Of Christmas cheer & anticipating a February visitor

The two CDs today come with timeliness. The Christian Bautista CD is a Christmas-inspired CD; and it’s one that has quality stamped all over it. As for Taylor Swift, there’s not much one can say that hasn’t already been said, but with her Manila concert just around the New Year corner, it’s worth checking out her new studio album; and finding out if she fulfills the promise of her well-received second album Fearless.

A Wonderful Christmas —Christian Bautista (Universal Records). To be honest, I’m not normally one for Christmas albums and it’s probably the Scrooge in me that sees these releases as marketing gimmicks that take full advantage of the season. Once in a while, a song or concept will come through, and I recall songs like Do They Know It’s Christmas or Wham’s Last Christmas. Christian is a standout interpreter of traditional and classic tunes, and he shows that to the fore with this Christmas release. My favorite here would have to be the one Tagalog track, Nakaraang Pasko. I also liked the upbeat interpretation of Silver Bells and the new The Gift of Christmas, composed by Joe Mari Chan’s son and with daughter, Liza Chan-Parpan joining Christian. A collection that goes down smoothly!

Speak Now — Taylor Swift (MCA Universal). With the Feb. 19 Araneta concert hitting us in no time at all, the new studio album of Taylor Swift challenges us to discern if the country roots of her music has truly transcended pop boundaries to make her a bona fide pop superstar. It would seem that the answer is a resounding Yes! Sure the country roots are evident in her choice of instrumentation and even in her vocal delivery. But it’s never pronounced enough to take away from the mainstream appeal of her music and the manner in which she strikes a chord (literally!) with girls all around the world. Mean is the only outright country tune, and songs like Enchanted, Story of Us and Sparks Fly should be immediate favorites to her fans. It should be a royal sing-along come Feb. 19.