Album: Mariah Carey, Merry Christmas II You (Mercury)

Andy Gill
Thursday 16 December 2010 20:00 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

It's 16 years since Mariah Carey's first Christmas album, and there's nothing here to suggest she's developed significantly since then.

Indeed, the addition of an "Extra Festive" mix of that album's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" rather shames the newer material, little of which challenges it for sheer exuberance. The best new tracks are those helmed by Jermaine Dupri, the skipping-song-style single "Oh Santa!" and a "Here Comes Santa Claus". Elsewhere, ill-fitting carols are clumsily medleyfied together, lush strings swamp breathy balladry, and a children's choir gives "One Child" a Jackson-esque glutinous quality. But none of this prepares one for Mariah's duet with her opera-singing mom on a mis-matched medley of "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Hallelujah Chorus": make it stop, someone!

DOWNLOAD THIS Oh Santa!; Here Comes Santa Claus; All I Want for Christmas Is You

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in