Latest Leaks Reveal Some Surprising Holiday Releases...
The holidays are fast approaching, and we know what that means: new Christmas albums by older, previously-edgy artists. According to data partner BigChampagne, Bob Dylan’s Christmas in the Heart started leaking across the internet on Thursday following its limited-edition early release to a Citibank loyalty rewards program. The official release date is October 13th.
Reactions are decidedly mixed, but after recovering from the initial shock of, well, a Dylan Christmas album, some fans and critics are stunned that this is not merely a charity quickie. Instead, some are reacting to a thoughtful musical exploration of the roots of the American caroling tradition, and their close kinship to the type of folk music that made Dylan famous.
Also dipping his toe into the holiday music waters is Sting. His album If On a Winter’s Night began leaking this week as well, ahead of an official release date of October 27th. Like Dylan, this is Sting’s first holiday album and is also a deeper take on winter songs. On this collection, Sting avoids popular carols in favor of a darker rediscovery of traditional, centuries-old seasonal music of the British Isles. To that end, Sting is joined by virtuosos of regional instruments such as the Northumbrian pipes and the metal-string Scottish harp.
Report by John Robinson.
