"What Christmas Means To Me," the opening track, pulled me in right away with its peppy mo-town sound reminiscent of The Supremes. This song breaks little new ground musically, but its toe-tapping, finger-snapping beat and Mandisa's soulful voice invoke a festive and energetic Christmas spirit.

The second and fourth tracks are new arrangements of traditional carols. "Joy to the World" is infused with a jazzy big band sound. The instrumentation and vocals are top-notch, but there is nothing particular memorable or moving here. "O Holy Night" begins with a sultry feeling - think a smoky lounge with subdued lighting and brushes on the drums - but soon builds to a crescendo of orchestration and emotion which gives Mandisa a chance to showcase her soaring vocal range.

Even though it is standard adult contemporary fare, Mandisa's duet with Matthew West on "Christmas Makes Me Cry" is a strong effort. It's one of those sentimental Josh Groban-esque songs that will either give you chills down your back or make you want to change the radio station as soon as possible. But assuming that you are in the right mood, this is a genuinely moving Christmas song. Invoking imagery of family, friends, Jesus, Mary, and the Virgin Birth, Mandisa reminds us that "love can reach out into a silent night." In this song, she brings a word of encouragement and hope for an emotional and potentially painful time of the year. And for that I am grateful.

Mandisa's voice is a marvel, and the production values are top-notch. However, this EP is not as good as the artist's debut and I doubt it will become a classic.  In my book, that honor still belongs to Handel's Messiah and Perry Como's legendary Christmas albums.

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