 NPR 's Ken Tucker described the album as a " glossy but heartfelt work " and approvingly compared its contrasting philosophy to Nick Lowe 's Quality Street : A Seasonal Selection for All the Family , both of which he described as " will put you in a holiday mood " . Matt Casarino of PopMatters gave the album a generally favorable review , claiming that " Clarkson plays it safe and spends too much time showing off her upper register , but Wrapped in Red is a warm and romantic addition to the Christmas pop Zeitgeist , " adding " Wrapped in Red doesn ’ t need edge ; it ’ s just dynamic and varied enough to be satisfying , and it ’ s light @-@ years better than any of the whitewashed Christmas crap Simon Cowell has inflicted on the world " . Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe gave a favorable review , particularly lauding " Underneath the Tree " , and described Clarkson 's rendering the Christmas standards as " fairly straight " . She added , " She starts gently on " Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas " before belting out the money notes . She ambles assuredly through the soulful favorite " Please Come Home for Christmas ( Bells Will Be Ringing ) " and hangs by the piano for a torchy “ White Christmas . " Newsday 's music columnist Glenn Gamboa wrote that " Clarkson handles it all expertly — hitting remarkably high notes on " Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas " and swinging jazzily on " Baby It 's Cold Outside " with Dunn . The new songs make Wrapped in Red a real gift , as the title track and " Underneath the Tree " channel the Phil Spector Christmas albums ; and " 4 Carats " somehow blends " Stronger " and " Santa Baby " . Reviewing for HitFix , Melinda Newman gave the album an " A " rating , praising Clarkson 's vocal performances and noting that she and Kurstin " have clearly studied legendary Christmas albums of yore — most notably Spector 's A Christmas Gift For You and Andy Williams ' Merry Christmas — to lovingly recreate Christmas standards , as well as craft new ones in the image of those sets . " Chris Klimek of Slate declared Wrapped in Red as the best of 2013 's new Christmas records , noting for its vintage sound . He also observed that its five original tracks , most notably " Wrapped in Red " and " Underneath the Tree " , have reasonable odds of remaining in the yuletide rotation five years from now . In his review for The New York Times , Jon Caramanica wrote that Clarkson is very likely the only singer working in pop with a real possibility of creating a modern holiday classic along the lines of Carey 's " All I Want for Christmas Is You . " and remarked that her takes on familiar songs , however accomplished , are " also faithful in the way that someone mindful of pop history would be . " 
 NPR <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>Ken Tucker described the album as a " glossy but heartfelt work " and approvingly compared its contrasting philosophy to Nick Lowe <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>Quality Street : A Seasonal Selection for All the Family , both of which he described as " will put you in a holiday mood " . Matt Casarino of PopMatters gave the album a generally favorable review , claiming that " Clarkson <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>plays</mark></a> it safe and <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>spends</mark></a> too much time showing off her upper register , but Wrapped in Red is a warm and romantic addition to the Christmas pop Zeitgeist , " adding " Wrapped in Red doesn ’ t need edge ; it ’ s just dynamic and varied enough to be satisfying , and it ’ s light @-@ years better than any of the whitewashed Christmas crap Simon Cowell <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>has</mark></a> inflicted on the world " . Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe gave a favorable review , particularly lauding " Underneath the Tree " , and described Clarkson <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>rendering the Christmas standards as " fairly straight " . She added , " She <a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>starts</mark></a> gently on " <a href='got' title='8'><mark>Have</mark></a> Yourself a Merry Little Christmas " before belting out the money notes . She <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>ambles</mark></a> assuredly through the soulful favorite " Please Come Home for Christmas ( Bells Will Be Ringing ) " and hangs by the piano for a torchy “ White Christmas . " Newsday <a href='null_genetive' title='10'><mark>'s</mark></a>music columnist Glenn Gamboa wrote that " Clarkson <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>handles</mark></a> it