A LaFace Family Christmas [Arista]

Performer: La Face Artists/Various Artists
Distributor: BMG Special Products

Notes: Producers include: Daryl Simmons, L.A. Reid, Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parrish, Organized Noize. Engineers include: Jim"Z" Zumpano, Darin Prindle, NHP Sounds. Early -- and non-album -- efforts from TLC, OutKast, and Usher highlight this 1993 LaFace Family Christmas collection. Although TLC had success early on, their later career successes would provide them with the biggest hits, both with R&B and pop audiences. And while the two songs here, "Sleigh Bells" and "All I Want for Christmas," both lean toward the new jack swing sound popular in the early '90s, they manage to stand the test of time and shine with non-traditional holiday cheer. OutKast have always been ambitious boundary-pushers of rap, but only a sentimental thug is likely to be charmed by "Player's Ball." Other tracks from Toni Braxton, A Few Good Men, and McArthur (anyone?) round out the tracks with more somber and unassuming Yuletide fare. It's not a Christmas collection for everyone, but manages to remain faithful to the holiday spirit and have fun with it as well. ~ Wade Kergan A La Face Family Christmas is a collection of soulful renditions of holiday songs by famous R&B artists. Big names like Usher and TLC make their presence known on a few songs, but the album is surprisingly average. Toni Braxton's jazzy rendition of Mel Torm�'s "Christmas Song" is a highlight, as well as Outkast's quirky "Player's Ball." But other than OutKast's excellent debut "Player's Ball," the album is lacking any truly strong tracks, leaving listeners with a few pretty good songs but nothing amazing. Still, fans of these artists will not be disappointed; this is exactly what you would expect from them on a Christmas album. Just be warned that this is not a great album, just a solid one. ~ Bradley Torreano

Entertainment Weekly (11/12/93, p.59) - "...a new-jack holiday..." - Rating: A

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