Latest releases reviewed

LEANN RIMES
What a Wonderful World
London/Curb
**

Ho Ho Ho - happy to see that one of the music industry's staples of the season, the Christmas turkey, is alive and well. LeAnn Rimes, the precocious country teenager who has grown into a well-packaged (literally in this case, as she is pictured on the sleeve smiling out of a box) singer of anonymous ballads and other Nashville pop crossover drivel, has been persuaded to revisit traditional seasonal fare, including White Christmas, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. The production values are good and Rimes's full voice is well up to the task, but she adds nothing to these well-worn tunes. The worst is reserved for last - O Holy Night is an unholy mess. Come back Bernadette Greevey, your time has come. www.rimestimes.com

Continuing this excellent 'A Proper Introduction' series, the British budget label turns its attention to the signal contribution of The Carter Family, the trio frequently cited as one of the foundation stones of country music. Maybelle, Sara and A.P Carter were an uncomplicated musical offshoot of a typically complex family union; Sara and A.P. were married for a time and Sara's cousin Maybelle married A.P.'s brother. Their music echoed the sounds of 1920s backwoods Virginia, and while it was a simple mix of traditional ballads and contemporary folk music, the trio's tight harmonies and their guileless performance set them apart. There are 25 tracks on this collection, which is probably more than enough for most, but considering their longevity and the primitive nature of the recordings, the performances have aged remarkably well.

www.propermusic.com