Released half a year after
What We Want, What We Get, this holiday album finds
Dave Barnes casually occupying the intersection between pop, adult contemporary, acoustic folk, and Christian music.
Barnes’ Southern roots are on full display here; each song plays up the soulful swagger of his voice, and he keeps the arrangements relatively sparse, relying on a mix of acoustic guitar, brushed percussion, and Hammond organ that conjures up images of after-hours jazz clubs.
Thad Cockrell, another Deep South songwriter with ties to the CCM scene, makes an appearance on “Mary & Joseph,” and
Barnes fills the title track with gospel harmonies courtesy of Tennessee friends
Drew Ramsey,
Shannon Sanders, and Scat Springs. The highlight, though, is his duet with
Lady Antebellum’s
Hillary Scott on “Christmas Tonight,” a
Barnes original that takes its cues from the
Frank Loesser standard “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” Some perfectly fine covers are tossed into the mix, too, including
Bing Crosby’s “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” and
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” but
Very Merry Christmas functions best as a showcase for
Barnes’ songwriting and singing, both of which are in fine form throughout. ~ Andrew Leahey