Hallmark

A low-key collection of Christmas songs, pop (and occasional country), singer Sheryl Crow's "Home for Christmas" features an unexciting, but not un-welcoming, lineup of holiday standards.

The Christmas warmth is particularly tepid with Crow's renditions of "White Christmas" and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Her voice is always good, but this is the singer at perhaps her most uninteresting. Behind a bigger band on the gospel-inspired "Go Tell It on the Mountain," Crow lyrically riffs and is more entertaining.

"The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," with a laid-back, almost reggae feel, is an album highlight, but you won't be thanking Santa for her take on "All Through the Night," "Blue Christmas" or "O Holy Night."

Like a present you expect, but don't really want, "Home for Christmas" isn't awful, but it's definitely not awesome.

"”Joe Wertz