds, because they're just about all the same songs no matter who puts them out. However, upon listening to this album, I was completely blown away. Lee Ann takes some new Christmas songs and some classic Christmas songs and mixes them up with some smooth mellow jazz, and wholly cow is this an amazing album! I now live in Nashville, and listening to this album puts me right back home in the hills of Pennsylvania at Christmas time while watching the snow fall. Honestly, I could listen to this cd year round.

Lee Ann Womack puts the traditional spin back into Christmas music with this old-style country Christmas album. This is one of those “relaxing around the living room after dinner” Holiday albums, when you’re too stuffed to move a muscle.

The most corny (and forgettable) track is the duet with Harry Connick Jr., but apart from that, songs like “The Season for Romance”, “Let it Snow/Winter Wonderland”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, and “The Christmas Song” are enough to set the mood for a lazy evening.

Relax with Lee Ann, and sing along if you can, but she doesn’t expect you to dance this time.


Amanda Richards, December 19, 2005