This interesting holiday series switches over from BEC to Tooth & Nail for its fourth volume, and features alternative bands tackling Christmas-themed songs, most of them original compositions. It's more of a downbeat affair than one would expect, but it's also a wonderfully refreshing change of pace from the standard fare one hears constantly in the streets and stores during the Christmas season. Highlights include
Switchfoot's almost maudlin "Evergreen,"
Anberlin's "Baby Please Come Home,"
Mae's huge-sounding version of "Carol of the Bells," and John Davis' sitar-drenched "God Is Real (Jesus Is Alive)." ~ Steve Leggett