Joining the ranks of artists releasing Christmas albums this year is Martina McBride, whose White Christmas marks her first foray into holiday recording. White Christmas is a very traditional-sounding album, from the song selection to the arrangements and orchestration. There aren't any vocal surprises, either; Martina sings these songs in as classic a style as Perry Como. All in all, White Christmas is as classically beautiful and nostalgic as the warm and fuzzy holiday images conjured up by songs like "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow," and of course, what better song may Christmas dreams be made of than the title track, "White Christmas?"

The only disappointing thing about this album might be the very thing that makes it good; that is, the classic holiday sound that will keep this record playing in the background at countless holiday dinners and department stores also lacks an edge that would lift it above the crowd of other seasonal releases. McBride possesses one of the strongest female voices in contemporary country music, and her Christmas album is missing some of the vocal power and emotion that she's brought to songs like "Broken Wing" and "Independence Day." Overall, however, White Christmas is still a nice album to have in collection.

Favorite tracks: "O Holy Night," "What Child is This" -- Shannon Wayne Turner