When it comes to Holiday tunes, Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn have mailed us a delightful surprise with A Christmas Card. The album, akin to a brightly wrapped package adorned with eleven twinkling and shining musical ornaments, brings a fresh and exciting twist to the Christmas song tradition. With humor and a touch of irreverence, Eaglesmith and Ginn reinvigorate the seasonal spirit, reminding us that Christmas can still be a joyous, laughter-filled affair in spite of adversities.

The songs on the album transport us into a whimsical world where Santa has traded in his traditional sleigh for a hot rod version, Rudolph is now equipped with a GPS to make sure he gets where he’s going, and Santa is spending his winter in the Florida Keys. Meanwhile, a truck driver endeavors to make it home for Christmas, navigating the precarious possibility of a blown motor. Amidst these comical scenarios, the duo playfully reminds us that Christmas is truly all about the elves.

Beyond the laughter, the album carries a deeper meaning, encouraging reflection on the idea of returning to a time before things fell apart. It touches on the universal theme of the longing for home, emphasizing that sometimes we're away for too long and it's time to go back. Yet, at other times, it advocates rolling with the metaphorical snow, embracing Christmas for whatever it is. Whether you're in for a good wintertime or a hound dog Christmas day, the album promises to bring happiness and joy, embodying the spirit of the holiday season.

The idea for A Christmas Card dates back a decade when Eaglesmith and Ginn, nestled in their home in Waterford, Ontario, penned the whimsical "Cocktails With Santa" and "Hound Dog Christmas Day." These initial songs, recorded on an iPad with their five-year-old son Blue, set the stage for a Christmas album that would gestate over the next ten years. After years of touring, the Eaglesmith-Ginn family, accompanied by their trusty dog Sunny, found themselves settling in a quaint shack on the north shore of Lake Erie. The decision to record a Christmas album emerged organically as the family, finally anchored in a home, saw the logical opportunity to capture the festive spirit they had cultivated over the years.

In a time saturated with traditional Holiday fare, Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn's A Christmas Card stands out as a unique and welcome addition having been recorded in their vintage home studio with analog gear, including mechanical reverbs reminiscent of yesteryear.