A New Thought for Christmas [Digipak] (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Melissa Etheridge (vocals, guitar); Mark Browne (guitar, bass guitar); Philip Sayce (guitars, background vocals); Paul Trudeau (keyboards, background vocals); Fritz Lewak (drums, percussion); Lily Wilson Browne, Bernie Barlow (background vocals).

Additional personnel: Salmand Ahmad (vocals, guitar); Samir Chatterjee (tabla).

Audio Mixer: David Cole.

Audio Remasterer: Brian Gardner .

Melissa Etheridge's Christmas album -- released in 2008, reissued in deluxe form the following year -- is faithful to her blues-rock beginnings while retaining a pleasant, relaxed, seasonal vibe. To Etheridge's credit, she devotes a considerable chunk of the record to originals, mostly slower, meditative pieces, but she kicks up the tempo on "It's Christmas Time," which stands alongside the bluesy shuffle of "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Blue Christmas" as the liveliest stuff here.

Melissa Etheridge's Christmas album -- released in 2008, reissued in deluxe form the following year -- is faithful to her blues-rock beginnings while retaining a pleasant, relaxed, seasonal vibe. To Etheridge's credit, she devotes a considerable chunk of the record to originals, mostly slower, meditative pieces, but she kicks up the tempo on "It's Christmas Time," which stands alongside the bluesy shuffle of "Merry Christmas Baby" and "Blue Christmas" as the liveliest stuff here. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize