Review Summary: More than nostalgia.
While not as iconic as Home for Christmas, A Christmas to Remember brings more of Amy’s brand of cozy music. The corny 90s keyboards are outdated but functional in the more pop oriented tracks. However, bops are far and few between, with the toe tappers being A Christmas To Remember, Jingle Bell Rock, and Mister Santa. The title track is one of the funnest songs on the album, sounding like every popular Christmas song ever, but in a great way. If you remember a single song it’ll be that one, with catchy hooks starting in the verse, bringing us to the infectious chorus.
Unfortunately, aside from the few bops, the album is often tame and subdued. Christmas Lullaby (I Will Lead You Home) is about as uninteresting as expected with gently plucked acoustics leading to the calm symphonic side so present in the album. Rather than feeling nestled with Silent Night and such tracks which include delicate instrumentation, it’s quite boring. The symphonic and orchestral portion is vastly less memorable than anything on Home for Christmas, sounding like weak leftovers. On the bright side, Highland Cathedral is fairly punchy, an instrumental track with blasted bagpipes and military-like snares.
The later side of the album drags the whole effort down. Starting after the corny Mister Santa, three skippable tracks fill the album. Welcome To Our World is the best of the easily skippable tracks, quite pretty, but certainly no Christmas classic. Thankfully, after such trouble to make it through the album, it ends triumphantly. Agnus Dei is a heartfelt send off, expressing Amy’s love for her god. In the final track, the album’s inclusion of Patrick Williams Orchestra is transparent and beautifully used, with impressive crescendos, and a host of vocalists.
Where A Christmas To Remember lacks energy, Amy’s Christmas music nonetheless mostly magnetizes. Even when her singing is quiet as a drop of snow, her warm tone is inviting. Whether or not this album is Christmas classic, it’s certainly made to be with sweeping strings, harps, and everything you need for a grandiose spectacle. It’s the effort to create a classy Christmas album that remains compelling, and coupled with Amy’s timeless voice, it goes down nicely.
Ultimately, this is a relaxing bunch of tracks that set a pleasant mood, snug by the fire. There’s a clear intention to not get wild, even in the poppier bits. Perhaps the album is a bit too adult in tone, but it certainly shows a well seasoned performer. It’s more of the type of Christmas music you love from Amy Grant - the grown up version - with well written tracks, and an elegant atmosphere. This may be a Christmas to remember after all.
