The title of Hell of a Holiday is a wink at Hell on Heels, the title of Pistol Annies debut album, but it also signals what the spirit of this seasonal set is: its as lively, funny, and original as any of the other three albums from the country supergroup. Instead of recycling a bunch of shopworn holiday tunes -- there are only three covers here, including a swinging rendition of Sleigh Ride and a simmering reworking of Merle Haggards If We Make It Through December -- Pistol Annies deliver ten originals that hold true to their sense of humor and style. There are plenty of moments of frivolity, whether its the playful trinket thats Snow Globe or the tongue-in-cheek blues Harlan County Coal, yet these are balanced by moments of sincerity. The slow-burning Make You Blue is in the vein of Blue Christmas, Leanin on Jesus reconnects with the heart of the holiday, and The Only Thing I Wanted keys in on the melancholy lurking on the edges of all the festivities. Throughout it all, Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley harmonize and trade lines with gusto, all while being supported by a crackerjack band who truly gives the music swing and soul. It delivers what all good Christmas albums should: a personalized spin on the spirit of the season. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Rovi