The Skaggs Family Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner... or so it seems after listening to The Skaggs Family and their latest musical offering. The festive songs are performed by Ricky Skaggs, Kentucky Thunder, The Whites and other family members... and although you can feel the unity throughout the album, there always seems to be something missing.

Christmas music despite being well produced is meant for a few days either side of the celebrated day. Anything more and you cross into dangerous territory leading inevitably to a quiet death beneath the falling snow. With classics such as Little Drummer Boy and White Christmas it is hard not to lose the sharp tongue, but repetition is just not good enough these days. Lets be honest... these songs were etched in our heads as kids, so we don't need the constant reminder that they still exist.

Taking the Christmas concept, The Skaggs Family mix their renowned bluegrass genre with a blend of Country and other instrumental arrangements, but do little to impress... despite the many chances they give themselves. Listening in October to an album peppered with festivities just didn't encourage my mood and should be left to those with hearts warmer than Scrooge.