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San Antonio Express-News Review

Web Posted : 12/18/2003

Album: Just Country: Have yourself a merry country Christmas

'Tis the season for last-minute holiday shopping and gatherings 'round the eggnog bowl, and a good selection of seasonal CDs should make it all go down a little easier.There's everything from Texas cool that'll make Nashville drool to a couple of keepers from the Music City.

Three albums from the Lone Star State will make Santa extra jolly - San Antonio native Stephanie Urbina Jones' "The Spirit of Christmas," "Happy Holidays" from Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison, and "Holy Cow Christmas, Texas Style," a compilation.

Singer, songwriter and picker extraordinaire Steve Wariner throws in an excellent "Guitar Christmas" while more traditional fare is served from Kathy Mattea's "Joy for Christmas Day" and Suzy Bogguss' "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Jones, the first independent female artist to land a No. 1 hit on the Texas Music Chart with "Shakin' Things Up," lends her distinctively passionate vocals to put her stamp on classics. Best of all, she includes top-shelf originals, including the Latin flavored title track, "Hallelujah Chorus" and the poignant "One Little Boy."

Then she'll put an extra blush in your cheeks, coming on nice and naughty in her rocking "You Light Me Up (Like a Christmas Tree)" and the jazzy "Sexy, Saucy, Sometimes Naughty Time of Year."

Jones also combines music and lyrics in a gift box line of cards and candles, including one with her Christmas album. Her albums and merchandise are available retail or at www. stephanieurbinajones.com.

The husband-wife duo of Willis and Robison offer something to akin to a short fuse on a stick of dynamite. There are only seven songs on their CD, but they're a blast.

Willis, one of country's most gifted vocalists, presents a jazzy side with the standards "Santa Baby" and "Have Yourself a Merry, Little Christmas," while hit-making singer/songwriter Robison pulls heartstrings with "A Winter's Tale" and tickles funny bones with "Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk."

The highlight is "Baby It's Cold Outside." It's flirty fun, and one of the best renditions of the classic duet. So much emotion comes through it's almost embarrassing. The album's available at their shows or on the Web at www.brucerobison.com.

"Holy Cow Christmas" features an eclectic mix of Texas artists and 11 songs, including Jones' Latin-flavored "Silent Night," Jerry Jeff Walker on "Here Comes Santa Claus," the Old 97's with "I'll be Home for Christmas," Cross Canadian Ragweed with a rocking original, "I Know a Man," and Willie Nelson with his classic "Pretty Paper."

Wariner recorded a few holiday classics for family and friends last year, and it grew into a 12-track collection of instrumentals.

It's just Wariner, a protégé of Chet Atkins, playing different guitars in a variety of styles, from jazzy and classical acoustic to open-tuning electric stuff. It makes for exceptional background music for any holiday shindig. The limited-edition CD is available only at www.stevewariner.com.

Hit-maker Mattea takes a more traditional approach with yule standards, spicing up a few with fresh arrangements and cool grooves such as on a drum rocking "Angels We Have Heard on High." It also includes an original co-write, "All Because of Him."

Bogguss puts the spurs to the reindeer with a more organic variation on traditional tunes and includes a couple of songs she wrote - the fun-filled, country-fried "Two-Step 'Round the Christmas Tree" and the touching child's view, "Through Your Eyes."

For the country fans on your list to keep track of the year to come, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville offers a 2004 calendar featuring Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Shania Twain and George Strait. The price is $12.99 in stores or at the museum, (615) 416-2001 or www.countrymusichallof fame.com.