Guidetogay.com

Crack open the Egg Nog and put up the tree, cos this year Christmas is back with a bang, thanks to the angelic voice of Mariah Carey.

This lady has given a new life to the Christmas album, thanks to her being the only artist in modern history to create her OWN classic Christmas Carol (All I want for Christmas Is You) -- this album includes the "extra festive" version of the song, which funnily enough she re-recorded to claim back the masters that Sony Music held of the song, and why not, it goes back to number #1 every Christmas… smart smart smart Mariah!

Track after track is joyous and fills you with the Christmas cheer, and for once, makes you forget that Christmas was being destroyed by retailers popping up decorations in october and making Christmas last half the year.

Listening to the album has actually made me excited about Christmas for the first time in years.

The original tracks on the album give a fresh kick to the traditional songs you would expect to be given the Mariah treatment.

The images in the slick are tonnes better than the cover image, so don't be put off by the cheesy treatment you may see on the store shelf, the tacky "cropped" cover does NOT dictate the quality inside. (fold out the cover to get the full effect. A good rule of thumb designers is 'NEVER crop a David La Chapelle image!')

The genius decision to bring in composer/producer/arranger Marc Shaiman (of Hairspray fame) gives the disc a decidedly Broadway grandness.

Shove this release in everyones stocking this year and spread the joy.