Christmas In the Sand

iTunes Review

Colbie Caillat trades sleigh rides and snowmen for the sunshine and beaches of her native Malibu on Christmas in the Sand. Though the singer/songwriter’s take on yuletide music is a tad nontraditional, her first holiday album doesn't lack old-fashioned spirit. Caillat cozies up to a batch of seasonal favorites, bringing in singer/songwriter Gavin DeGraw for a playful rendition of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and tapping county star Brad Paisley for a bluesy duet on “Merry Christmas Baby.” She infuses “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” with teen-rock sparkle and gives “Silver Bells” a tender reading. Colbie’s self-penned songs, however, are the album’s real gift to her fans. The title track sets the overall tone with a breezy strum-along groove and lyrical snapshots of Santa and his reindeer frolicking in the ocean surf. The romantic “Every Day Is Christmas” (featuring Jason Reeves) and the socially conscious “Happy Christmas” are likewise warm, personal offerings that compare favorably with Caillat’s best work, and she delivers them with her characteristic laid-back charm.