A version of this story appears in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, on stands now and available here. Don’t forget to subscribe for exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.
Once Thanksgiving leftovers are filling up your fridge, it’s officially time to break out the holiday music. From Sia to to Hanson, there are plenty of new offerings in 2017 to slot between classics like Mariah Carey’s Merry Christmas and the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. Read on for the best and worst of this year’s festive releases — and for even more ideas, revisit EW’s roundup of 2016 holiday albums.
Hanson, Finally It’s Christmas
The last time Hanson released a holiday album — 1997’s Snowed In — they couldn’t drink or vote. On their second holiday full-length, the charismatic trio bring a more mature worldview and plenty of cheer, imbuing covers of Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas” and the Eagles’ “Please Come Home” with soulful verve. But they shine most on romping originals such as “Til New Years Night” and the title track. B+