Christmas with Yolanda Adams
The queen of modern R&B-influenced gospel soul brings a typically  updated approach to this, her first Christmas album. Although the singing is  less intense and earth-shatteringly amazing than on last year's breakthrough,Mountain High... Valley  Low--how intense can one be when singing "Little Drummer Boy"? Her take  on "It Came upon a Midnight Clear" is so thick with slow-jam funk that it almost  loses its way, but it never does, and is instead a highlight of this solid  (although not superlative) disc. Unfortunately, this is mostly a set of secular  shopping mall tunes. One notable exception is "Born on This Day," which drops a  heavy choir funk vibe. And her take on "O Holy Night" is so truly transporting  that it'll have you taking a cue from the song and falling down on your knees in  thanks for the many blessings of the holiday season.--James Conde