Urban Music 2000 - Mary Mary - A Mary Mary Christmas

With a name like theirs, maybe it is inevitable that they would add a Christmas album to their discography. Then again, only the top acts that can carry this off successfully so Mary Mary, spearheads in the ministry, certainly qualify on their credentials. They have wisely kept this one brief, under 40 minutes, perhaps in recognition of seasonal albums' limited air-time (and ear-time).

So Christmas albums rarely rise above the purpose of a backdrop to one's festivities but the odd track here may attract your attention. Choice cuts are `Carol Of The Bells', `Still The Lamb' and the 70's styled `Tis The Season'. `California Christmas' encourages us to go outside, though we in the UK will prefer to stay indoors and shake a leg to the remix.

Seasonal albums are already limited in their scope. Cutting straight to the chase with more power tracks like `Still The Lamb' and the double time `Call Him Jesus' is what gospel practitioners are blessed to do. Dishing out token carols where the melody remains the same (`Merry Little Christmas', `O Come All Ye Faithful') and the schmaltzy `California Christmas' may be necessary but are a no-no for me - and such fare should be left to secular artists to churn out.

Mary Mary Christmas fulfils its purpose but, because it misses the chance to portray a more defined message and perspective of the season, it has no killer punch. Gift-wrapped, but hardly a surprise.