Snow flutters about, strings of lights illuminate the night sky and one mitten stretches forth in search of another. The music then swells and Jon Mullane encapsulates the moment as his rasping vocals expel the joys of this season for one and all. The soundtrack to the season is cliché but has never been more fitting.
Mullane’s Feels Like Christmas somehow manages to feel festively familiar while only once falling back on featuring a seasonal standard (it’s not like “Oh Christmas Tree has been done a lot or notably). You may not find any winter wonderlands, jingling bells nor silent and/or holy nights amidst these selections but you with nonetheless find yourself surrounded by the warm glow of the Christmas fire. The Halifax-born singer-songwriter has gifted listeners with eight original songs that will nestle themselves into anyone’s or any station’s holiday playlist.
Spotlighting a sincere vocal styling that resembles prime Goo Goo Doll’s Johnny Rzeznik; Mullane puts forth perfect backing to all the holiday habits we have. Each song swells with the spirit of the season and fits whether you are shopping, shovelling, decorating, or chasing a long-lost love down in a snowstorm to tell them they are the only gift you’ve ever wanted.
“On Christmas Day” possibly best encapsulates the album. It’s a swooning song just dripping with sentimental sensibility. The guitars twang and Jon’s earnest expressions of intent resound in a way that will hit hardest for those of us fortunate enough to be preparing to spend this time with that special someone. Much of the album succumbs to the romanticizing of the season (“Two Hearts for the Holidays”, “The Best Christmas”, “The Gift of You” especially). It could possibly feel overly sappy and saturated but maybe that is just those of us who are bitter and by themselves this particular year. Jon has brought back the warm and fuzzies in a time that is far too often neither of those things.
Feels Like Christmas is overall a thoughtful, emotional stroll to take amidst the Christmas lights. It will best strike a chord with those among us that are lucky enough to be surrounded by happiness and loved ones this season and I won’t be surprised if we find ourselves humming along to the songs for many a year to come.