It may be hard to believe, but 2018's is the first Christmas record ever released. Chalk this up to the band breaking up in 1970, long before Christmas records were common among rockers, but 2018 is also the right time for to deliver a Christmas record because the group figured out how to make the right kind of modern album with 2016's A clever combination of made-to-order originals and gussied-up old recordings, the -produced managed to feel simultaneously fresh and familiar, a combination that lends itself well to holiday albums. contains many of the same collaborators as -- returns as producer and he co-wrote "House of Broken Gingerbread" with , while , , and & all deliver new songs -- and it has the same feel, blurring the lines between the past and present so thoroughly that it no longer matters to discover where they're separated. 's presence is also a tell that leans into power pop: the back half contains versions of 's "Jesus Christ," 's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day," and 's "Wonderful Christmastime," each sounding at home in this smartly self-referential version of . If the two songs aren't as successful as those on , it's only because the tracks date from somewhere after the '60s, so he's not as boyish as he sounded on the last record. Then again, both and carry their ages well, helping to give this a nice sentimental undercurrent, while remains something of a small wonder. All these years later, he sounds cheerful and committed singing these songs, acting out the songs with gusto, and his enthusiasm is infectious. He's having a great time, as is everybody else making the record, and it's hard for the listener at home not to smile too. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine