****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I got this album because it was on sale, and I like Darius Rucker a lot. However, I was on the fence when I purchased it because we have a LOT of Christmas albums already, and I wondered if we really needed yet another one since most Christmas albums are just the same songs sung by different artists without much variation.Home For The Holidays, however, far exceeded my expectations. Darius Rucker definitely put his own stamp on his songs, and there were a couple original songs - "What God Wants For Christmas" and "Candy Cane Christmas" - both of which are excellent. The lyrics for "What God Wants For Christmas" really focus on the true reason and spirit of the Christmas, which made me like it even more.Although the rest of the songs are covers they of popular Christmas songs they are done VERY well. I think his cover of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is the best version I've ever heard of it, including the original. Also his duet with Sheryl Crow on "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is really good. I never cared for that song much before but I loved their version of it.So this album was not one thrown together quickly to make a fast buck and cash in on Christmas. Darius Rucker crafted one of the best Christmas albums I've heard in many years.
