Acoustic Christmas (1990) was a harbinger of the "adult alternative" trend in radio that, more often than not, is an euphemism for "old and boring." Of course, it doesn't have to be that way, but my ears start to rebel when artists as distinctive as Rosanne Cash, Laura Nyro, and Willie Nile (all featured herein) are boxed in by mere format. Though the album's all-star cast also includes Judy Collins, Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., and Shawn Colvin, the content is carefully crafted but rarely exciting.