The Magic of Christmas, Joy Electric (Tooth and Nail)

This synth-pop act from California is apparently Ronnie Martin's one-man band, judging by credits and CD artwork. Joy Electric was previously featured on the BEC compilations Happy Christmas Vol. 1 and 2, and both the songs from those two CDs, "Winter Wonderland" and "Lollypop Parade (On Christmas Morn)," are on this 2003 album. This has an early 80s vibe, in terms of electro-pop; it has the sound of Depeche Mode in their early, cheap-synth phase, more so than their later, dour pop star incarnation. Even on a minor-key song like "What Child Is This," JE has a rather cheerful sound, and the choice of tunes plays to this quality. The bouncy "Lollypop Parade" is the only original here; all the rest of the tunes are standards and traditional carols like "Angels We Have Heard," "Deck the Halls," "Frosty the Snowman" and so on. This is a short album, but a good one.