Source : In contrast, there’s far more wholesome traditional fare on Annie Lennox’s A Christmas Cornucopia (Island). This enduringly brilliant vocalist (and incidentally, a December 25 baby) focuses on much-loved hymns such as God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and In The Bleak Midwinter, and her unmistakably rich and deep tones are a delight throughout. The album also includes Lennox’s new ballad, Universal Child (also available as a digital single, raising funds for women and children with HIV/Aids in Africa), and a fiery rendition of the very un-merry Lullay Lullay (aka the Coventry Carol, about King Herod’s infanticide). It’s earnest, tender and tasteful, with acoustic instrumentation occasionally embellished with a little brass or a children’s choir, but it’s also a bit like an advent calendar that comes with nativity pictures instead of chocolate treats.