It's Finally That Time of Year Again - Holiday Albums

It's finally holiday time! I feel like I've been waiting for this time of year for a lifetime, but it's only been a mere year, but i couldn't be happier. If you're not yet under the holiday spell, unlike me, I know the perfect place to visit to get you in the mood: the mall.

Just yesterday I was there (and yes that's probably why I'm so enthusiastic about the looming celebrations right now) and everywhere I looked it was Hanukkah and Christmas and Kwanzaa: the exclusive to the winter season drinks at Starbucks, the well known holiday songs blasting through the department store speakers, and the unavoidable gold, green and blue garland all around, hanging from the ceilings and attached to the door handles. Once you go to the mall it's so obviously the holidays that you'd be foolish to try and ignore it because it's everywhere! Embrace the smell of cinnamon in the air, the tapered candles in the windows of your neighborhood homes, and the all around mood that is holiday time.

This year's celebrations is a little different when considering the music industry: many well-known and popular artists have released holiday albums and they've gotten super positive feedback. I've sampled them myself, and here's my cheerful and happy holiday verdict:

Michael Buble, Christmas - This album will definitely make you want to grab a cup of hot chocolate and sit by the Christmas tree in your old, worn-in sweater. Taking the traditional holiday tunes and putting his familiar jazzy take on it, Buble perfects the feel-good music people play on Christmas eve. With his angelic voice and the harmonious instruments complimenting it on the song It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas, and the grand piano starting off with just Buble's voice on All I Want for Christmas is You makes this album a must have for this holiday season. Buble's creative take on these overplayed Christmas songs will not be forgotten; this album will be a must have for many holiday seasons in the future as well.

Justin Bieber, Under the Mistletoe - If you have a little sister, you're bound to have heard about Bieber's latest project, a holiday album. Don't be quick to judge, this album is a perfect holiday soundtrack, with original songs like the album named song, Mistletoe, and classics like Silent Night, where Bieber sings acoustically with just a sole piano. Making this album even more interesting is the featured artists on the songs: artists like Busta Rhymes and Boyz II Men both contributed to Bieber's holiday album, which has his known pop rhythms. This holiday album is sure to make his fans swoon and wish it was Bieber they were under the mistletoe with.

She & Him, A Very She & Him Christmas - This quirky and eclectic duo has a specific sound, making their sound very different from what people usually listen to. On their holiday album, A Very She & Him Christmas, they keep that unique sound and make boring holiday songs a music experience; with their change in tunes and their interpretation of sounds these holiday songs sound completely different, but still wonderfully cheerful and perfect for this holiday season.