Give Love On Christmas, various artists (Blood:Water Mission)

Blood:Water Mission is a charity founded by the Christian rock/pop band Jars of Clay to help fight the HIV/AIDS and clean water crises in Africa. This 2012 collection, from Noisetrade, is intended to raise awareness, and hopefully some money, to support the cause. As to the music, this is what you would expect from Nashville-based singer-songwriters, mostly folky and country-style takes on original songs and classic carols. Jars of Clay contribute their previously released "Almost Christmas," Sleeping At Last offer the original "Snow," Phil Keaggy performs a medley of instrumentals, "The Visit and the Song Of Shepherds Medley," Joy Williams of Civil Wars delivers a solo vocal over piano of "Bring a Torch, Jeanette Isabella," Charlie Peacock puts a little spark into the proceedings with "Mystic," Rob Gonzales sings that love is "The Answer," Sandra McCracken gives us "This Is the Christ," Elenowen gives a country reading to "Silent Night," Lara Landon sings "The Virgin Mary," Plumb gives us a stately "What Child Is This," and Rhett Walker wraps things up with "O Come O Come Emanuel." A fair number, though not all, of these folks are Christian artists, so there's a lot more religion in the original songs than general Christmas wishes, and it's not a particularly rocking collection, but it is one to highlight a good cause.