Jane Lynch: A Swingin' Little Christmas!
AllMusic; Amazon; Discogs; iTunes; official website
This came out in 2016. I first listened to it in 2021. As the title suggests, it's mostly swing music. Accompanying Lynch are The Tony Guerrero Quintet, and other artists on a few songs.
1. A Swingin' Little Christmas Time: This is an original song. It's okay, I guess. But I'm not even sure if Lynch sang on it or not.
2. Up on the Housetop: Lynch definitely sings on this, but so do other people. It's a decent version of the song.
3. Winter's Never Cold (When You're Around): Another original song. This one's just Lynch, except for some backing vocals. It's a decent song.
4. Good King Wenceslas: feat. Kate Flannery. This gets mashed up with "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and "O Come All Ye Faithful"; and the parts about Wenceslas have new lyrics that are meant to be humorous. It's not bad.
5. Hallelujah Chorus: I have no idea what to say about this.
6. Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella: I've never heard of this, but the album notes call it "traditional". It's okay, I guess.
7. Sentimental Christmas: yet another original song, with both sincere-sounding and humorous lyrics. Like a lot of the songs here, someone is accompanying Lynch on vocals, but I don't know who. For the most part, I didn't enjoy the jokes. But at least it sounds good.
8. Jingle Bells: It was okay.
9. Coventry Carol: Not swing, actually sounds traditional, even if I'm not familiar with it. It's okay.
10. Christmas Is My Favorite Time of Year: feat. Tim Davis. Another original song. I don't think Lynch sang on this at all. I liked it well enough.
11. Hey There, Santa: feat. Kate Flannery. Another original song. And again no Lynch. And it's another humorous song. It's okay.
12. The First Noel / Canon in D: Not swing. It's nice.
13. We Three Kings: Again people besides just Lynch sing and I don't know who. It's got a sound that's somewhere between traditional and big band, I'd say. Not bad.
14. Silent Night: feat. Tony Guerrero. This is purely instrumental, and it sounds fairly traditional to me, or maybe smooth jazz. It was decent.
15. Carol of the Russian Children: I have no idea what to say about this, except that it's short.
Well, for the most part I enjoyed the album, even if it's not something I'm super excited about.