Podcast Review: 1 Degree of Andy

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Interesting interviews with Christian musicians from a bygone era

Cons: Any cons are more than one degree away

The Bottom Line:

Music history

Fun, interesting stories

Listeners will love

Telling the Stories of Christian Music

I’ve been listening to Christian music all my life, but really got into it as a teenager.  It was the early 90’s when I spent the most time and money keeping up with the new releases from my favorite artists.  That’s why, as soon as I heard about the 1 Degree of Andy podcast, I knew I had to listen.

This podcast is hosted by Andy Chrisman.  If that name doesn’t sound familiar to you, he was one of the members of 4Him.  And anyone who listened to Christian music in the 1990’s and early 2000’s immediately places him since 4Him was a huge music group in the Christian market at the time.  Even if you weren’t a fan, if you were into the genre, you know who they are.

As a result of his career, Andy knows many of the players in the Christian music genre from the time.  Some better than others, obviously, but he has connections with so many of them.  And he decided to spend time interviewing them for us to learn more about what the industry was like at the time but also how God lead them into and out of their careers.

Most of the interviews of are fellow Christian artists.  Yes, the guys from 4Him have been on the pod.  In addition, we’ve had interviews with Wayne Watson, Al Denson, Geoff Moore, Susan Ashton, Eddie DeGarmo, Wes King, Steve Camp, Point of Grace, and so many more.  He’s also interviewed song writers, an A&R director, the man behind CCM Magazine, and he’s taken listener questions.  The pod focuses on the Christian music of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.

As someone who grew up listening to the music of that era, I love every second of the podcast.  Even if the artist being interviewed isn’t someone I listened to regularly, I still recognize the name and a song or two they talk about.  And I really enjoy hearing the behind the scenes stories or what life was like.  It definitely brings the reality of touring to life – like most jobs, it’s a mixed bag.

Since the artists being interviewed are Christians, I also really appreciate that aspect of their stories as well.  It is amazing how God moved them into the Christian music industry and then how He has led them after their career ended.  I find my faith encouraged as I listen.

The episodes average about an hour.  Andy and his guests tend to get sidetracked, so, while Andy has some questions ready to go, they often go off on tangents.  That helps give it the feel or friends catching up, and I find it charming.

The episodes drop each Monday, and each Monday morning, I can’t wait to see who is going to be interviewed next.

If you are a fan of that era of Christian music, you owe it to yourself to listen to 1 Degree of Andy.  You’ll find yourself listening to songs you love with a new appreciation afterwards.

Music Review: Land of the Living by Jason Gray

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: More great songs of encouragement and challenge

Cons: One song that doesn’t work for me

The Bottom Line:

New release from a

Favorite music artist

Well worth a listen

Encouragement and Challenge for the Living

Somewhere over the last decade or so, I fell out of touch with the Christian music industry.  There are still a few artists I enjoy and look forward to, but not nearly as many as their used to be.  One of those is Jason Gray.  Each new release is filled with songs that speak to me, and Land of the Living is no exception.

Jason’s previous release was the fantastic Order, Disorder, Reorder, which was a big concept disc.  He said when he sat down to write this disc, he wanted to be open to wherever the ideas would lead him and just set out to write the best pop songs he could.  While there isn’t the strong theme this time, these are twelve fantastic songs.

We start out by saying yes to God with the upbeat “When I Say Yes.”  This will get your head nodding as we think about how things change when we go where God want us to go.

As you might have noticed over the years, I still enjoy quite a few things that are aimed as kids.  I immediately connected with “When I Grow Up,” which reminds us to keep the childlike faith that Jesus praised in the Bible.  Yes, there is a balance between maturing in our faith and that innocent faith.  But we need to work to capture that.

“Questions” talks about the struggles in our lives and how they are make us grow closer to God.

When I heard the title of “Jesus Loves You (and I’m Trying),” I wasn’t sure what I was going to think of it.  I love it.  The tempo slows down slight here as Jason talks about the people in our lives who are difficult to love, whether that be on social media or in real life and how we should be aiming to love them like Jesus loves them.  It’s a good reminder wrapped in some humor.  The bridge really is when things hit home.

We get a similar theme with “Be Kind,” which builds a song around the familiar reminder to be kind because we don’t know what others are going through.  This one convicts me a bit more because one of his examples hits home in dealing with LA traffic.  Which I guess means it’s a reminder I need.

I feel horrible saying this, but about the only song I really don’t connect with is “Worth Staying For,” which is the most personal song on the disc for Jason.  It’s very raw as he talks honestly about some of the deep hurts he’s had in his life.  If you know his story, it’s going to hit hard.  Please listen carefully to what I’m about to say.  I can understand how writing and recording it would be good for Jason.  I can understand how God can use it in other people’s lives.  I suspect there are people who will find it their favorite song on the disc.  It just isn’t for me.

But if I’m complaining about only one song out of 12, I’d say I’m doing pretty well, wouldn’t you?

I love the choir that joins him for “If You Don’t Move.”  And some of the lyrics of “Good Man” are wonderful as he paints a picture of the man he wanted to be that admits to the struggles he’s had achieving that.  And he winds stuff up with a reminder that with grace there will always be a “Place for Me.”

Stylistically, most of the songs are mid-tempo pop.  There is some variations, but nothing major.  Sometimes, I find that the songs will blend together if that’s the case, but it isn’t the case here.  It helps that the melodies are unique.

If you are looking for challenge and encouragement in some fun songs, you’ll be happy you checked out Land of the Living.  And if you aren’t already a fan of Jason Gray’s music, this disc will send you looking at the rest of his releases.

CD Length: 40:19

Tracks:

1. When I Say Yes

2. When I Grow Up

3. Questions

4. Jesus Loves You (And I’m Trying)

5. Be Kind

6. If You Don’t Move

7. Land of the Living

8. Hold on to Hope

9. Worth Staying For

10. Good Man

11. See as You See

12. Place For Me

Movie Review: Unsung Hero

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong story of God helping a mother as her family faces trials

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Family struggles

But watch God honor their faith

Film well worth watching

Moving Adventure with Peril and Pitfalls…Hold the Pirates

Since I was in high school and college during the 1990’s, that is the era I followed Christian music the most.  While I was never a big Rebecca St. James fan, I certainly knew who she was.  And, while I don’t follow Christian music like I once did, I have heard of For King & Country.  That’s why I decided to head to the movie theater and see Unsung Hero, a movie about their family story.

