With a laid back, modern folkie vibe that recalls both Iron & Wine and The Swell Season, Birmingham songwriter Wilder Adkins has made a cozy Christmas album that is going to get a lot of repeat listens in my house this year.  Most songs feature just a gentle acoustic guitar or two,  with which Wilder has written a handful of original songs that reverently tell the story of Jesus birth. This is no shopping frenzy soundtrack nor is there a hint of the schmaltzy radio tunes which tend to clog the airways, this is Adkins and a few different female vocalists. Standout tracks include the slide-guitar blues of "Balthasar's Blues" and "On His Shoulders", which features delicious harmonies courtesy of Mandi Mapes.
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