I’s the holiday season, which means that everything becomes holiday themed.  Holiday music has been playing since mid-November, but here’s what you should be listening to:

That’s Christmas to Me by Pentatonix

Released in October of this year, the rising acapella group Pentatonix brought their A-game with their newest studio album, That’s Christmas to Me.  With songs such as “Sleigh Ride,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town,” and “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year,” the group covers classic holiday tunes, but adds their own twist to them, since their voices are their only instruments.  “Sleigh Ride” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” have a more modern feel, with imitated electronic beats by the group and simple, largely emphasized vocals.  They don’t have that jingle that the originals seem to carry, but still keep the audience captivated.  “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year” sounds very similar to the original rendition, making the song truly sound like a cover, which is good since the album has such a modern influence to these classics.  Another notable tune is the song that the album is titled after, “That’s Christmas to Me.”  The song is soft and slow, explaining favorite holiday traditions without imitated beats or sung out guitar riffs, only with the performers singing the lyrics.  The group also performs a bonus rendition of the widely popular song “Let It Go,” from the very well known Disney movie Frozen.  Pentatonix’s version of “Let It Go” has a much more cheerful tone than the original, which is sung by Idina Menzel, and could be considered better than the original because of how it doesn’t seem so villainous, like Menzel’s rendition.  If you liked That’s Christmas to Me, then listen to the originals of each song, to compare them for yourself and decide your own personal favorite.

“Silver Nights” by Sabrina Carpenter

Sounding like most holiday songs with the jingle of bells in the background, “Silver Nights” is a new song to be sung this winter.  This song can be added to the batch of well known and popularly played tunes that we can all sing along to for the holidays.  It doesn’t try to copy the rock edge that once breached its way into holiday music, but it isn’t so slow that it lulls the audience to sleep.  “Silver Nights” oozes love and happiness, while still giving a feel of longing for the singer’s significant other.  If you liked “Silver Nights,” then listen to “Merry Christmas Darling” by the Carpenters.  This classic has a similar feel to “Silver Nights” because of the soft instruments in the background and the emphasis placed on the singer’s voice.