My Most Favorite 2016 Christmas Albums

Finally, we reach December once again. While the world had gone crazy in 2016, the best musicians on Earth gathering up their last power to (re)create new Christmas albums. Here are some of the christmas / holiday albums that I like very much for 2016. Check this list of Top 2016 Christmas Albums as I always done every year:

01. Tommy Emmanuel - Christmas Memories (2016)
Style : Guitar fingerpick, jazz, acoustic
Buy it HERE 

Tommy did it again. The acoustic guitar guru from Australia bring us many Christmas memories with his music. The album is fully sing by various singers with couple of instrumental number, accompanied by wonderful acoustic guitar by Tommy.

02. David Arkenstone - Winter Fantasy (2016)
Style : New Age, Celtic, Soundtracks, Fantasy
BUY IT HERE

David Arkenstone is three time Grammy awards nominations. He produced a lot of music for various projects such as video games and soundtracks. Dozen of albums he created every year, Winter Fantasy is exceptionally nice. The music of christmas transformed become more fantasy it in. The usage of world instrument and styles, most notably the Celtic-esque style is charming here. Half of the song sing by Charlee Brooks, talented singer with whom David do a lot of collaborations.

03. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood - Christmas Together (2016)
Style : Country, Gospel
 Buy It HERE

A duet Christmas album from two of country music super stars, what a Christmas! Lots of new songs with holiday theme as well.

04. Trisha Yearwood - Christmas ICON 2016
Style : Country, Gospel, Pop
Buy It Here

This is the greatest christmas tunes compilation from Trisha. This need to be on the list!

05. Nelson - This Christmas Too (2016)
Style : Rock, Country, Holiday
Buy it HERE

Remember the Nelson Brother back in the early '90? The duo who sing (You Got Me) All Shook Up some twenty years ago. Matthew and Graham Nelson are still very active in music scene. This album will gives you wonderful holiday atmosphere with all their creativities.

06. Vincent Ingala - Chrismas (2016)
Style : Smooth Jazz, Saxophone
Buy it Here

Vincent Ingala is new force in saxophone jazz, this is his debut Christmas album. The promotion notes: The multi-instrumentalist and entertainer showcases his saxophone, guitar, piano and vocals throughout the album, offering a unique variety that will be sure to appeal to all listeners. Guest artists include Ariana Savalas, (daughter of Telly Savalas and featured vocalist of Postmodern Jukebox), Justin Shandor, (vocalist/entertainer in Million Dollar Quartet, Las Vegas), and veteran Smooth Jazz guitarist, Steve Oliver.

07. Grady Nichols - Falling in Love with Christmas (2016)
Style : Smooth Jazz, Saxophone
Buy it Here

We can't have enough saxophone christmas album, Grady Nichols is another sax star to be listen in this 2016 holiday.

08. Matt Redman - This Christmas Light (2016)
Style : Gospel, Worship
Buy it Here

God blessed Matt Redman with his new Christmas album. Here the notes we can just copied : Matt Redman, the acclaimed worship leader and writer behind the worship anthems 10,000 Reasons, Blessed Be Your Name, & Better Is One Day, is releasing his very first Christmas album. Written while on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem, Redman drew inspiration from the Holy Land. That locale and surrounding yielded a stirring collection of Christmas-inspired worship songs, perfect for celebrating the true reason for the season. He will also be joining Chris Tomlin on a nationwide Christmas tour this fall.

09. Emily Smith - Song for Christmas (2016)
Style : Folk, Jazz, Pop, Scottish
Buy it Here

Emily Smith is Scottish award winner singer. Come listen to her Christmas album that has many folk music in it.

10. Amelia Ong - Christmas Song Books (2016)
Style ; Vocal Jazz
Buy it Here

Another our proud Indonesian singer to reach international fame. Amelia Ong was born in Purwokerto city in Central Java Indonesia. She is now taken her career to Australia. Christmas Song Books is her humble holiday album with wonderful jazzy feel.

Check also my previous year list of christmas albums :

2015 Christmas Album Releases
2014 Christmas Albums Releases
Guitar Shredding Christmas Albums

Top 2015 Christmas and Holiday Album for All Styles

Each year, we compiled a list of interesting new release Christmas album recommendations. Here are the list for 2015 most interesting Christmas album recently released.
Elvis Presley - Elvis: Ultimate Christmas Songs (2015)
BUY IT HERE

style: Rock N' Roll 

Let's start with the king of Rock n' Roll. Elvis Presley classic christmas songs come alive again in these double album.

