Released: October 8, 2021

By: Darren Criss

Gleeks have been waiting almost a decade for Darren Criss to release his debut full-length album, and while A Very Darren Crissmas is a great holiday entry, it almost feels like a letdown.

Criss takes on many of the holiday classics, while writing several of his own. It lets him show off his writing skills that he’s had since writing various musicals as a part of Team StarKid in college. The best has to be to the boozy country duet “Drunk on Christmas,” which you’ll want to add to your Christmas karaoke list.

The oddest of his interpretations though is Joni Mitchell’s “River,” which Criss has turned into an upbeat rock song. It sounds good but strips the connection with the lyrics.

Final say: A solid Crissmas begs for more original music. ★★★★☆