SPILL FEATURE: NAUGHTY, NICE & NOISE – SPILL MAGAZINE TEARS INTO THE BEST & WORST OF THE 2025 CHRISTMAS RELEASES (THE ALBUMS)

NAUGHTY, NICE & NOISE

SPILL MAGAZINE TEARS INTO THE BEST & WORST OF THE 2025 CHRISTMAS RELEASES (THE ALBUMS)

It is that time of year again. The stores are getting busy, Hallmark movies are the television, and music is in the air. This year, as in other years, new Christmas singles and albums have been released to help you celebrate, reflect, and enjoy the season. Well, some of the songs, others have a different goal. However, here is my look at new Christmas singles and albums released this year for the big day and the big man himself. Grab an eggnog, a shortbread cookie, and enjoy. Merry Christmas!

ANNE MURRAY
CHRISTMAS WISHES
UNIVERSAL
NOVEMBER 7, 2025

Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, there were certain albums that were staples for the Christmas Season. Anne Murray’s Christmas Wishes, her first Christmas collection, is one of those albums. I think everyone who played Christmas music had this album. It is a classic, and it has been restored to its former glory on vinyl. Murray’s voice soars through the Christmas carols, and she has so much fun with the more pop Christmas songs.

Christmas Wishes was originally released in 1981 and went on to be one of her biggest-selling albums, and rightfully so. This is a beautiful and rich Christmas album, with the perfect mix of sacred and secular Christmas songs. Her version of “Silver Bells” is perfect, with a lovely arrangement, and Murray almost wistfully observes the streets. And then, she performs a reverential version of “Away In A Manger,” which fits her style and voice. These are just two examples of this amazing album. I am glad it is back.

SOFIA TALVIK
WRAPPED IN PAPER
MAKAKI MUSIC
DECEMBER 1, 2025

Sofia Talvik is no stranger to Christmas music. She has produced a lot of wonderful, magical, and beautiful Christmas songs. Her music does have a touch of whimsy and magic. The same can be said for Wrapped In Paper. Talvik is from Sweden, and she very nicely combines Nordic tradition with Americana, and the end result is very unique and original music. And although there is a sense of sadness and melancholy to much of her music, she does not wallow in it, but incorporates it with other emotions. She sings with an angelic voice, and the music fits her style perfectly. It is almost unearthly at times, and the songs are almost so beautiful they border on painful. Some of these songs have been previously released, but it is nice to have them all in one collection.

A song like “Alone For Christmas” is stunning, sparse, and beautiful. She taps into the loneliness, and yet there are elements of hope throughout the song. “A Memory of Snow” is “White Christmas” combined with a break-up song. However, she is able to put across the strength and emotion. “Snowman” is charming and embracing. Wrapped In Paper is a very relaxed and relaxing album, perfect for those quiet moments during a very busy season.

ROBERTA FLACK
HOLIDAYS
RSJB MUSIC
OCTOBER 28, 2025

In 1997, Roberta Flack released The Christmas Album, now considered a classic seasonal album combining traditional Christmas carols/songs along with newly written songs for Flack. It is a smooth, beautifully produced R&B celebration of Christmas. It was well received then, and it has returned, with a new title, Holidays. The duet with Peabo Bryson (“As Long As There’s Christmas”) is gone, but three never-before-released songs have been added. The world lost Roberta Flack earlier this year, so it is nice to have new songs. So, we can, once again, appreciate her incredible voice and piano playing.

The new songs are interesting. Her arrangement of “Let It Be” is very bare and stunning. She turns it into the gospel song it was always intended to be. Her version of “Cherry Tree Carol” (a seldom heard but brilliant carol) is incredible, with a bit of studio chatter at the beginning, the song is so laid back and at the same time powerful. But the cornerstone of the album is the previously unheard “Eternally.” This song is so full of warmth and love that it would melt even the coldest heart this year. Her voice is angelic, and the song is pretty close to perfection. Roberta Flack’s Holidays is yet another essential Christmas album this year and for future generations.