Kylie Christmas (2015)
BUY IT HERE

style: POP, Disco

Kylie Minogue pulled out her first stand alone Christmas album. The Aussie singer already has prestigious world wide singing career, so why not sing a Christmas tunes for us now.

The Overtones: Good Ol' Fashioned Christmas (2015)
BUY IT HERE

style: vocals, pop, 

The Overtones is five piece male vocals group. They are hot group from London that gonna sing the good Ol' Fashioned Christmas songs for everyone this year.

Chris Tomlin - Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship (2015)
BUY IT HERE

style: Christian, Hymne, Pop Rock, Guitar Acoustic

Adorable Christian hymne for Christmas, for the baby has born today!

Rob Van Bavel - The Christmas Three (2015)
BUY IT HERE

style: piano jazz, trio 

For jazz piano lover. Rob is expert pianist and he arranged some very nice Christmas song with his trio band (Rob van Bavel: Piano, Stefan Lievestro: Bass, Hans Van Oosterhout: Drums).

Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet) - The Christmas Album (2015)

BUY IT HERE

style: pop rock

from the excerpts; Tony Hadley's first-ever Christmas album recorded and produced in Italy. The album features two brand new songs: "Every Second I'm Away"- written by Tony Hadley, Claudio Guidetti & Annalisa Scarrone, and "Snowing All Over The World" written by Tony Hadley, together with some of his favorite Christmas classics.

Kenny Rogers - Once Again It's Christmas [Exclusive Edition] (2015)

BUY IT HERE

style : country 

The legendary Kenny Rogers once again recorded his Christmas album. He has several of them, but hey, it's Kenny Rogers singing so worth them all. The album feature guest vocalist from Alison Krauss and Jennifer Nettles.

Best 2014 Christmas Holiday Albums For All Styles

Christmas 2014 is coming, here compilations of best Christmas / Holiday albums to spoiled yourself in this winter / not-so-winter holiday. All brand new song composition from Idina Menzel, Dave Koz to Gregorian. Compiled from various styles to suit everyone!

01. Gregorian - Winter Chants
BUY IT HERE
Style: Gregorian chant, classical, new age

New Age guru, Gregorian is chanting new holiday and Christmas tune with their heavenly voices. A must have for Gregorian fans

02. Pentatonix – That’s Christmas To Me (2014)
BUY IT HERE
Style: A Capella, Pop

Pentatonix is  A Capella quintet from Arlington Texas. This album is Christmas album in full A Capella arrangement. Listen to their silk and soft voices.

03. Idina Menzel – Holiday Wishes (2014) 
BUY IT HERE
Style: Pop, R/B, Female

From Idina 'Elsa' Menzel, this is must be one of most anticipated Holiday album. A wishes come true for all her fans around the world.

04. Earth, Wind & Fire – Holiday (2014)
BUY IT HERE
Style: Soul, Funk, Fusion, Jazz

And for something serious, here comes the soul and funk maestro, Earth, Wind & Fire in their blasting Holiday album.

05. Michael W. Smith - The Spirit of Christmas (2014)
BUY IT HERE
Style: Pop, Rock, Soft Jazz

Michael W. Smith is take care for the male voices of pop Christmas album this year, tune in for his ever lasting voices with many guests such as Vince Gill, Lady Antebellum, Amy Grant, Bond and others

06. Dave Koz and Friends - The 25th of December (2014)
BUY IT HERE
Style : Saxophone, Jazz, Pop

Saxophonist Dave Koz are gathering friends for his 25th of December party. Included in the invitee list are Eric Benet, India.Arie, Gloria Estefan, Kenny G, Heather Headley, Richard Marx, Stevie Wonder, Jonathan Butler, Fantasia, Trombone Shortly, Bebe Winans, and Johny Mathis. What a wonderful list of musicians in one album!

07. Christmas at Downton Abbey (2014)
BUY IT HERE
Style : Original Soundtrack, Pop, Broadway, 19th Century

The cast of Downtown Abbey TV series is also don't want to be left behind for 2014 Christmas. Here the 2 CD album full of Holiday tunes from most popular TV Series in UK.