When we first meet the Smallbones, they are living in Australia where David (Joel Smallbone) is a Christian music promotor.  He and his wife, Helen (Daisy Betts) have six kids, but David has been successful and provided for them well.  That is until he fronts the costs for Amy Grant to come down under and tour right before a recession hits the country.  It costs the family everything.

A job offer in Nashville gets the family to leave their country behind and move to the US.  But the job falls apart, and the family starts to struggle to figure out how to feed themselves and pay their rent.  While David struggles with how he is failing his family, the rest begin to see God provide, and Rebecca (Kirrilee Berger), the oldest child, begins to try to pursue a career in music.

Being a movie, I’m sure things were changed for dramatic purposes along the way.  But as the movie was going along, I did remember bits and pieces of things from interviews with Rebecca back in the 90’s.  There is a lot of truth in the story.

The movie doesn’t back away from showing these people as human.  Their flaws are evident – not as an attempt to tear them down.  In fact, their reactions to things are all too relatable.  I do feel like they showed the father’s flaws the most, but again, never in a way meant to tear him down.  I sympathized with him quite a bit.  And watching him struggle makes the scenes on the other side that much sweeter.

Meanwhile, Helen really shines.  Yes, she has her moments, but for the most part, she is the glue that holds the family and their faith together.

And it is God that ultimately comes through for the family, from the new friends they make to how He leads them.  This is a movie of faith, and it is uplifting to see.

All this to say, I was tearing up for much of the film, from the pitfalls the family faced to the joys they experienced.  This film really tugs on your heartstrings.

Which is a credit to the great acting.  I wasn’t familiar with most of the cast before I went to the theater, but they all made every moment believable, including the young kids.  It was fun to see Terry O’Quinn as David’s father, and Candace Cameron Bure as a friend of the family in Nashville.

I do want to call out Joel Smallbone.  Yes, he was playing his father in the movie in addition to co-writing and co-directing.  I praised the actors, but they were given a great script and well directed.  This really is an example of everything coming together for a great movie.

While the movie does show the trails the family went through, it doesn’t wallow in them.  There is more hope that sorrow at any given moment, and ultimately, I left the movie uplifted.

If you are looking for a reminder of God’s provision and faithfulness, you need to see Unsung Hero.  You’ll want some tissues with you, but the experience is worth it.

(And yes, the title of my review will make sense when you see the film.)

Music Review: Heaven & Earth by Aaron Shust

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: 10 strong tracks turning Psalms into modern songs

Cons: “Forsaken” takes a few listens to appreciate

The Bottom Line:

Songs taken from Psalms

New worship, meditation

Filled with all new songs

A New Collection of Timeless Psalms

When Aaron Shust announced that his next project was going to be a collection of Psalms, I was excited.  I enjoy it when people write songs based on the Psalms, and I love his music, so I figured the two would be a great match.  Heaven & Earth: The Psalms Project is exactly what I was hoping for.

The lyrics are taken directly from the Psalms themselves as much as possible.  Yes, wording has been changed here and there to better reflect today’s English and song writing techniques, but if you are familiar with the Scriptures chosen here, you’ll feel like you listening to someone sing the Psalms.

These songs are all new as well.  While we’ve seen some of these Psalms turned into songs many times before, we haven’t heard them done this way.

And yes, the track list does hit many of the familiar, most well-known, and loved Psalms.  We got “Majestic” taken from Psalm 8, “My Shepherd” from Psalm 23, and “Be Gracious” from Psalm 51 for example.  But, as I just said, these are fresh new songs.  “My Shepherd” is quickly becoming my favorite version of this Psalm, in fact.

There are some other, less obvious choices on here, like “Even in My Old Age” from Psalm 71.  Probably the oddest choice, in my opinion, is “Forsaken” taken from Psalm 22.  This is the Psalm that Jesus quotes when on the cross.  I don’t think it’s one I’ve seen turned into a song before.  It feels a little out of place with the rest of the disc, but it is growing on me the more I hear it.

There is plenty of variety when it comes to these songs, although, overall, they tend to be a bit more meditative rather than high energy songs.  Having said that, “My Shepherd” is on the upbeat side of things, and it’s one reason I love it since it is something different for the Psalm.  Overall, these songs are beautiful to listen to with a simplicity that allows you to focus on the Scripture being sung.

Many of the tracks have an Israeli music flavor.  It’s most obvious on “My Help,” which is taken from Psalm 121, but you can hear it in several of the other tracks.  Meanwhile, “Hallelujah,” the final track taken from the final Psalm, is sung in both English and Hebrew.

There really isn’t a bad track in this disc.  I am going to be enjoying Heaven & Earth for a long time to come.  And I’m already hoping for a second volume with more Psalms.

CD Length: 39:00

Tracks:

1. Majestic (Psalm 8)

2. Forsaken (Psalm 22)

3. My Shepherd (Psalm 23) (Featuring Joshua Aaron)

4. Be Gracious (Psalm 51)

5. Even in My Old Age (Psalm 71)

6. Shadow of Shaddai (Psalm 91)

7. Steadfast Love (Psalm 103)

8. My Help (Psalm 121) (Featuring Yaron Cherniak)

9. Hold Me Fast (Psalm 139)

10. Hallelujah (Psalm 150)

Music Review: One Name by Selah

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Six new songs of praise from Selah

Cons: None from me

The Bottom Line:

Six new songs of praise

In Selah’s uplifting style

For amazing God

Selah Releases an EP filled with Anthems of Praise

The trio Selah is best known for their modern covers of classic hymns, and rightly so.  However, I also love the more modern anthems of praise they’ve started filling their releases with.  Last fall, they released two new CD, one a Christmas project and one a brand-new collection of hymns.  I liked both of them, but I was missing the anthems, so I was happy when they followed those releases up with One Name.

This is a six track EP, but it is filled with new to me songs.  The first of these is the title track.  “One Name” has a Latin flavor that makes it lots of fun.  It reminds us that Jesus is the only way to be saved.  Things slow down for “So Beautiful,” which focuses on what God has done for us and praises Him because of it.  “God of Ages” comes closest to feeling like a classic hymn and it focuses on praising God for who He is, while “Jesus Victorious” feels like it could be a more modern praise song.  The tempo picks up a little more with “Crying Holy” before we get to the souring melody of “Glory Hallelujah.”

There’s actually a bonus track on the disc.  This seventh song is “Gloria E Aleluia” or “Glory Hallelujah” in Spanish.  For this track, the trio is joined by Gabriel Guedes.  I skip right by this one since I don’t know Spanish, but it’s a bonus track, so that doesn’t bother me.  Those who speak Spanish will love it.

