Vocalist Tamia may be offering a simple prayer on her near-gospel take on "The Christmas Song," but it's the standout cut among this uneven dozen -- one can swear that reindeer do fly just because she says (and sings) that they do.
Jagged Edge contribute a fine, slow-jam harmony on "This Christmas." Gerald Levert works up a sweat on "Christmas Without My Girl," while Alicia Keys spins a little rap and a sex change on the "Little Drummer Girl." Dupri throws in some surprisingly reverent emotions from Voices of Soul, the re-emerging Chaka Khan and "The Deacon of Dulcet," Kenny Lattimore.
Nonetheless, this set is awfully tender, making one hunger for a tougher volume, like last year's offering from the Death Row Records gang.
