A Review of Cher’s “Christmas” — And What it Takes to Make a Great Holiday Album

It’s been a long time since I’ve been a reviewer — the most thankless task in the world. (I did it for about eight years from 2008–2016.)

But I’m going to take a break from my usual social commentary blogs to talk a little about Christmas albums and then review the much-hyped new one by Cher, Christmas. She is likely the biggest star to put out a Christmas album this year. Making a good holiday album can cement your legacy for years beyond your actual recording years. Ask Mariah, Brenda Lee, Johnny Mathis, and dozens more.

This is something for which I can claim some authority. I grew up going to church, so I heard all the sacred ones. And my father played piano and we had many Christmas eve sing-a-longs where we went through every page of the carol book, singing the sacred and secular, until we were hoarse. (At 89, he’s still going and we hope to do it again this year.)

Also, I’m an avid collector of Christmas music. It is the one genre of music where I will regularly buy actual CDs, other than at events that are special occasions for me. But I’m very picky about what I will buy. I try to avoid schlock (unless it’s purposely schlock!). It has to have a combination of sacred and secular, possibly a twist on an old favorite (but don’t veer too much), and…