I’ve had Tori Amos‘ seasonal album Midwinter Graces since its release in early November, but it wasn’t until a couple of days ago when a friend asked me what I thought that I finally gave it a first spin. (I’d copied the disc to my iPod when it arrived, but wasn’t quite feeling the Christmas spirit at that moment and then promptly forgot all about it.)

Looking at the tracklisting of Tori Amos’ 11th studio album, I admit to having reservations about approaching Midwinter Graces, with many titles recalling traditional Christian carols. But these aren’t her Methodist-minister father’s hymns. While being respectful toward these centuries-old chestnuts, Amos has reworked them and combined them with her own original words and music to create totally new arrangements (“What Child, Nowell” and “Holly, Ivy, and Rose,” which features vocals from daughter Natashya). “Harps of Gold” is a twist on “Angels We Have Heard On High,” married to a rhythm that recalls Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill” (a wink to the angel Gabriel, perhaps?). And I quite like what she’s done with “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (now titled simply “Emmanuel”), still a favorite of this former altar boy.

Midwinter Graces also sparkles with five totally new tunes, including the quietly lovely “A Silent Night With You,” the surprising big-band sway of “Pink And Glitter,” and “Winter’s Carol,” a sneak preview of The Light Princess, a musical adaptation of the George MacDonald fairy tale she’s been developing with playwright Samuel Adamson. Two other completely original tracks, “Snow Angel” and “Our New Year” most closely recall the magic of Amos’ early albums.

Actually, much of Midwinter Graces hearkens back to those days when I first fell in love with the flame-haired songstress. Her trusty Bösendorfer piano is once again front and center in many of these songs, and credit must also be paid to the contributions of arranger John Phillip Shenale, with whom she’s collaborated since her Little Earthquakes debut.

Fair-weather fans who’ve wandered away from Amos’ flock in more recent years should find themselves returning to thanks to her good Graces, while the already-converted can now celebrate the season with a fresh take on holiday music that is quintessentially Tori.

For a taste of Midwinter Graces, head to Amazon MP3 for a free download of “Snow Angel.”