By now, I feel like Selah fans know what to expect from them, and that’s exactly what they will get here.  There really isn’t any change in their sound and their lyrics are still focusing on praising God.  But that’s why we love them, right?

If you’ve never given Selah a chance and this sounds like something you’d enjoy, I recommend you pick up One Name.  If you are already a fan, you’ll love this shorter release.

CD Length: 31:45

Tracks:

1. One Name

2. So Beautiful

3. God of Ages

4. Jesus Victorious

5. Crying Holy

6. Glory Hallelujah

7. Gloria E Aleluia (with Gabriel Guedes)

Music Review: Holidays Around the World by Pentatonix

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: New (to me) songs and unique takes on some classics

Cons: Not quite as cohesive as it could have been

The Bottom Line:

Takes on Christmas songs

With international flair

A fun addition

Pentatonix Adds International Flair to Their Latest Christmas Offering

Every year, I check to see if Pentatonix has a new Christmas release.  I figure at some point, they will have to stop since I think they’ve covered just about every Christmas classic at this point.  But they are back this year with Holidays Around the World.  It’s a fun release.

Keeping in mind what I said earlier, it’s not a surprise to me that there are some repeats popping up here.  But these are fresh, fun, new arrangements, so I’m not complaining.

We also get instruments on more tracks that we usually do from Pentatonix.  Their harmonies are still front and center, but it is a change for sure.

The disc opens with Meghan Trainer joining them as they cover her song “Kid on Christmas.”  As a kid myself at Christmas, I appreciate this song.  It is fun and a great way to start things off.

Next comes “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” with guest Magatte Fall.  This is the first song on the disc I know Pentatonix has done in the past, but they give it a fresh African flair here, and I love the result.

They keep the African flavor going with “Love Came on Christmas,” which is a combination of “Joy to the World” and “Kumama Papa.”  This time, they are joined by Grace Lokwa.  Again, this is a fun take on a Christmas staple, and you’ll find yourself smiling as you listen.

It’s just Pentatonix for “Star on Top,” a Christmas love song.  I’m not familiar with it, but it’s a cute song.  Probably not one I’d have tracked down on my own, but it’s good.  Again, they are backed by instruments.

The instruments stick around for “Prayers for the World,” a song that expresses our desires for a better, more peaceful world.  And praying to God is the only way things will truly change.

We are off to Lebanon for the next track, a new take on “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”  Hiba Tawaji joins them here, and sings a verse in Lebanese.  Their original take on the song is one of my favorite versions of this carol of all time, so this version had a hard task ahead of it.  I like it, don’t get me wrong, and if Pentatonix had not recorded this song yet, I would be very happy with it.  But it will have to be happy with second best Pentatonix version of the song.  It’s a fun, inventive take on the song, so if you want something different, you’ll enjoy it.

Our next stop is the Philippians for a cover of Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in Our Hearts.”  I hadn’t heard this one before, but I love the sentiment about keeping Jesus and what His birth means to our in our hearts all year long.  They are joined here by Lea Salonga.

Next we head to Mexico for a cover of “Feliz Navidad.”  La Santa Cecilia joins them, and the guitars and maracas give them a fun feel that immediately makes it feel like we are in Mexico listening to a mariachi band doing the song.  I don’t have too many versions of this song in my collection, so it’s nice to get it again.  I think it will become a favorite.

Up next is “Last Christmas,” which features Hikakin & Seikin.  This one has a Japanese pop flavor, although I’m not familiar enough with international pop to recognize that fact right away.  Again, this isn’t a song that I have lots of versions of.  Their take on it is fun, and I’m enjoying it.

We close things out with a trip to the UK and “Silent Night.”  The King’s Singers join them, and the harmonies with all those voices are absolutely wonderful.

Obviously, this has a wide variety of styles to it.  That keeps it from seeming like just another Christmas release, which can be helpful in the middle of December.  It might not be the one you pull out on Christmas morning, however.  I think the variety keeps it from being a top tier Pentatonix release for me because it feels a bit fractured, but I still like it, and I really appreciate their attempts to do something different.

Fans of Pentatonix will definitely want to add Holidays Around the World to their collection.  It might take a couple of listens to fully appreciate, but it is a fun addition to any Christmas music collection.

CD Lengths: 34:54

Tracks:

1. Kid on Christmas with Meghan Trainor

2. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year with Magatte Fall

3. Love Came on Christmas (Joy to the World & Kumama Papa) with Grace Lokwa

4. Star on Top

5. Prayers for the World

6. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing with Hiba Tawaji

7. Christmas in Our Hearts with Lea Salonga

8. Feliz Navidad with La Santa Cecilia

9. Last Christmas with Hikakin & Seikin

10. Silent Night with The King’s Singers

Music Review: At This Table by Selah

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great new (to me) and traditional Christmas songs

Cons: The title track isn’t as great as the rest

The Bottom Line:

More Selah Christmas

New songs; fresh takes on classics

Great festive release

Selah’s Return to Christmas Music is Another to Pull Out Every Year

As part of their twenty-fifth anniversary celebration, Selah decided to release a second Christmas project.  It’s certainly been long enough between them, right?  And, considering their first Christmas CD was how I found them over a decade ago, I was anxious to get it.  I can already predict I will be enjoying At This Table for years to come.

There are three less familiar tracks and seven classic Christmas songs given the Selah treatment here.  The first of the new (at least to me) tracks is the title song.  “At This Table” is a beautiful song originally sung by Idina Menzel about everyone being welcome.  I question exactly why it is a Christmas song, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful.  Maybe the idea of a bunch of people gathering around a table is why it is here?  My more serious issue with it is more a reflection on our culture today than anything else.  Jesus calls all to come to Him as they are, that is completely true.  But after meeting Him, people do change and give up their sin.  I feel like some of the words used in this song are now used to mean accept you as you are and never expect you to change.  Unfortunately, that does cloud my enjoyment of this song.  Still, with lines like “At this table, mercy has a seat,” it’s hard to really dislike the song on those grounds.

The other two new to me songs are wonderful.  “Mary Had a Little Lamb” is a cover of the Rod + Rose song of the same name.  I’m a little surprised I haven’t had a song where someone else apply the popular nursery rhyme in a Christmas song before since it fits so perfectly.  Again, the melody is beautiful and the lyrics are outstanding.  It touches on what Jesus’s birth means to us, and it’s just a fun song.

Finally, there’s “The Night That Love was Born.”  The melody is fantastic as Selah sings about Jesus coming to earth.  I can’t track down anything on this song, so I can’t tell if it is a cover or not, but it’s new to me, so that’s all that really matters.

