Michael Londra gets festive

Beyond The Star
(Celt Productions)

Locally based Irish native Michael Londra has taken the logical step and made a holiday album — and, like he told the Sun-Times, he doesn’t rock the house.

Londra’s tenor voice was built for projection, and so it does throughout these dozen tracks. Over a heavily arranged and epic soundtrack, he’s at sweeping ease with originals (the title track), traditionals (“Silent Night”), and even Celtic offerings (“Don Oíche Úd I MBeithil”) and soars in parts where others strain. Depending on your view, the sequencing is either genius or crippling (“Winter, Fire And Snow” and the title track sound of a single piece), and the lack of pace begins to drag near the end — “O Come, O Come Emanuel” isn’t very anxious for its savior’s arrival and there’s a desperate need for “Ye Faithful” or “Joy To The World.” But if you require something to make the room a little warmer while you tear through wrapping paper, Wexford’s son will be there to open the flue.

– Steve Forstneger

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