Farewell December

Released in October 2020, Farewell December represents Matt Nathanson's first full-length foray into holiday music. Eschewing the high-gloss production of his mid-2000s radio hits, the album serves as a return to his folk-leaning roots. The project was recorded during a period of global isolation, which heavily informs its sparse, intimate sonic character. The tracklist is a curated blend of traditional standards, novelty songs re-imagined as serious folk pieces, and covers of 1970s singer-songwriter staples like Joni Mitchell and Greg Lake. This diversity allows Nathanson to showcase his versatility as an arranger, turning 'Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer' into a legitimate acoustic performance while maintaining the spiritual weight of 'When The River Meets The Sea'. It stands as a distinct entry in his catalog, prioritizing atmosphere and mood over the hook-driven pop-rock of his studio albums.