It's Chanukah Time

Julie Silver, a Boston-born folk singer, has a laid-back voice that's equally at home in Hebrew and English, delivering both in with an easy groove that at times recalls Carly Simon. On the title track to this holiday collection especially, Silver finds an earthy, mellow way to liven up a festival that's not exactly known for stirring songs. Delivering the holiday's one chestnut, Ma'Oz Tsur / Rock of Ages, Silver turns to some '60s style folk revival, with passionate new lyrics of her own devising that charge listeners to make a difference in the world around them with, a peaceful revolution. Tired of battles fierce and long, we yearn for resolution. It's a message that's in keeping with Chanukah's revolutionary roots -- and one that's welcome in any season. If there's any doubt as to where Silver's sympathies lie, she ends this uplifting set with a standard from another tradition, This Little Light of Mine. Delivered in a folksy reggae lilt, it's an engaging sing-along for the whole family, the kind that could start a few traditions on its own. --Mark Schwartz