Music Review: Christmastime by Michael W. Smith

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: More pop of a Christmas release
Cons: Took a couple years to grow on me
The Bottom Line:
Not instant classic
But I have grown to love it
Now a Christmas must




Michael Second Christmas CD is Well Worth Your Time

Since Michael W. Smith's first Christmas CD was so different from his normal style (choral program released right after an 80's rock project), I didn't know what to expect when I bought Christmastime. The truth is this second Christmas CD is all over the place stylistically. It also contains very few traditional songs, at least in a traditional sense. I freely admit that it took me a few years to really warm up to it. But now, it's one of the CD's I love to listen to during the Christmas season.

The disc opens with "The Happiest Christmas." It's a slow intro that talks about the joys of being with family and friends for Christmas. You definitely get a good feel for the disc with the orchestral opening before Michael starts to sing. It's obvious early on that this isn't going to be a normal pop Christmas release. And that's a good thing as it turns out.

What's interesting is that the next piece is more of a pop flavored song. In fact, it is one of two upbeat tracks on the disc, and I love them both. "Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells" isn't just another version of "Jingle Bells." The first verse is the same, but from there it adds several more I haven't heard anywhere else. It's fast and fun.

The other upbeat track comes in the second half. "Christmas Waltz" is a duet with Sandi Patty. This Viennese waltz talks about the fun and love of the season. Both of these tracks do have orchestra, so it's not a true pop feel. But it works.

Michael did write one original track for the disc. Appropriately enough, it is the title song. "Christmastime" rejoices at the chance to celebrate Jesus' birth once again. We're now really getting into the orchestra songs with the minute musical intro before anyone starts singing. There is the first track to feature a choir as well, and they do about as much singing as Michael does.

My previous paragraph is slightly misleading. Michael did pen another song on this disc. He originally wrote "Sing We Now of Christmas" for a Christmas compilation he was part of years earlier. Once again, he couples it with "Emmanuel," a track originally recorded by Amy Grant on her first Christmas release. The bridge this time is "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Other then that, the track pretty much sounds the same. A boys choir sings "Sing We Now of Christmas," there's an instrumental bridge, then Michael sings the last part.

I wasn't surprised when I saw "Welcome to Our World" show up on this disc. The song was originally written and recorded by Chris Rice, who was on Michael's label at the time. The first time I heard it, I knew it would start showing up on Christmas releases soon. I love this song. It's a ballad that reminds up of the sacrifice Jesus made by being born that first Christmas.

Michael did several instrumental arrangements of carols for this disc as well. I must admit, since they aren't the most common songs, I would have preferred to get the words as well, but they are so beautiful I don't mind that much. "O Christmas Tree" is actually a guitar lead rendition. Phil Keaggy makes a guest appearance playing the guitar here. He is backed up by Michael's piano and an orchestra at the end.

I must admit it took quite a few listens before I heard the melody of "We Three Kings" in that track. But it is in there if you really pay attention. This is a piano solo, and Michael does a great job with it.

The final track of the disc is the instrumental combination of "I Saw Three Ships" and "Joy to the World." It's got orchestra, it's got piano, and it's got pipes. The majority of the melody is carried by the tinwhistle, uillean pipes, and highland pipes. It's a different direction, but the Celtic feeling of the piece makes for a great closer.

As I said, this CD had to grow on me for a few years. But once I got used to the various pieces, Christmastime has become another favorite in my collection.

CD Length: 45:11

Tracks:

1. The Happiest Christmas

2. Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells

3. Christmastime

4. Welcome to Our World

5. Hope of Israel

6. Medley: Sing We Now of Christmas/O Come, O Come Emmanuel/Emmanuel

7. O Christmas Tree

8. Christmas Waltz

9. We Three Kings

10. Medley: Away in a Manger/Child in the Manger

11. Carols Sing

12. Medley: I Saw Three Ships/Joy to the World