HERB ALPERT
CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE
HERB ALPERT PRESENTS
NOVEMBER 7, 2025

Herb Alpert’s Christmas Time Is Here is his third Christmas album (1968’s Christmas Album and 2017’s The Christmas Wish), and even more impressive, Christmas Time Is Here is his 48th album, and at age 90, he has just announced a tour for next year. Pretty impressive stats from one of the most important forces in music over the past 65 years (he is the ‘A’ in A&M Records). The new album is not a compilation of his other two, but a brand-new recording, and it is brilliant.

Listen to his incredible chill version of Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmastime Is Here.” The trumpet is pure Alpert, and it sounds astounding. His instrumental interpretation of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” is breathtaking, while when he blows his trumpet in “White Christmas,” one can almost feel the snow coming down. This is an amazing album, and, once again, he is the master of easy listening, instrumental music, and this is the perfect music for any Christmas function you may be hosting.

STRYPER
THE GREATEST GIFT OF ALL
FRONTIERS MUSIC
NOVEMBER 21, 2025

I have been waiting for this one for many years. The Christian heavy metal rock band, Stryper, has finally released a Christmas album. This has been anticipated for far too long. They do not disappoint, and it was worth the wait. This may not be what you expect from this legendary Christian band. It is not all Christmas carols. Songs like “On This Holy Night” present a disturbing future when the world turns its back on the words of Christ. The album is split evenly, five original songs written by Stryper and five more traditional songs.

Stryper have included “Reason For The Season,” a fan favourite for years, and new songs, such as the title track “The Greatest Gift Of All” and my personal favourite, “Heaven Came (On Christmas Day).” However, they also do interesting versions of the standards. Like their versions of “Winter Wonderland” and “Little Drummer Boy.” Stryper is a very melodic heavy metal band that is brilliant when it comes to musicianship. This is a serious album, and I have no doubt their fans are going to have these songs playing during Christmas, as they should.

LITTLE BIG TOWN
THE CHRISTMAS RECORD (DELUXE)
MCA RECORDS/UNIVERSAL
NOVEMBER 14, 2025

Little Big Town recorded most of The Christmas Record in Savannah, Georgia, in 2023, with Dave Cobb producing the album. It was originally released in 2024 but has been re-released this year with a new song, “The Innkeeper.” If you didn’t buy the album last year, now is a good time. Little Big Town is a fantastic country band, with one foot in tradition and one foot in the contemporary country sound. But this album leans toward the more traditional, which is more than fine with me. Their cover of Merle Haggard’s “If We Make It Through December” has their trademark harmonies, and it seems to make the song just a little more melancholic.

The new song, “The Innkeeper,” is an interesting song written from the perspective of the innkeeper who provided the stable. It is really a lovely song, with the trademark Little Big Town sound, complete with flawless harmonies. Little Big Town is not afraid to tackle other beloved songs, like “Christmas Time Is Here” from A Charlie Brown Christmas (they do an incredible version), while mixing in some of their originals, such as the brilliant “Believe In Christmas.” The Christmas Record (Deluxe) is a welcome addition to the list of essential Christmas albums.

VARIOUS ARTISTS
IT’S A WICKED COOL CHRISTMAS
WICKED COOL RECORDS
DECEMBER 5, 2025

The truth is in the title. This is a wicked cool Christmas album. The fine folks at Wicked Cool give us It’s A Wicked Cool Christmas, and if you are familiar with the label and their artists, this album should come as no surprise. It rocks, it rolls, and it is extremely cool and fun. It is a great album with a number of artists from the labels, with exactly what one would expect from such a compilation. The music has a retro rock vibe, which is fine, because although there is a tip of the hat to the past, these songs are fresh and exciting.  Songs like “Christmas with Me,” by Jessie Wagner featuring Rocco of the Snow, are a great example of what I mean. This has a Motown or R&B feel with Phil Spector-like production. Wagner’s voice is fantastic, and everything comes together perfectly.