That leaves us with seven classic Christmas songs.  And, while the melody and lyrics might (mostly) be familiar, the arrangements still feel fresh.  It helps that some of them have been given new choruses, like “O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adore Him).”  “Joy to the World” gets a fun African vibe.  I’m not usually a fan of “Amen” or “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” but their medley of the two is lots of fun.  We get a new chorus as they turn “Good Christian Men Rejoice” into “Good Christian Friends Rejoice.”  It’s a fun arrangement on a Christmas song people don’t record enough.  And yes, there are slower classics as well, like “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” and “The First Noel.”

As I said, you will feel right at home with these seven classics at the same time you are struck anew by them thanks to the fresh arrangements.  They will help put you in the Christmas spirit while still being different enough that you will enjoy them when the rest of your collection is feeling a bit too familiar late in December.

If you are looking for some new Christmas music to enjoy this season, you’ll be glad you checked out At This Table.  Even if you aren’t a Selah fan, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.  And who knows, this might work the same magic that their original Christmas release did on me and turn you into a Selah fan for life.

CD Length: 40:21

Tracks:

1. At This Table

2. Away in a Manger (Sweet Melody)

3. O Come All Ye Faithful (Adore Him)

4. Mary Had a Little Lamb

5. Joy to the World/Sweet Little Baby Boy

6. The Night that Love was Born

7. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

8. Amen/Go Tell it on the Mountain

9. Good Christian Men, Rejoice (Born to Reign)

10. The First Noel

Music Review: Always Only Jesus by MercyMe

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: 10 great tracks focusing us on Jesus

Cons: It’s only 10 tracks

The Bottom Line:

Focus on Jesus

Marvels at grace, offers praise

Not a weak track here

MercyMe Point Us to Jesus

I was pleasantly surprised when I saw that MercyMe was releasing a new CD this fall.  They just released a new CD last year, after all, and I’ve gotten used to the every two year cycle most artists seem to be on these days.  Naturally, I got Always Only Jesus as soon as I could.

If you are a fan of this Christian band, you will be very happy with this new release.  It took them a few releases to perfect their sound, but they’ve carved out a wonderful space in the soft rock corner of Christian music, and they’ve hit that sweet spot perfectly here.  Whether we’ve got the upbeat “Hands Up” or the slower “Then Christ Came,” these songs are singable and fun while hitting us with some great truths.

We start out with “Hands Up,” an upbeat song of praise, struggling with how to capture our response to all that God has done for us.  This idea of praise comes up again in the title track, which is a wonderful song for “Always Only Jesus.” 

“Better Days Coming” reminds us that, when things look bad, this isn’t the end of the story because God has promised us Heaven.  But they do acknowledge the struggles of life with songs like “To Not Worship You,” which deals with praising God in the midst of trials.  They also talk about finding the faith to trust God through the trials in “Heart Beats for Your Good.”  This last song has my favorite line in the entire CD when they say, “Remind me that this hurricane is nothing but a breeze to You.”  That’s such a great picture of how powerful our God is, isn’t it?

I really love “Forgivable.”  This is another upbeat song that will get stuck in your head.  Which means you’ll have a reminder that “No matter how much you messed up, you are still forgivable.”  That’s a fantastic reminder.  This theme comes up again in “Grace Amazing.”

“Lost in You” is part song of surrender and part marveling at how God leads us when we finally do surrender to Him.

I kind of spoiled this earlier, but MercyMe does present a new version of “Then Christ Came” here.  On their last release, they had a 50 second demo version.  When I heard it, I was wishing they had waited to turn it into a fully song.  Well, they did, and what we got before is the chorus.  The full song is a tad more upbeat and the melody is slightly different, but it is a great song about the life of a Christian before and after Christ came.

The disc closes with “Nothing but the Blood.”  Yes, this is a new version of the classic hymn.  While the lyrics are all the same, they’ve given it a new melody that is fantastic.  Definitely another highlight for me.

Of course, saying that last song was a highlight is a bit misleading.  I really like all the songs on this disc.  They are fun with eternal truths.

I will be listening to this disc for years to come.  And with a disc that lives up to its Always Only Jesus title, that is a great thing.

CD Length: 39:20

Tracks:

1. Hands Up

2. Better Days Coming

3. Forgivable

4. To Not Worship You

5. Always Only Jesus

6. Heart Beats for Your Good

7. Grace Amazing

8. Lost in You

9. Then Christ Came

10. Nothing but the Blood

Music Review: Greatest Hymns Vol. 3 by Selah

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: 13 wonderful arrangements of classic hymns

Cons: Could have used a bit more stylistic differences, but it’s a minor complaint

The Bottom Line:

Selah celebrates

Hymns of the past and present

Timeless truths preserved

Timeless Truths in Fresh Arrangements

2022 marks the 25^th anniversary for the musical group Selah, and they are celebrating with a couple of different projects.  The first of these is Greatest Hymns Volume 3, and all fans of this trio will be thrilled with it.

This is actually the first of Selah’s Greatest Hymns releases that I’ve bought.  That’s because the first two were greatest hits releases.  Yes, the tracks were all hymns, but they were arrangements that Selah had previous released.  That’s not the case here.  All 13 tracks are hymns that Selah hasn’t recorded before.

Any fan of the trio will know what to expect here, and they won’t be disappointed.  We get arrangements that are simple yet beautiful.  The harmonies are fantastic.  Typically, we get piano and strings with some other instruments brought in as needed.  There is nothing flashy or groundbreaking here.  But that’s what makes these arrangements so great.  While being beautiful to listen to, we get to reflect on the timeless truths captured by these lyrics over the centuries.

The disc starts out with a medley of “For the Beauty of the Earth” and “This is My Father’s World.”  Thematically, the songs go together perfectly.  Ironically, I’ve never much cared for the first song, but “This is My Father’s World” is a hymn I just love.  Fortunately, that is the hymn that gets the majority of the time here.  This is a song with strings in addition to piano, and the result is beautiful.

Fanny Crosby’s “Blessed Assurance” comes next.  It’s a simple arrangement with just piano, but the harmonies are gorgeous.

We get a couple of tracks that brings in Gospel influences, and “Put Your Hand in the Hand” is the first of these.  I feel like I should know this hymn, but it doesn’t seem familiar.  We have quite a bit of fun and more instruments on this one.  They return to the Gospel feel with the disc closer, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”  I was only familiar with the chorus of this one, and it’s fun to get more of it.

“Precious Memories” is a hymn I’m totally unfamiliar with.  It is a beautiful, contemplative piece, but I’m struggling to connect with it, most likely because I didn’t already know it.  I feel the same way with “Stand By Me,” which comes later in the disc.