all expertly — hitting remarkably high notes on " <a href='got' title='12'><mark>Have</mark></a> Yourself a Merry Little Christmas " and swinging jazzily on " Baby It 's Cold Outside " with Dunn . The new songs make Wrapped in Red a real gift , as the title track and " Underneath the Tree " channel the Phil Spector Christmas albums ; and " 4 Carats " somehow <a href='uninflect' title='13'><mark>blends</mark></a> " Stronger " and " Santa Baby " . Reviewing for HitFix , Melinda Newman gave the album an " A " rating , praising Clarkson <a href='null_genetive' title='14'><mark>'s</mark></a>vocal performances and noting that she and Kurstin " <a href='been_done' title='15'><mark>have</mark></a> clearly studied legendary Christmas albums of yore — most notably Spector <a href='null_genetive' title='16'><mark>'s</mark></a>A Christmas Gift For You and Andy Williams <a href='null_genetive' title='17'><mark>'</mark></a>Merry Christmas — to lovingly recreate Christmas standards , as well as craft new ones in the image of those sets . " Chris Klimek of Slate declared Wrapped in Red as the best of 2013 <a href='null_genetive' title='18'><mark>'s</mark></a>new Christmas records , noting for its vintage sound . He also observed that its five original tracks , most notably " Wrapped in Red " and " Underneath the Tree " , <a href='got' title='19'><mark>have</mark></a> reasonable odds of remaining in the yuletide rotation five years from now . In his review for The New York Times , Jon Caramanica wrote that Clarkson is very likely the only singer working in pop with a real possibility of creating a modern holiday classic along the lines of Carey <a href='null_genetive' title='20'><mark>'s</mark></a>" All I Want for Christmas Is You . " and remarked that her <a href='uninflect' title='21'><mark>takes</mark></a> on familiar songs , however accomplished , <a href='drop_aux' title='22'><mark>are</mark></a>" also faithful in the way <a href='null_relcl' title='23'><mark>that</mark></a>someone mindful of pop history would be . " 
NPR  Ken Tucker described the album as a " glossy but heartfelt wrk " and approvingly compared its contrasting philosophy to Nick Lowe  Quality Street : A Seasonal Selection fa All the Family , both of which he described as " gon put u in a holiday mood " . Matt Casarino of PopMatters gave da mixtape a generally favorable review , claiming dat " Clarkson play it safe and spend too much time showin off her upper register , but Wrapped in Red is a warm and romantic addition to tdaChristmas pop Zeitgeist , " adding " Wrapped in Red doesn ’ t need edge ; it ’ s just dynamic and varied enough to b satisfying , and it ’ s light @-@ years betta den any of the whitewashed Christmas crap Simon Cowell done inflicted on the world " . Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe gave a favorable review , particularly lauding " Underneath the Tree " , and described Clarkson  rendering thdamas standards as " fairly str8 " . She added , " She start gently on " Got Yourself a Merry Little Christmas " before belting outt the money notes . She amble assuredly through the soulful favorite " plz cum Home for Chrisxmaslls Will BbRinging ) " and hangs by the piano ffira torchy “ White Christmas . " Newsday  music columnist Glenn Gamboa wrote that " Clarkson handle it all expertly — hittin remarkably high notes on " Got Yourself a Merry Little Christmas " and swinging jazzily on " Baby It 's Cold Outside " wit Dunn . The new songs make Wrapped in Red a real gift , as the title track and " Underneath thedaee " channel the Phil Spector Christmas albums ; and " 4 Carats " somehow blend " Stronger " and " Santa Baby " . Reviewing for HitFix , Melinda Newman gave the daum an " A " rating , thnk Clarkson  vocal performances and noting that she and Kurstin " done clearly studied legendary Christmas albums of yore — most notably Spector  A Christmas xmasYou and Andy Williams  Merry Christmas — to lovingly recreate Christmas standards , as well as craft new ones in the image of those sets . " Chris Klimek of Slate declared Wrapped in Red as the bda of 2013  new Christmas recorxmasng ffaits vintage sound . He also observed that its five original tracks , most notably " Wrapped in Red " and " Underneath the Trda" , got reasonable odds of remaining in the yuldade rotation five years from now . In his review for The New York Times , Jon Caramanica wrote that Clarkson is very likely the onlydanger workin in pop with a real possibility of creating a modern holiday classic along the lines of Carey  " alll I Want for Christmas Is Yoyouu " and remarked tdather take on familiar songs , however accomplished , " also faithful in the way someone mindful of pop history would beb "