Mark Tremonti has always been known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Between Creed, Alter Bridge and his solo band, he’s also been widely considered one of the most diverse and accomplished guitarists ever. However, when he announced his Tremonti Sings Sinatra project last year, fans weren’t sure if he’d bit off more than he could chew. Tremonti knocked it out of the park and proved he’s got one hell of a voice and that he can truly do it all. This year, he’s reunited with the orchestra he teamed up with for the Sinatra project for Christmas Classics: New & Old and, once again, has hit a grand slam.
Right off the bat with opener “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” the first thing that jumps out at you is the same thing that did on Sinatra, and that’s the fact you could swear you’re listening to the original classic and can’t tell the difference.
Christmas music, when done right, has a very specific feel and aura to it and Tremonti has captured it immaculately with this album. It has the happiness, the pep and the undeniable glee you expect from good Christmas music. Not only that, but there’s a classy vibe to this album.
Songs like “Jingle Bells” see Tremonti putting his own spin on parts but also staying true to the actual foundation of the song and not going too far in the other lane while other classics like “Santa Claus is Comin to Town,” “The Christmas Song,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and Let it Snow” are done so beautifully you can’t deny how good these songs really are.
Then there are Christmas classics you may not expect to be covered like “O Holy Night,” which is a much more traditional song that focuses on the spiritual and religious side of the holiday and it’s just cool to see that song on this record.
“Christmas Morning” shows Tremonti going out on a limb and taking a risk in creating a new holiday song and it’s done so well you may not even realize it’s not a Christmas classic. It’s a risky move to write a new Christmas song because either the expectations are so high or the market is so oversaturated that it’s hard to really do it right but Tremonti does exactly that here.
In the end, it’s hard to find any flaws in this album. Tremonti proves once again that he’s more than just a great guitarist- he’s one of the best singers in all of music- not just rock. With Christmas Classics: New & Old, Tremonti spreads his wings and has created a record that literally anyone can fall in love with. And the advantage of this genre is that if it’s done well and received well, there’s no shortage of Christmas songs to fill up a follow up album.
Tremonti’s renditions are both beautiful and classy but also warm and welcoming at the same time. You can play this record in the background of both the most casual family Christmas morning or the fanciest black tie banquet while you mingle in your tuxedo and gowns.
Rating: 9.5/10
-Reggie Edwards