Jessie James Decker, On This Holiday Review
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Jessica Rose James Decker is an American country pop singer, songwriter and reality television personality. At age 15, after auditioning for and being rejected by most of the country labels in Nashville, Tennessee, James began working on refining her craft with Carla Wallace of Big Yellow Dog Music. One of her songs attracted the attention of Mercury Records which offered her a recording contract. She released her debut album, Jessie James, in 2009. A few years later in 2013, she starred with her husband Eric Decker, a wide receiver in the National Football League, in the E! reality show Eric & Jessie: Game On, which stopped airing in April 2014, but returned in September 2017. On April 18, 2014, James released an EP through iTunes with 19 Recordings entitled Comin’ Home. On her new label Epic, she released a five-track EP Gold on February 17, 2017 and released a surprise live EP on June 9, 2017 titled Blackbird Sessions. On October 13, 2017, she released her second full-length album and first for Epic Records, Southern Girl City Lights. This year for the 2018 holiday season, her first full-length Christmas album titled, On This Holiday, was released on October 26, 2018 and is perking ears and bring cheer for the season with her beautiful singing. That’s the short of it!
Positives:
Decker has a mighty voice, with clear diction and a round warm sound. Her voice immediately invites the listener to enjoy and entices them to linger longer.
Bottom Line:
On This Holiday is chalk-full of golden holiday nuggets. Kicking off with “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” it sets the tone for a celebratory sound. Decker is poised and resonates a confidence with crystalline pitch and shimmering phrasing. The tunes range from fun and flirty, “Santa Baby,” to a more serious tone on “Do You Hear What I Hear.” Decker’s voice is commanding with the ability to embellish her phrases with ornaments of inflection and soulfulness. Tunes like “Wonderful Day,” offering a traveling song vibe, with jangling guitars and an easy-going spirit. On This Holiday, is a delightful way to soundtrack the holiday, with just enough Country to keep it warm and just enough pop to keep it bright.