Many tracks on this album have creative arrangements, making use of instruments that are rare in Christmas music, such as harmonicas and flutes. Legend’s medley track, “Merry Christmas Baby / Give Love on Christmas Day,” is a wild card that juggles sexy and fun tones, numerous solos, and several tempo changes. On “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas,” Legend and jazz bassist-singer Esperanza Spalding create compositions that are pleasant to listen to but technically impressive, featuring a trombone solo and perfect vocal harmonizations. Legend makes overplayed Christmas staples sound exciting again and original songs sound as good as established classics. Throughout the album, Legend finds ways to combine jazz, soul, funk, and R&B creatively without sacrificing the holiday feel of his songs. Soul-pop mastermind John Legend gives his all on this record, offering flawless vocal performances and some of the best Christmas song arrangements ever recorded. John Legend - A Legendary Christmas (2018)Ī Legendary Christmas is a perfect holiday album. Silver & Gold is a near-perfect holiday record that has some of the most breathtaking Christmas songs ever made.ġ. The intricate lyrics and meticulous production of Silver & Gold make it a rare gem that only a master like Sufjan Stevens could craft. For example, “Go Nightly Cares” offers a pleasant instrumental interlude, while “Christmas Unicorn” presents a 12-minute critique of holiday consumerism through mythical imagery. Stevens’ originals are also standouts that contribute something different. The album begins with Stevens’ ethereal take on “Silent Night,” which combines his folk instrumentation with elegant piano chords and a choir to create a dreamlike effect. His soft, guitalin-driven folk makes his covers of holiday classics sound original again. Alternating between folk and synth-pop, Silver & Gold melds Stevens’ distinctive sound with Christmas elements flawlessly. Silver & Gold is a 56-track compilation album that demonstrates Stevens’ skills in making Christmas music. With 10 Christmas EPs under his belt, Sufjan Stevens - best known for his acclaimed 2005 album Illinois - has made more Christmas projects than solo studio albums.