MercyMe / It’s Christmas

Though contemporary Christian music is not for everyone, many people like to listen to Christmas carols at this time of year. MercyMe, a Christian band from Texas that has been around for more than 20 years, has always been a favorite of mine, mostly due to the beautifully smooth vocal range of Bart Millard, the lead singer since the band’s inception. Late last year, the band released a Christmas album, which has become a standard for me at this time of year. When decorating the house, sipping a cup of cocoa by the fire or wrapping presents, this is my go-to album, and it’s easy to see why.

The album boasts 11 songs, mostly Christmas standards such as “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” and “Joy to the World,” but the arrangements are definitely the group’s own, with a jazzy flair and, sometimes, changing of tempos. Some songs, like “Newborn,” are a mashup of several well-known songs and original lyrics.

One of my favorite Christmas songs has always been “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and to my satisfaction, this is included, and they don’t mess with it too much. Some songs should just be what they are, and I am glad they were able to do this with this beautiful classic. On this album, though, the song that makes me hit the repeat button most is “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” which always makes me smile with its easy-going instrumental.

If you’re ready to pop in the Christmas songs, this is an album I would highly recommend. It has a little bit of every style embedded in it – classic, rock, folk, country and pop. Either way, it inspires holiday shopping and makes me want to bake cookies.

For more information, visit mercyme.org.

By Jennifer Russo

JoJo / Mad Love

I can see all the gossipy, begging-for-attention headlines now: “Former teen pop star releases her first album in 10 – count ’em, 10 – years.”

But then I must add: And it’s amazing! Mad Love is what you call a true, knock-’em-dead comeback, folks. You might remember JoJo as the teenage songstress plucked from the obscurity of our suburbs (Foxboro) some 20 years ago. But the gifted singer-songwriter is back, and she’s never been better.

The album opens simply, just her superlative pop voice and a piano. That’s it. Nothing else is needed. And the opener, “Music,” is a true love letter to the art form. This sentiment in itself is long overdue for the long-suffering artist. (A little history here: JoJo was stuck in a contentious recording contract with her former label for more than a decade.) Now, she’s made good on her musical gifts, ensuring that Mad Love is personal, eclectic and true to her talents. She’s not 13 anymore – and now she has the life experience to back up her lyrics.

She released the album’s lead single “F**k Apologies” (featuring Wiz Khalifa) in July, and this unapologetic empowerment anthem kicked JoJo’s comeback session into full gear. Rapper Remy Ma comes in on “FAB,” and the duo makes magic with a hypnotic beat and fiery lyrics that take no prisoners, affirming that JoJo has finally arrived as a full-fledged artist of her own making who has something she wants to say.

There are self-affirming pop anthems like “I Am” and “Rise Up” that speak to a softer side, but make no mistake, JoJo’s not soft – just well-rounded. The dance-ready “Vibe” is just ready to be remixed, and while it might feel disjointed from its preceding tracks, JoJo has the reins on this album, and her vocal talents keep every song feeling like it couldn’t – it shouldn’t – exist without the entirely distinct songs that surround it.

For more information, visit iamjojoofficial.com.

By Mike Wood

Phish / Big Boat

It has always been tricky trying to describe the music of Phish – is it rock, bluegrass, funk, spacey shoegaze or something else completely? Most of the time they will be lumped in as a jam band, but to do so is to diminish their music. Simply put, Phish is Phish – a unique blend of whatever they are feeling, and their newest effort Big Boat is the perfect encapsulation of this.

Big Boat quite possibly consists of the largest number of musicians to ever take part on a Phish record (14 in total, not counting the core four). These additional musicians help bring a vibrant energy to the foundation Trey Anastasio and company lay down, with horns galore and flourishing touches of life. As such, Big Boat sounds like the most fully realized and complete Phish album to date. “Blaze On” has a reggae strut with Phish’s trademark good vibes, while “Tide Turns” is soulful and radio-friendly. It wouldn’t be a Phish album without some quirks and oddities, and the disco-infused dance of “I Always Wanted it This Way” covers that.

The final track, “Petrichor,” with arrangement and orchestration credited solely to Anastasio, is Phish at its absolute best – putting together a complex weave of different melodies and rhythms to deliver a memorable and sophisticated number. For any weary, longtime Phish followers out there questioning the band’s current dedication, this is the beacon of hope you’ve been seeking.

For more information, visit phish.com.

By Jason Savio