Home for the Holidays (Capitol Nashville, 2014)
Darius Rucker
Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh
With that said, though, Rucker represents himself quite well with this traditional album of (mostly) familiar Christmas songs. Although studio fixing may have been involved in the process, Rucker sure sounds like he's improved his singing since his rock days with Hootie & the Blowfish, as he doesn't sound unbearably flat the way he once did back in the '80s.
This is mainly filled with favorites, from opener "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," to closer "White Christmas." However, there are a few memorable wildcards, such as the jazzy, piano tinkling "What God Wants for Christmas," which puts a distinctly spiritual bow on the package. Sheryl Crow, in stark contrast, brings sexy heat to the always welcome duet, "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
"Home for the Holidays" won't win Rucker any points with traditional country fans, but it ought to score the man big time with traditional holiday album buffs.
CDs by Darius Rucker
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