Christmas

A generous 15 tracks breathing new life into well-worn standards like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by focusing on their potential as good songs rather than distancing them on some solemn pedestal. When Cockburn sandwiches these between such non-conventional contributions as the gospel-bluegrass of "Early On One Christmas Morn," the Spanish "Riu Riu Riu," the French/world beat of "Les anges dans nos campagnes," the Huron Indian "Jesus Ahatonnia," and the ancient, spooky "Down In Yon Forest," the disc takes on a complex flavor that can be savored any time of the year. ~ Roch Parisien