Here's the 2014 installment of the long-running charity compilation series based in the south Georgia-north Florida area that supports charities aiding children and sick people. The acts contributing, no surprise, are based in that general area as well. Dexter Freebish offers a solid version of Wham's "Last Christmas," Eliot Bronson's "Christmas Song" is an original ballad about fresh beginnings, and Hey Monea! has an original, "Christmas in Bed," that sounds suspiciously like the chords from "Let 'Em In," but goes on to make a proposition that we can heartily endorse. Joe Stevenson's "Believe" is a hand-clapping rocker, Tony Lucca struggles to get "Home For the Holidays" armed only with an acoustic guitar, and Carbon Leaf's "Christmas Child" is a straight-up hoedown. Other originals is the funky "Everything I Need" from Frank Viele, the lo-fi "Christmas Day" from Leland, and the ballad "New Year's Resolution" from Dave Farah. JD Eicher & the Goodnights perform "Jingle Bell Mash," which is a fun medley of numerous popular carols, including the one that makes up part of the title. Other covers include a countrified "O Holy Night" from Griffin House, a bluegrass "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Jordan Grassi, a slightly boogie-fied "Go Tell It on the Mountain" from the Georgia Flood, a solid "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" from Red Wanting Blue, and Flagship Romance's folky acoustic "We Three Kings." Another solid collection from the Rock By the Sea people.
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