Then there are the straight-ahead rockers like “The Empty Hearts” from The Empty Hearts, or Steve Conte feat John Conte and their great cover of The Kinks’ “Father Christmas.” Or The Woggles, who explode with “Santa’s Coming (Ho Ho Ho).” There are so many great songs, and a great feeling throughout the entire album. While the traditional Christmas carols make way for more rocking songs, this makes It’s A Wicked Cool Christmas a cool yule.

KIRNER & MONTCORBIER AOR PROJECT
CHRISTMAS FOR US ALL
MODULATE RECORDS
DECEMBER 10, 2025

Kirner and Montcorbier AOR Project is a fascinating band. Consisting of Eton Kingsdale (vocals), Warren Grey (guitar and backing vocals), Saun Wallsberry (saxophone), Robin Anderson (bass guitar & backing vocals), Jimmy Ace (Drums and backing vocals), and Jack Spacey (keyboards and backing vocals) is an interesting band or project. AOR is an older radio term for ‘Album Oriented Rock,’ and in this case, is also music designed to appeal to adults. This is a perfect description for the album.

The music is very much middle of the road, and is very well written and recorded, easy listening Christmas music. The album kicks off in fine spirits with “Starry, Starry Night,” with energy and fine vocals from Kingsdale. As with the rest of the album, these are love songs with a tinge of nostalgia and bringing to mind everything good about Christmas with loved ones and family. These songs, especially the first single “Eb and Flood,” would make a great soundtrack for a Hallmark movie (that, my friends, is a huge compliment!) The last track, “Years Of My Childhood,” which is very upbeat and lovely, is worth the price of admission alone.

5 NEAT GUYS
PLAY CHRISTMAS MUSIC
INDEPENDENT
NOVEMBER 7, 2025

This band, 5 Neat Guys, has nothing to do with that wonderful Pat Boone-influenced combo on SCTV. No, this is a Toronto rock and blues band, and they have come up with their own brand of Christmas music. Actually, this would make a great companion to the It’s A Wicked Cool Christmas album. The group was formed by Doug Hibovski (rhythm guitar) in 2016, and now consists of Doug and Ed Lounsbury (lead vocals), Shawn Tanti (lead guitar), Andrewes Sisson (bass guitar), and Stephen Edwards (drums). They make a great blues-infused rock sound.

They actually cover a song recorded by The Monkees, which was written for them by XTC’s Andy Partridge, “Unwrap You At Christmas.” In the hands of 5 Neat Guys, the song has much more grit and energy. Their version of “Feliz Navidad” is the most unique version I have ever heard, with it playing out as a slow-burning blues song. It works so well. Not since The Yobs, have I heard “Silent Night” as a rocker. Again, it strays from the original, but it is so much fun that it is hard not to love. Play Christmas Music is the perfect title for their take on traditional and much-loved Christmas songs. It is rock ‘n’ roll blues, and it is going to be on my playlist this year.

VARIOUS ARTISTS
SLOW XMAS 5
BONESOUND INCORPORATED
DECEMBER 1, 2025

Slow Xmas 5 is the fifth volume of alternative and unusual Christmas songs produced and curated by Ben Hosley, co-host of the podcast Blank Check with Griggin and David. The album opens in style with Death Valley Girls and their bluesy “Seasons Of Dreaming.” It is lo-fi, jazzy, and full of despair. Whereas Olivia Ellen Lloyd’s charming version of “Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” is not alternative, but rather a straightforward and lovely cover.

Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security because there are some other songs that are pretty dark, such as Heavenly Peace’s “Jingle Bells, Batman Smells” is just odd and eerie, and the short burst of “Scrooge Good” is pretty jarring. It is nice that there is one Chanukkah song on the collection, but it is instrumental and does not really convey the joy of that holiday. Still, Zach Cooper’s “8 Candles” is a very cool song. For the most part, this is an interesting album with some very stark ideas of Christmas music. Although it may not be for everyone, for those who are a bit more sonically adventurous this Christmas, Slow Xmas 5 is the perfect album for you.