It's coming up to that time of year where the family will come together and you'll need something to listen to. You'll be hosting friends and want to create a seasonal atmosphere. You may even be soundtracking an office Christmas party and in need of something to play.
Let's be honest, Sufjan Stevens is great (here are 10 of his best Christmas tracks) but even with hundreds of his Christmas songs to choose from, your seasonal playlist might need a bit more variety.
So, here are six Christian Christmas albums which will do the job...
1. Bruce Cockburn – Christmas
The legendary Canadian singer songwriter is currently recording his 25th album. Having touched on Christian themes through many of his most cherished records, it wasn't surprising that, in 1993, he released a whole Christmas record. Featuring his trademark intricate guitar work and covers of some famous old carols (Silent Night, I Saw Three Ships, Joy To The World), it's perfect for a nice chilled vibe.
2. Page CXVI – Advent To Christmas
The project which brings life to old hymns, both popular and obscure has come up with a selection of pieces for Advent and Christmas itself. Advent is represented by songs like Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, while Christmas is covered by O Come All Ye Faithful. Simple contemporary arrangements, which are beautifully sung and available to download as sheet music too – this extended EP is well worth checking out.
3. Rend Collective – Campfire Christmas
Northern Ireland's biggest worship export (in fact, one of its biggest musical exports full stop in recent years) Rend have conquered America and big parts of the rest of the world. Their Christmas record from a couple of years back is the perfect mixture of fun and worshipful. The highlight is probably a brilliant cover of the Ash song Shining Light – which takes its place alongside some classic carols.
4. Future of Forestry – Advent: Christmas EP vol 1, 2 & 3
The spectacular Future of Forestry don't do things by halves. Their epic music is performed in intense live shows and they apply the kitchen sink to their Chrismas tracks. It's not only the intensity of the music, though. Not content with releasing one Christmas EP, they've now done three, each of which contains well known carols, instrumentals and radical reinterpretations of seasonal songs.
5. Audrey Assad – Winter EP
Audrey Assad has been producing beautiful worship music over a number of albums and had her first go at a Christmas track in 2009, with Winter Snow which appeared on a Chris Tomlin album. In 2016 she's re-recorded that track along with two more and released them in the run up to Christmas as the Winter EP. A great stopgap for fans in between albums, this will also be welcome to those who are new to her music.
6. Relient K – Let It Snow, Baby... Let It Reindeer
The pop punk veterans' Christmas album is comprised of 17 tracks and they are a lot of fun. Released in 2007 (although some of the material comes from a few years before that) the album is beloved of fans young and old. It takes sacred and secular Christmas tunes and gives them the inimitable Relient K treatment. One to get grandma dancing with the grandkids, for sure.
