Hot CDs for your Christmas collection

With Christmas almost around the corner, The Beat look at some releases that could be the perfect gift you were looking for.

Florence + The Machine: Ceremonials
“This is the first time I’ve made a record with a sort of overarching, cohesive sound” says Florence Welch, singer for Florence + The Machine's. “It’s a proper studio album in that sense: a group of songs that paint a unified picture of where I am in my life right now.” Recorded with her full band over five weeks this summer in Abbey Road's legendary Studio 3, 'Ceremonials' is another product of her long-running collaboration with producer Paul Epworth. Together they’ve created an expansive art-pop vision that can be both captivatingly tender while still frequently soaring to places where it can overwhelm the senses like an emotive tidal wave. It’s a rich tapestry that unpicks the conventions of classic pop, shoots them through a black hole and reconstitutes them into a multi-layered, future-primitive stomp. And underpinning it all, Florence's beguiling, epic vocals. A mature masterpiece that confirms its creator is in for the long haul. “I feel like it’s a record made by someone becoming a woman, becoming a grown-up. And it’s about all the problems that go hand-in-hand with that” says Florence. If you haven't given Florence a listen, then we HIGHLY reccomend you do - NOW!

Various Artists: 100 RnB and Urban Essentials 
Following on the platinum selling "100 RnB and Soul Essentials," you now get ‘100 RnB and Urban Essentials’ which is exactly that! 100 classic tracks spanning the past 5 decades. Included are huge hits from Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, Nicki Minaj, Akon, Drake, Keri Hilson, Barry White, Boyz II Men, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, plus many, many more. All packaged in a beautiful 6CD box at a brilliant price! As we said before ‘What more could a person want!!’


Justin Bieber: Under The Mistletoe 
Baby Baby singer Justin Bieber begins his third year on the world stage with the release of his first Christmas album, Under The Mistletoe. The album is a seasonal mix of traditional Christmas standards and newly penned holiday music largely co-written by Justin Bieber. The CD will be available both as a standard and as a deluxe CD + DVD edition. The deluxe CD edition includes 25 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage plus the video for “Pray,” along with four additional holiday songs. Under The Mistletoe's first single “Mistletoe” has been launched worldwide and the accompanying video was shot by Roman White, who also directed Justin’s “One Less Lonely Girl” video. It’s a well-written, excellently produced and exciting Christmas album for fans of the Bieber.

Mary J. Blige: My Life II...The Journey Continues (Act 1)
Mary J. Blige's 10th studio album, "My Life II…The Journey Continues (Act 1)," continues to display hers distinct and undeniably remarkable voice as well as her proven ability to deliver timeless hits. The CD was recorded in Los Angeles and New York with producers including Danja, Kanye West, Stargate, Swizz Beatz and The Underdogs. "From me to you, "My Life II".....our journey together continues in this life. It's a gift to be able to relate and identify with my fans at all times. This album is a reflection of the times and lives of people all around me," says Mary. It's a back-to-basics approach for Mary and a clever updating of the hip-hop souls she pioneered. Fans will love it!

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