The popular funkateers from the 70s and 80s are billing this 2013 release as their first-ever Christmas album, with six originals and eight standards on the card. They do a great job with this, creating an album that has their signature funk sound with updated touches. I'm always leery of legacy R'nB bands' Christmas albums, as they tend to fall back on gospel readymades and easy listening, but while these guys don't avoid these things, they also managed to make an album that sounds contemporary as well. (They also avoided covering "This Christmas" and "My Favorite Things.") Their "Home For the Holidays," "Little Drummer Boy," "Winter Wonderland" and "Joy to the World" completely deconstruct these familiar tunes with funky grooves and even rap sections. Other familiar holiday ballads get the typical R'nB/smooth jazz treatment, such as "Christmas Time Is Here," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)." Originals like "Christmas Always," "Let's Rejoice (Christmas Is Here)," "Christmas Tyme (Perfect Time For Love)," "Do Not Be Afraid," "My Prayer" and "Peace" are slow-to-medium tempo performances, the latter an instrumental. They're good originals, they just don't jump out and grab you as must-listens. The uptempo covers are by far the best part of what is overall, a solid R'nB Christmas album. Hard copies appear to be available only through their website, Best Buy and Walmart, but you can download from iTunes and Amazon.
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