Sofia Talvik, a Swedish singer-songwriter, has a tradition of writing a new Christmas song each year, something she's been doing for the past two decades. Now, the most recent of those songs -- plus a few extras -- are available on her new album, Wrapped in Paper (A Christmas Album).

These songs are not Christmas toe-tappers. They are deep and contemplative, songs that poke past the tinsel to expose that the holidays aren't always joyful.

The first track, the original "Let Peace Be the Song," is not the sort of song families will croon around the Christmas tree. Rather, it's a modern protest song that doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the world these days. The production is stark and effective, just her voice and guitar. Folks who think everything's just fine probably won't like it, but anyone who recognizes how bad things have gotten will appreciate her thoughtful approach.

It doesn't grow more cheerful from there. "AT Christmas" tells the story of a friend who nearly died in a snowstorm on the Appalachian Trail, while "Alone for Christmas" is sad and pleading; the title sums it up pretty well.

"Silent Night" is, of course, a familiar carol that Talvik reinterprets, featuring almost harsh vocals over a subtle guitar and sweet violins. "Christmas Train," one of my favorite tracks on the album, updates the Krampus legend with an approach that is bold and just a touch eerie, adding a touch of foreboding to the season. For a more hopeful touch, there's the title track, "Wrapped in Paper," which ties Christmas to the gift of love.

"Snowman" is, as you might expect, a bit darker than its spiritual forebear, "Frosty." Other tracks include "Poem at Year's End," "A Memory of Snow" and "This Mess We're In," which has gloomy lyrics hidden in a dreamy setting. "Jul Jul, Stralande Jul, Strahlende Zeit (Glorious Christmas)" is a traditional, bilingual song from 1920. The final track, "Merry Christmas, Adios, So Long," is apparently Talvik's "last little Christmas song," protesting the advent of "AI-generated, non-original art and music." It's sweetly presented, although its lyrics are sad.

The album emphasizes voice and guitar, but also includes the occasional use of violins, accordion, cello, banjo, horns and drums. Almost entirely sung in English, there is also a little Swedish and German in the mix.

Talvik's annual Christmas singles have, according to the press materials that accompanied this album, "consistently earned top placements on the Folk Radio Charts in the USA, making her a seasonal favorite among American folk programmers." Although she still lives in Sweden, she tours extensively in the U.S.

This album, which blends elements of folk, country and bluegrass music, are not destined to be classics that appear each year in rotation on the radio, nor will you likely hear them sung at Christmas parties and pageants. But these introspective songs are worth keeping in your collection, to pull out every now and then to reflect on the true nature of the season, which isn't always merry and bright for everyone.

[ visit Sofia Talvik's website ]