Steven Curtis Chapman

All I Really Want for Christmas
Sparrow Records

Like pretty much every singer, it’s hard for Christian artists to avoid the Christmas album trap — if a few years have gone by without a release, then wrap a scarf around your neck and sing “Silent Night.” If you’re in the same situation a few years down the road, then put on a toboggan and sing “Jingle Bells.”

Surprisingly in his nearly 20-year career, Steven Curtis Chapman has only had one such collection — 1995’s “The Music of Christmas.”

Until now.

“Santa” Curtis Chapman is back with “All I Really Want for Christmas,” making his once-a-decade and very respectable, average CD. Even more respectable is how satisfying and original this record is. In many ways, it’s Chapman singing Christmas songs, but in other ways, it’s Chapman bringing something somewhat unique to the whole Christmas genre — a very compelling combination of genuine, biblical reverence for the Christmas miracle without any sacrifice of the modern American yuletide aesthetic.

It’s a good, mature effort — so much so it’ll be hard to wait another 10 years.