Given all the publicity she's been receiving recently, what Amy Grant really needs is a stunning new album to get all the critics talking about something other than her private life. Perhaps a simple Christmas album, with a few simply arranged tunes to follow-up her last regular release. It seems someone got some wires crossed.

Grant's down to earth voice is strong here, but that's about all that is. The lyrics here collected seem unnecessarily burdened with the consumerist aspect of Christmas music, and the more creditable pieces are marred by overproduction.

This album really wouldn't seem out of place in a department store's playlist for the pre-Christmas period. There are plenty of lush strings and bouncy tunes, but the moments where something with more merit than the usual cheesy Christmas fare arises are few and swamped by the rest of the album. This wasn't a wise release for Grant.

James Stewart 11/26/1999