Ostensibly aimed at preteens and kids who think they're too cool for "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snowman,"
Wild Christmas presents teen pop Christmas songs along with glossy versions of a few holiday favorites.
Dream Street's Chris Trousdale sings the cute but slightly bland title track, which seems to be celebrating winter break and snow days as much as it does December 25th. From there, the album tries on several different sounds and styles, for better or worse. Evan Rachel Wood's sleek, synth-heavy "Christmas Isn't Christmas Without You" and
Myra's sweetly urban "Very First Christmas Love" are two of the better tracks, while Lynsey Bartilson's pumped-up "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and Taylor Momsen,
Myra, and Camille Winbush's syrupy "One Small Voice" fall flat. However, Winbush's "The Night Before Christmas Song" is one of the album's best tracks because it's grounded in at least a little holiday tradition. Mediocre at best,
Wild Christmas may have the unexpected benefit of kids realizing that the old favorites actually are the coolest Christmas songs after all. ~ Heather Phares