If you know me, Ariana Grande is pretty much the only mainstream artist I keep tabs on, and kept tabs on I did when her new six-track Christmas album filled with original songs recorded in Grande's own house in under a week dropped December 18, this festive month. Grande surprised fans with this EP, produced by Republic Records, only posting sneak peek videos a couple days before it came out, something the singer is fond of doing. In anticipation of her third studio album, "Moonlight," which will be released in 2016, the 22 year-old singer came out with the first single from her album, the upbeat older sister of her sophomore album's first single, "Problem," "Focus" was released in October this year which showcased an older and more refined sound; something Grande was aiming for. She states that she wanted it to be a bridge between her previous album, "My Everything" and her new sound on "Moonlight."
"Christmas & Chill" was reported to be very well-received with critics, Rolling Stone magazine states that the record is, "romantic Christmas ballads over trap beats," saying that like her previous year's Holiday hit, "Santa Tell Me," the standout song of the album is "Winter Things" (which I quoted in my sub-headline!) where it is hinted that the song references the hot weather in Grande's hometown of Boca Raton, Florida (much like Jakarta, Indonesia!). Critic Winston Cook-Wilson of Inverse states that the EP is "the best Holiday music in several decades or centuries." The album is a more mature, velvety take on Christmas, hinted at the the album title's nod towards the ever-popular phrase, Netflix & Chill (yes, Netflix & Chill made it onto this article). The album lives up to its name, as it is a very chill album, replacing most of Grande's usual powerhouse vocals for silky smooth falsettos, add in a couple of sleigh bells, and you have yourself a very modern and catchy take on a Christmas album. Go Ari!
The album boasts six original tracks, "Intro," "Wit It This Christmas" (yes, spelled 'Wit'), "December," 'Not Just On Christmas," "True Love," and the fan favorite, "Winter Things." Although I enjoy all these songs and the album as a whole, my favorite on the EP would also have to be "Winter Things" (because I relate; it looks nothing like Christmas outside!).
So if you're tired of listening to ye same old Christmas songs, give this album a listen, and wait for my review of "Moonlight" next year!