08.  Leann Rimes - "One Christmas: Chapter One" (2014)
BUY IT HERE
 Style : Country, Pop

The young LeAnn Rimes is putting her new chapter with "One Christmas" - Chapter 1. This is an EP in country style.

09. Sara Evans – At Christmas (2014)
BUY IT HERE
Style : Country, Pop

Sara Evans also very excited to released her first holiday album, she can't wait to delivered it for you, as she said in her Youtube message.

10. Ragnarok Juletide / Raskasta Joula
BUY IT HERE
Style: Heavy Metal, Power Metal

For fans of heavy metal, this is a Christmas theme project by member of Nightwish and Sonata Arctice. They also has massive range of guest vocalist such as Elize Rydd (Amaranthe), Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone) etc. All are Finland's most prominent metal figures. This is kind of Trans Siberian Orchestra + Avantasia in opera style. Enough of guitar riffs for a head banging Christmas.

Check also:
2015 Best Christmas Albums
LIST OF GUITAR SHREDDING X'MAS ALBUMS OF THE TIME

Album Baru Stryper The Covering 2011

UFO, Iron Maiden and Van Halen in one album? That's right, it's all in Stryper's new album, The Covering. Surprise little for a Christian Metal Band also covering Black Sabbath 'Heaven and Hell', no other reason because it is more Metal and kick X>< classic. Songs are very close to original, but with re vocal by Michael Sweet it is sound Stryper as usual.

See Stryper The Covering here.



Band:

Michael Sweet (vocals)
Robert Sweet (guitars)
Oz Fox (drums)
Timothy Gaines (bass)

Track listing:
1. Set Me Free (Sweet)
2. Blackout (Scorpions)
3. Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath)
4. Lights Out (UFO)
5. Carry on Wayward Son (Kansas)
6. Highway Star (Deep Purple)
7. Shout it Out Loud (Kiss)
8. Over the Mountain (Ozzy Osbourne)
9. The Trooper (Iron Maiden)
10. Breaking the Law (Judas Priest)
11. On Fire (Van Halen)
12. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin)
13. God (new studio track)

List of Shredding X'Mas Album

Merry Christmas soon and here list of Christmas shredding album that I aware:

Merry Axemas Vol.1 and 2 

 Various Artists (Satriani, Vai, Morse, Eric Johnson, etc.)

All around styles compiled and put into two disc. My favorite included Stu Ham hamping Sleigh Ride, Kenny Shepperd on the opening track "Rudolph...." and Morse's Joy to the World

 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Eve and others stories

 Founded by Paul O'Neill, this supergroup recorded some f(^& @$$ Christmas theme albums. Guitarist are Al Pitrelli etc, most of tracks are masterpiece and show how shredding sound a Christmas songs can be. There are other albums with Christmas theme as well from this group.

One Silent Night - Neil Zaza

 So called melodic guitarist, this album promise cut and clear improvisation of the christmas thematic melody.

 

Holiday String - Michael Angelo Batio

Even shred guru MAB recorded a guru Christmas Songs!

Santa Mental - Steve Lukather & Friends

Veteran TOTO guitarist also can't resisted to recorded his version of Silent Night. With his guitarist ring of friends expected other guest guitarist on the album (Slash, Vai, Van Halen).

Ho Ho Hoey - Gary Hoey

Classic tunes from Fender master clinician Gary Hoey.

Intuition A Season To Rock (2012)
A jamming session between musicians of Iron Horse band from Southern US, then join by seasoned guitarist Chris Bickley , Italian bassist Dino Fiorenza and keyboardist Luccio Nicolosi. Then Gaetano Nicolosi and Mike Bidwell completely the line up.

Peace on Earth - Kitaro

Not exactly shredding but Kitaro recorded one of the most New Age-ish Christmas record. My personal favorite for instrumental rock album!

And for some paradox of life, those hairy guys in metal band also did sing a Christmas/Holiday tune. Some of Christmas album with vocal:


 Halford III - Winter Songs
Epic "We Three Kings of Oriental" version!


Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year
Alice Cooper, Dio, Chuch Billy and other 60 years old vocalist!

and of course there are plenty others too. Have a Merry Shredding Christmas!