We get some modern hymns with the “Twila Paris Medley.”  Since I’m a fan of Twila’s music, I really like this collection.  Okay, so I would have considered them more praise choruses, but that’s just semantics.  They’ve picked some true classics here, and I like how they combined them.

When I saw “Praise the Lord” on the track list, my immediate thought was The Imperials’ classic.  That is indeed the song we get here.  I’m not sure how I feel about it being considered a hymn, probably because I’ve never sung it in church or really heard it talked about in that way before.  Having said that, I absolutely love the song, and the arrangement here is fantastic, so I’m not really complaining about it being included.

I was mostly familiar with the chorus if “Oh, How I Love Jesus,” but I know I’ve sung some verses over the years.  I am really glad to get it here.  “Rock of Ages” is another favorite of mine, so it was nice to see Selah tackle it and add a new chorus to it.  I’ve really grown to appreciate “The Love of God” over the years, and I like their version as well.  And “What Wondrous Love is This” is properly dramatic.  It sounds great.

As much as I love the individual tracks, it could have used a little more variety stylistically.  I know, I’m being picky.  The songs really do sound fantastic.  I just know that Selah has more range than they are showing here.  But truly, this is a minor complaint.  And at almost an hour of music, there is plenty here to love.

Overall, this is a release that Selah’s fans will be happy to add to their collection.  So if that is you, or you enjoy classic hymns in general, be sure to check out Greatest Hymns, Volume 3.

CD Length: 56:09

Tracks:

1. For the Beauty of the Earth/This is My Father’s World

2. Blessed Assurance

3. Put Your Hand in the Hand

4. Precious Memories

5. Sweet Hour of Prayer

6. Twila Paris Medley

7. Oh, How I Love Jesus

8. Praise the Lord

9. Rock of Ages

10. Stand by Me

11. What Wondrous Love is This

12. Will the Circle be Unbroken

Music Review: Still by Stephen Curtis Chapman

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Many good songs about life with God

Cons: Several songs don’t work for me

The Bottom Line:

Steven shares new songs

Plenty for fans to enjoy

Not all work for me

Steven Curtis Chapman is Still Creating Good Music

It’s been a few years since we got a release of new music from Steven Curtis Chapman.  Since I’ve been a fan for decades, I was excited to see he was releasing Still.  While this isn’t his best, fans will definitely appreciate it.

And fans will know what to expect here.  We’ve got guitar driven pop and ballads here.  He’s even snuck in an anthem or two.  I hesitate to say that this is fully soft rock, although he does have some upbeat tracks here.  But it’s definitely slower and quieter overall than his stuff from the 90’s and early 2000’s.  That’s been a trend I’ve noticed from him recently, and it continues here.

And he is still producing some great lyrics.  The disc opens with “Welcome Back to Wonder,” a short song about experiencing the majesty of the world God has created.  It leads right into “Still.”  And I mean that literally.  There is a second between them, but the transition is so flawless musically that you might think they are the same song if you aren’t paying close attention.  The song is about still following God despite the trials of life and how God is still working on us.  I really like the truths of the song, and it’s a great anthem.

For me, other highlights include “Don’t Lose Heart,” a song of encouragement from one friend to another going through hard times.  “I’m Alive,” is another upbeat song that embraces the pains and joys of life.  “Running After You” is about God’s amazing love for us, and “Unfixables” is about trusting God even with the things in life that hurt.

These are mostly the more upbeat songs on the disc.  I find the slower songs to be hit or miss.  Honestly, I often find that Steven’s slower songs don’t always work for me.  Yes, he’s written some great ones, but this is an overall impression.  I really did like “Where Else Could I Go,” which he wrote with his sons.  “Love Now” is a good reminder to love because you don’t know how much time you really have.  And his wife was a co-writer on that one.  However, “Kindness” and “A Desperate Benediction (Peace on Earth)” don’t really work for me.  The second one is definitely too slow.  I get that they are supposed to be aspirations, but they come across a bit more like lectures.  Then again, maybe that’s a sign of where my heart is right now.  “Trying to Get Back Home” is nice, but it doesn’t quite work for me either.

The slowest song is “Living Color,” a song about Steven’s Jr. High best friend Carlton.  It wades into some interesting waters.  It took a bit of time to grow on me, but I have come to like it.  I definitely appreciate what he was going for with it.

It’s nice to get some new music from Steven Curtis Chapman.  I suspect some of my issues with the disc will be personal taste and where I am in my life right now.  But the songs I like are very good.  As I said earlier, fans will definitely be thrilled to get their hands on Still.

CD Length: 43:10

Tracks:

1. Welcome Back to Wonder

2. Still

3. Don’t Lose Heart

4. I’m Alive

5. Kindness

6. Running After You

7. Unfixables

8. Love Now

9. Where Else Could I Go

10. A Desperate Benediction (Pease on Earth)

11. Living Color

12. Trying to Get Back Home

Music Review: Healer Deluxe by Casting Crowns

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: 14 great tracks from Casting Crowns

Cons: 7 of them were released last year

The Bottom Line:

Full Healer release

Some new, some we got last year

Combined, a strong disc

Doubling Healer with Great New Songs

When I bought Casting Crown’s CD Healer earlier this year, I was a bit surprised to find out that it only had seven songs on it.  Then, a couple weeks ago, I saw that they were releasing a deluxe edition.  Often, when an artist releases a deluxe edition, there are two or three new songs, but in this case, we get seven new songs, bringing us to a total of fourteen great tracks.

If you’ve already bought the original, you know what good songs we have for half the tracks here.  And the seven songs we already have are mixed in with the new songs although they are stacked near the beginning.  I’m not going to go into all the detail about these tracks again to focus on the new songs.  I will direct you to my earlier review for that content.

So, what about the seven new songs we get here?  As I always said, I really like them.  Then again, that’s no surprise since I’ve been a big Casting Crowns fan since their debut.

First up, we get “Jesus at a Distance,” a song of recommitment to giving our entire lives to Him.  It’s a good midtempo track and convicting in a good way.

I really like the reminder of “The Devil is on the Run.”  This is a fun, upbeat track that talks about who is really going to win despite what we see around us.  It’s a great reminder, and the music gives it a triumphant feel.

“No Hurt” reminds us that Jesus is able to heal us no matter what emotions we are struggling with.  Again, it’s an upbeat song that helps us truly appreciate the message.  I also really like the placement since it is after the bittersweet song “Scars in Heaven.”  Combined, the two admit to feeling hurt but then reminding us of the source of our healing.

