Blue Christmas EP, Emery (Labeled)

We've previously heard from Seattle Christian rockers Emery on a seven-song EP from 2015, songs from which also appeared on the Tooth & Nail Happy Christmas compilations. For 2022 they dropped this collection of five familiar holiday standards. The title song has a bit of a David Lynch feel to it, so you should check that out at the very least if you're looking for a unique take on it. They also do a mellow version of Charles Brown's "Please Come Home For Christmas." The rest is up to you; these American songbook classics, "It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas," "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" are rendered in their original old-school pop arrangements and, while well done, don't stick out in any meaningful way. Back in 2019 we noted they had offered a collection, Cocoa and Christmas, to their fan club, and it appears most, if not all, of these songs are from that offering. Run with the title song and leave the rest to the band's fans.