Rating: 8/10
Ben Folds’ entry into the realm of holiday music with “Sleigher” uses his warmth, charm and creativity to create an enjoyable experience among holiday albums.
In an interview with Variety, the singer-songwriter talked about how the album turned from a typical holiday outing with familiar covers to a project infused with his personality.
“It ended up being more of an original album than I expected,” Folds said. “As I began to write, I realized how Christmas just frames everyone’s year.”
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This album comes just a year after his latest release and fifth studio album, “What Matters Most,” which was Folds’ first album in eight years. “Sleigher” continues themes of self-reflection and growth in a changing world. Folds brings this reflectiveness and warmth to the album that only he can.
“Christmas really frames the year, so that you’re back in it and you can really know where you are because all the other variables have been eliminated,” Folds said.
“Sleigher” is a hopeful album that revisits fond memories of holidays past while maintaining a positive attitude for the future. By not falling into the trap of solely sticking to cover songs on a holiday album, he delivers on an honest Folds experience.
The opening track, “Little Drummer Bolero,” is a warm piano instrumental that sets the mood for the rest of the album, perfectly capturing the charm of the holiday season.
“Sleepwalking Through Christmas” is wholly reflective of what Folds achieves through this album. The song is a ponderous look at the year passing by him and lost love, accompanied by a slow-marching drumbeat and piano.
“Floating away/ I spend my days/ Out of body far above the haze/ Dreaming as I go through the motions,” Folds sings, delivering on his promise of using the holidays as a framing device for his experiences of the past year.
The third track on the album, “Me and Maurice,” is by far the most emotionally poignant, touching on childhood memories of holidays past and the way relationships change over time. The song is representative of the album’s soul, with the warm nostalgia of its lyrics breathing life into the track.
“‘Cause me and Maurice/ We’re digging a hole/ The yard’s on a freeway/ We don’t know where it goes/ Santa Monica, maybe/ Or all the way to the North Pole,” Folds sings, reminiscing a simpler time.
From there, “Christmas Time Rhyme” speaks to the craziness of family reunions and reconnections during the holidays. An upbeat piano and drumbeat make for a lively track that keeps the fun of the album.
“Waiting for Snow” is the second piano instrumental on the album, which manages to capture the anticipation of its title by maintaining a fast-paced tempo without feeling too anxious.
“We Could Have This” features singer and actress Lindsey Kraft in an optimistic romantic duet centered around the holidays. It details a romance in the making and is the album’s most hopeful song.
“Another holiday and we’re still here/ Not quite together yet/ But we are growing nearer,” Folds sings, wishing for the pieces to fall into place for this relationship to work.
As it continues, the album indulges in covers of Christmas songs past, like the ever-famous “The Christmas Song,” which Folds delivers with all of its classic charm.
However, even when finding covers of holiday songs, he gets creative with his choices, covering more obscure tracks like “The Bell That Couldn’t Jingle” and “You Don’t Have To Be A Santa Claus.”
The album’s last original song, “Xmas Aye Eye,” doesn’t quite fit with Folds’ style. Detailing an AI writing a Christmas song, it leans more toward a hyperpop style of music, with loud background instrumentation and excessive energy.
The intro to the song is a voiceover by Folds in the writing process for the album and deciding to turn to AI to finish the final song — a fun idea that isn’t all that clever or tonally consistent with the album.
Despite a misstep or two, Folds produces an absolutely worthwhile holiday listening experience, using his creativity and originality to deliver an album sure to keep you warm this holiday season.