They slow things down a little for the anthem “All Because of Mercy,” a great reminder that God’s mercy is how we have been forgiven of our past.

“I’m Still Out Here” is a bit of a change as it is written from the point of view of someone dealing with pain and questions.  While so many of the songs here are reminders of the hope we have in Jesus, this is written from someone who has been crushed by pain or doesn’t believe.  But it is still a reminder that they need us to come into their lives and love them and show them Jesus.  It’s a mid-tempo song, and another powerful one.

The next track fits in perfectly.  “Song of a Broken Heart” is written from the point of view of someone reaching out to the person struggling.  Tempo wise, they fit together perfectly, too.

The disc ends with a cover of Michael Card’s “Gentle Healer.”  I was never a big Michael Card fan, so this song was new to me, and I really like it.  What makes it stand out is that it is a cappella.  Their harmonies are beautiful.

As you can see, I really do like all the new tracks on the disc.  If you’re a fan of this band, I definitely recommend that you get it, especially if you didn’t get the earlier half release.  Honestly, I’ve noticed more artists doing stuff like this.  Some are releasing singles well before they release a new disc that collects those songs.  I’m probably one of the few odd balls out there who still buys physical media, so it probably isn’t as much of an issue for others who buy digital.  If you do that, it is easier to buy the new tracks here.  I was able to pre-order my disc for a good discount, so I’m definitely not complaining in this case.  If you can still get the good discounted price, you’ll definitely want to jump on this right away.

But that’s a discussion for another time and place.  As I said, if you like Casting Crowns, you’ll be pleased with the songs here whether all of them are new to you or half of them are new to you.  And if you are looking for songs to encourage and challenge you, this is a disc you’ll enjoy.

I hope this doesn’t become a pattern, but it’s hard to complain about the deluxe version of Healer since it has so many great songs.

CD Length: 49:56

Tracks:

1. Desert Road

2. Healer

3. Jesus at a Distance

4. The Devil is on the Run

5. Scars in Heaven

6. No Hurt

7. Crazy People

8. Anything but Easy

9. All Because of Mercy

10. 2nd Opinions

11. The Power of the Cross

12. I’m Still Out Here

13. Song of a Broken Heart

14. Gentle Healer

Music Review: To Love a Fool by Cory Asbury

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Strong lyrics and melodies filled with timeless Biblical truths

Cons: Only a fool would find cons

The Bottom Line:

Ten beautiful tracks

Filled with encouraging truths

Glad I found Cory

I’m No Fool, So I Love This Release

I have sadly pretty much fallen out of the Christian music (or really any music) loop, so I hadn’t heard of Cory Asbury until a friend gave me his CD To Love a Fool.  I immediately fell in love with it.

This disc was released by Bethel Music, so sticking it in, I was expecting it to be a worship CD.  And I could see many of these songs, like “Sparrow,” working in a worship service.  However, it doesn’t sound like what I typically think of as a worship disc.  Instead, it hits my soft rock tastes perfectly.  That’s one reason I immediately fell in love with it.

Then there are the lyrics.  Take “Sparrow.”  The song talks about how God takes good care of us.  The first verse takes imagery from Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount about God caring for the sparrow and the lily.  However, the second verse goes further, with images that invoke trials.  It’s a familiar reminder, but it hits in a different way, and I like it for that.

The disc opens with “Canyons,” which marvels at God’s endless love for us.  Cory also wrote the similarly themed “Reckless Love” (which was on his previous release), and this is a vivid reminder.  Likewise, he marvels at God’s grace in “Crashing In.”

The title for the disc comes from “Nothing More Than You.”  Again, Cory is singing about God’s amazing grace for us.  And again, his words and imagery are wonderful.

This is more than I could ask for
More than I could dream
The One who made the world somehow thinks the world of me
The highest King of Heaven
Chose to love a food
I don’t understand it
But I know I want nothing more than You

When you think about it that way, it is hard to do anything but surrender to God, isn’t it?

The further we go into the disc, the less the songs seem like something that would be sung in church.  But that’s okay because it gives us songs like “Dear God,” a wonderful conversation between us and God from the times we try to handle things in our own might and then the reminder from God that His power is what we need no matter what we are dealing with.

I love songs themed around the story of the prodigal son, so I’m not at all surprised that I love “The Prodigal Song.”  It captures the part of the story where the son is ready to return to his father and the results when he does.  You can feel the desperation the son was feeling as he sings.

Some of these songs, like “I’m Sorry,” seem very personal, and I would love to know more about what inspired them.  However, the truths are universal.  Like how God uses trials in our lives, the theme of “Faithful Wounds” and “Unraveling.”  We’re also reminded that God is constantly working on us, no matter our past sins and shame in “The Father’s House.”

Cory has a wonderful voice.  You can hear the passion for the lyrics as he sings.  I also love his range, which make these melodies unique.  Yet it sounds natural and not forced as he sings.

Yes, I’ve tracked down more of Cory’s music, and I will be looking for any new releases from him in the future.  To Love a Fool is a strong disc that will connect your soul once again with timeless Biblical truths.

CD Length: 45:20

Tracks:

1. Canyons

2. Sparrows

3. Crashing In

4. Nothing More Than You

5. Dear God

6. The Prodigal Song

7. I’m Sorry

8. Faithful Wounds

9. Unraveling

10. The Father’s House

Music Review: Enough Already by Brandon Heath

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Eight good new songs from Brandon Heath

Cons: Shorter than I would like

The Bottom Line:

Brandon Heath is back

With a shorter offering

That’s worth a listen

I’m Happily Accepting This New Release from Brandon Heath

It’s been several years since we got any new music from Brandon Heath, so I was happy to see Enough Already pop up for pre-order.  His fans will be happy with this addition to his discography.

The biggest theme of this disc is acceptance.  Acceptance of who you are in Jesus.  No, this isn’t to say that we shouldn’t be striving to improve, but Brandon is talking about not dwelling on our past sins and where we’ve failed before.  Instead, he’s talking about living in God’s forgiveness and grace.  It’s a powerful theme that is always good to be reminded of.  It’s the message of “Enough Already,” which makes sense being the title song.  It also pops up in “Another Song About Love, “This Changes Everything,” and “That’s Enough.”  Since that’s four of the eight new songs on the disc, you can see that’s a very important theme.

Since the songs here have been written over the last couple of years, it’s no surprise that we also get songs like “Minute by Minute” and “See Me Though It” that talk about God helping us through trials.

Then there’s “He Is Not Worried.”  It’s a wonderful tribute to his father.  However, it is very bittersweet.  It’s a hard song to listen to, at least for me.  I’m sure for others it will be a wonderful comfort.

