The Pretty Reckless’ new Christmas album, Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas, shows different sides of the rock band and reminds listeners of the identity of the singer, Taylor Momsen.

After her success in The Grinch and Gossip Girl, Momsen turned to rock and roll. She found her primary identity and focus in her hard rock band, The Pretty Reckless, which she started when she was 15 years old. 

The first song is an updated version of the childlike Christmas anthem “Where Are You Christmas?” from the 2000s blockbuster Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Momsen, who delivered the original song when she was just 7 years old, provides an edgy rock version of the song 25 years later. 

What makes this version interesting is that it is not just a cover, because the intro features the original song, with Momsen dueting with her childhood self before it switches to a full guitar and drum sound. 

The next song, “I Wanna Be Your Christmas Tree,” is an original, more traditional, and romantic-sounding Christmas song. It features soft vocals and instrumentals to sound very comforting. 

After that, the record returns to the band’s more typical rock sound with the ironic and edgy “Christmas Is Killing Me.” This song critiques the usual joys of the Christmas season, and Momsen notes that “I just don’t have that Christmas spirit.” 

The last track of the album is another full reprisal of the original “Where Are You Christmas?” under the name of “Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You?” This version is different from the first cover, which was rock, because it is the same as the original one from the movie, with a slow piano accompaniment in addition to grown-up Momsen’s vocals. With the last few lyrics sung, it slowly fades into the young vocals from The Grinch, bringing a full-circle moment to the album. Overall, Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas is a fun album that can bring many moods to the holiday season, while still being fun and high-quality with each song.