Music Review: One Wintry Night by David Phelps

Stars: 4 out of 5
Pros: 15 wonderful tracks...

Cons: ... that need to be in a different order

The Bottom Line:

So many great songs

But order could be better

With disjointed flow

A Disjointed Christmas Offering with Great Songs

When I first heard David Phelps, I immediately fell in love with his voice. He has a powerful tenor voice that is a joy to listen to. I have very few artists I enjoy in the inspirational sub-genre of Christian music, but I knew David would be one of them. I quickly went out and bought all of his CD's to date, including his first Christmas release. I found that one didn't excite me, and I quickly put it aside. So it was with some hesitation that I bought this new Christmas CD. I have to say I like One Wintry Night better even if it is uneven.

The disc consists of 15 tracks made up of mostly new material. True, there are old standbys like "Silent Night" and "O Holy Night" here. But most of the traditional songs have new arrangements, so they sound fresh. David had a hand in almost every song on this disc. The new ones he wrote himself, and he arranged all the traditional ones but "Blue Christmas." As you'd expect, they are expertly crafted to take full advantage of his voice.

Individually, these songs sound great. The disc opens with "O Come, O come Emmanuel." Between the verse and chorus, a choir starts chanting the title. The song itself is slow, mournful, and a cappella. It really captures your attention as an opener.

That song blends into "The Singer." As with most of the songs here, this one features a full orchestra. It's more upbeat and happy as it retells the story of creation and redemption with God as a Singer. By the time this song is over, my soul is soaring.

The same is true of the title track. "One Wintry Night" is a slightly mid tempo ballad that focuses on the eternal battle that was taking place behind the scenes of that first Christmas night.

"If Christmas Never Came" looks at how the world would be if Christmas never came. It's a quiet mournful song highlighted by the keyboard effects used.

The traditional songs that show up here aren't your average versions. "Silent Night" opens with harmonica. After a verse of that with the choir humming, they do finally sing the song. "O Holy Night" takes a powerful voice, and David delivers. If you want to hear what a tenor can do to this song, take a listen. It will give you chills.

While the disc focuses on slower tracks, there are the few upbeat ones as well. "Hallelujah!" is structured around the "Hallelujah Chorus." The few new lines thrown in aren't what make it stand out, however. It's the gospel choir arrangement that will have you remembering this one.

"If Everyone Believed" is an upbeat pop song about the Christmas wish for peace on Earth. And every child young or old will identify with the wish to see "Santa Claus Tonight."

As you can see, I do really like these songs. The problem comes when you take these songs and put them together. The slow reflective "The Singer" is followed by the gospel choir "Hallelujah" which is followed by the almost but not really country version of "Blue Christmas." The ballad "One Wintry Night" is followed by "If Everyone Believed," which is easily the most pop in production. It's not the transition from slow to fast I object to. "O Holy Night" moves into the mid tempo "Hark the Herald!" just fine. It's the schizophrenic switch between genres that makes those pairings jarring. While David's strength is the inspirational genre, he can pull off some pop songs. If he's going to do that, however, the producers need to place the songs so that they flow well together.

These songs are great, and I know I will enjoy listening to One Wintry Night for many years to come. But I wish they flowed together better.

CD Length: 54:43

Tracks:

1. O Come, O Come Emmanuel

2. The Singer (Let There be Light)

3. Hallelujah!

4. Blue Christmas

5. Lully, Lullay (with What Child is this?)

6. Away in a Manger (with Sleep Little Baby)

7. One Wintry Night

8. If Everyone Believed

9. If Christmas Never Came

10. Silent Night

11. O Holy Night

12. Hark the Herald!

13. One King

14. Santa Claus is Coming to Town

15. Santa Claus Tonight