If you are already familiar with Brandon’s style, you’ll love this disc as well.  He’s another of the soft rock singer/song writers I love so much.  There is a slight Gospel vibe on “See Me Through It” that is fun, and he does slow things down at times, like for the ballad “He Is Not Worried.”

My biggest complaint is the length.  The disc is only thirty minutes.  I guess I’ve gotten spoiled by most of the new releases I’ve been getting recently that has more tracks and run longer.  This is especially true when you realize that the ninth track on the disc is an acoustic version of the first track, “Human Nature.”  It’s a great song about God’s love and how it changes us.  But, since it is on here twice, we really only have eight new songs.

That issue aside, it is great to have new music from Brandon again.  If you are a fan or looking for a new artist to try, I definitely recommend Enough Already.

 

CD Length: 30:48
Tracks:
1. Human Nature
2. Minute by Minute
3. This Changes Everything
4. That’s Enough
5. See Me Through It
6. Another Song About Love
7. He is Not Worried
8. Enough Already
9. Human Nature (Acoustic)

Music Review: inhale (exhale) by MercyMe

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Many good tracks

Cons: A few odd choices had to grow on me

The Bottom Line:

Took some time to grow

But I’m appreciating

Breath in and listen

It Took a Deep Breath, and a Listen or Two, for Me to Fully Appreciate MercyMe’s Latest

I’ve found that I’ve become a bigger fan of MercyMe the longer I’ve listened to their music.  Their lyrics are connecting with me more, and their rock style is growing on me.  However, when I got inhale (exhale), their release from last year, I had to set it aside a couple of times before I could fully appreciate it.  Now, I’m not completely sure why.

Okay, so part of the reason why might have been the throwback sound.  Growing up in the 80’s, I was too young for the disco sound of the 70’s, but that is back on a couple of the tracks here.  The most obvious is “Brand New,” a celebration of the new life we get in Christ.  Appropriately enough, Gloria Gaynor joins them on this track.  The other track that really has a 70’s vibe for me is “Whiplash.”  This is a fun song about trying to live a life for Christ while still looking back at your sin.  Yes, I said fun, but it is also convicting.

Among the other odd at first choices here is including a short demo of the song “Then Christ Came.”  I’m not sure why they did that since it seems like a great idea that could grow into a full-length song.  Maybe we’ll see that on their next release.  Then there’s the title duo.  The disc opens with “Inhale” and ends with “Exhale.”  Both of these are also short songs that talk about resting in God during trials.

I think it was some of these choices that made me take a little longer to get into this disc.  And don’t think that this is nothing but weird choices.  There are plenty of soon to be classic MercyMe songs here.  One of my favorites is “Bright Side of Broken,” which reminds us that God can work in the middle of our hard times.  It’s a great ballad, and it addresses the pain we can feel in a way that doesn’t come across as a cliché.

Another favorite is “Blessed.”  The first full length song here, it’s got a great beat.  You’ll be smiling and singing it in no time.  Another fun song is “Uh Oh (Here I Go),” which talks about jumping in and living for God.

Don’t let my talk about short songs worry you.  There are sixteen tracks, so even with a few short tracks, we still get plenty of new music.

I’m glad I kept coming back to inhale (exhale).  While it didn’t grab me right away, there is enough good music here to make MercyMe fans happy.

CD Length: 48:40

Tracks:

1. Inhale

2. Blessed

3. On Our Way (Featuring Sam Wesley)

4. So Yesterday

5. A Little Love (Featuring Gary LeVox)

6. Whiplash

7. Bright Side of Broken

8. Let Yourself be Loved

9. Hurry Up and Wait

10. Brand New (Featuring Gloria Gaynor)

11. Uh Oh (Here I Go)

12. The Moment

13. Then Christ Came (Demo)

14. Say I Won’t

15. Almost Home

16. Exhale

Music Review: Healer by Casting Crowns

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Several great new songs of encouragement and challenge

Cons: “Scars in Heaven” is more bitter than sweet for me

The Bottom Line:

Seven track release

Encouragement and challenge

Good for this group’s fans

Facing Hard Time by Looking at the Healer

New music from Casting Crowns is an automatic purchase from me, so as soon as I saw Healer on release calendars, I made a point to get it.  I was a bit surprised to see it was going to be only seven songs, but they still brought their usual mix of challenge and encouragement.

This release starts off with two power anthems of encouragement.  Up first is “Desert Road,” which is about facing adversity with God by our sides to help us.  Then comes “The Power of the Cross,” a wonderful reminder that no matter what is in our past, God has forgiven it.

Next comes “Scars in Heaven.”  This is a very bittersweet song, reminding us that the only scars in Heaven will be on Jesus after all the results of sin have been erased.  That sounds encouraging right?  That was my first thought until I really listened to the verses, which are about a recent loss.  The grief is very raw here, and it is enough to make me start crying.  While I can see it being an encouragement to some, for me this song is way more bitter than sweet.

“Anything but Easy” brings us to the challenge section of the disc.  This song is about love being anything but easy, as we consider witnessing to a great friend who isn’t a Christian.

“Crazy People,” comes next.  As you might have guessed if you know Casting Crowns, this upbeat soft rock song is about how the world views us Christians.  I love their take on classic Bible stories in the first verse, and it’s a good reminder that’s also a bit of a challenge that we should stand apart from the world.

Next up we get the title track.  This is again a combination of challenge and encouragement.  The theme is that what this world needs is Jesus, the “Healer.”  Why do I say challenge and encouragement?  It’s encouraging to remember that Jesus is the answer, but it’s a challenge when I think about what I am looking at to help our country and world instead of Jesus.

Finally comes “2nd Opinions.”  I’ll admit, I’m of two opinions about this song.  (I’ll take the pun, although I wasn’t trying for it, honest.)  I get what they are going for – calling us to return to God’s word and not pop psychology in the world or social media.  It seems like a weird song to end the disc with, and the slightly country ting to the song is a little weird as well.  I also have to laugh that Pinterest is the only social media platform they call out even though I find much more dangerous stuff on the others.  (Or maybe I just use Pinterest differently.)

I’ve been feeling like several new CDs I’ve gotten recently are coming out of the struggles we’ve gone through as a world in the last two years, and that’s the case again here.  There’s nothing wrong with that, and it makes the lyrics all the more powerful.  These truths are both timely and timeless.  Which means I will be listening to the disc for a long time to come.

And yes, while I have a couple of tracks that don’t quite work for me, overall, I know I will listen to the rest regularly.  Casting Crowns is one of my favorite groups, and I’m always happy to get new music from them.

If you are also a fan, you’ll be glad you picked up Healer.  While I wish it were longer, there is much to think about over from these seven songs.

CD Length: 25:57

Tracks:

1. Desert Road

2. The Power of the Cross

3. Scars in Heaven

4. Anything but Easy

5. Crazy People

6. Healer

7. 2nd Opinions

Music Review: Hark! by Marc Martel

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great collection of mostly lesser-known Christmas songs

Cons: How much longer can Marc keep releasing these EPs?

The Bottom Line:

New Christmas EP

Features mostly rarer songs

Lots of guest talent

Hark!  What’s That I Hear?  New Christmas Music from Marc Martel!

Just about every year, Marc Martel releases a new Christmas EP with some help from his musician friends.  And every year, I buy it.  I’m worried he will soon run out of Christmas songs to cover, but so far he is still going strong, as I’m enjoying this year’s offering – Hark!

Marc is joined by friends on four of the six songs in this collection, and what a great group he’s got here.  The EP opens with a cover of Chris Rice’s song “Welcome to Our World.”  I’ve loved this song for years, but it hasn’t been recorded very often.  It’s nice to get a new version of it, especially one with the great arrangement we get here.  Leigh Nash, formerly of Sixpence None the Richer, joins Marc.  It’s a fun version with a music box rendition of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to open and strains of the chorus of “Angels We Have Heard on High” between some of the verses.

Marc heads into bluesy territory for the next two tracks “Blue Christmas” and “Zat’ You, Santa Claus?”  He’s joined on these tracks by Joe Bonamassa and Jared James Nichols, respectively.  While they don’t sing, they add some great music to Marc’s vocals.  I am very familiar with “Blue Christmas,” but I was surprised to find I didn’t have that many versions of it in my collection.  I only have one other version of “Zat’ You, Santa Claus?”  It’s a different song, but I’m finding Marc’s version to be fun.

Marc goes very traditional with the next track, “Hark! The Heard Angels Sing.”  The emphasis here is on piano and vocals with strings coming in after the first verse.  After the last two tracks, it seems especially simple, but it is beautiful.  I love this hymn, so I am thrilled to have Marc’s take on it.

We enter pop territory with the next track, “Last Christmas.”  This is another duet, with time with singer Arnel Pineda.  While I know the song isn’t new, it is new to my Christmas music collection.  The melody makes it fun, and I find myself smiling as they sing it.  Not sure I would have sought it out, but I’m glad I have it.

Last up comes the Christmas adjacent song “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”  Marc is channeling his inner crooner here, which fits the song perfectly.

As you can see, there are quite a variety of styles on this project.  I’m not sure many artists could pull it off as effortlessly as Marc does, but it works well with his vocals.  Other than the title track, the songs aren’t the ones that everyone else does (he’s done most of those already), so it adds some nice variety to my Christmas playlists while still being familiar enough to feel like Christmas music right out of the gate.  But this is why I’m wondering how much longer he can keep producing new Christmas EPs.  I’m not sure there are too many more songs out there he hasn’t already covered.

I know we are fast running out of December, but if you are still looking for some new Christmas tunes for this year, I definitely recommend you check out Hark!  I will be enjoying it for many Christmases to come.

EP Length: 21:41

Tracks:

1. Welcome to Our World (with Leigh Nash)

2. Blue Christmas (with Joe Bonamassa)

3. Zat' You, Santa Claus? (with Jared James Nichols)

4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

5. Last Christmas (with Arnel Pineda)

6. What Are You Doing New Years Eve?

Music Review: Evergreen by Pentatonix

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Creative, vibrant arrangements

Cons: A few of the songs are a bit odd

The Bottom Line:

Mixed Christmas music

All the arrangements shine here

Some songs don’t connect

Will This Be an Evergreen Christmas Release?

At this point, I am pretty much amazed when Pentatonix comes out with a new Christmas CD that has any traditional songs on it we haven’t already gotten from them.  We have a good selection of familiar tracks on Evergreen, but with the wonderful Pentatonix twist.

Depending on how you count traditional Christmas songs will determine how many you say are on this disc.  There are a couple of very easy contenders.  “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and “Frosty the Snowman” are prime examples.  The group is joined by Alessia Cara on “Frosty.”  They go with an up-tempo take on “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” which I really enjoy.  The rhythm on “I Saw Three Ships” is delightful.  And they close things out with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

Then there are the almost traditional Christmas songs.  They seem to be showing up more and more, at least on the discs I buy.  We’re talking about songs like Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.”  I’m not usually a fan of this song, but I really do like the take on it here.  We’ve also got “Home for the Holidays” and “Little Saint Nick.”

The title track is a song that the members of Pentatonix wrote themselves.  It’s more about a mother’s love than Christmas itself, but they are using the season as a launching point.  Still, you’d do just fine if you pulled it out in May.

And then there are the other tracks.  I’m not sure some of these really belong on a Christmas disc.  For example, the short intro track “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” is more about romance.  The same is true with Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” and “My Heart with You” also fall into this category, at least for me.  Now, that isn’t to say I don’t enjoy the tracks.  Their arrangements are fantastic, sometimes achingly beautiful.  I’m glad I have them.  I just am questioning their place on a Christmas disc.

If you aren’t familiar with Pentatonix, you really are missing out.  This group of five is an outstanding a cappella group.  The harmonies they achieve, and the full sound they get is outstanding.  Their arrangements are fresh, and sometimes extremely dramatic.  It’s hard not to enjoy the songs even if you struggle to follow exactly what the songs are about, like “River.”

The one exception to Pentatonix’s a cappella here is “Over the River.”  Lindsey Stirling joins the group with her exceptional violin playing.  Once again, the arrangement is perfect at combining the violin to their amazing vocals, and it’s great to have this song included since I don’t think I have it anywhere else.

The first time through the disc, I didn’t quite connect with it, but as I’ve been listening to it over the last few weeks, it is quickly growing on me.  Still, I think a few of the odder song choices will keep this from being one of their top Christmas releases.

Fans will hardly complain, however.  The creative and perfectly executed arrangements will keep them pulling out Evergreen every Christmas.

CD Length: 39:35

Tracks:

1. It’s Been a Long, Long Time

2. Wonderful Christmastime

3. I Saw Three Ships

4. Home for the Holidays

5. River

6. Over the River (Featuring Lindsey Stirling)

7. The Prayer

8. Evergreen

9. Frosty the Snowman (Featuring Alessia Cara)

10. I Just Called to Say I Love You

11. Little Saint Nick

12. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

13. My Heart with You

14. We Wish You a Merry Christmas