Music Review: Ringing in Christmas

Written in December 2007

By Amy Sondova The sounds of the season are all around us—screaming kids who can’t wait for Santa, blaring horns from traffic jams in mall parking lots, the sound of the Christmas tree being knocked over by the pet. Ah, Christmas! But fortunately you can cover all that pesky background noise with albums by Relient K, Bebo Norman, Michael W. Smith, and Jars of Clay that were just released this holiday season.

Relient K, Let It Snow Baby…Let it Reindeer (Capitol)
This year Relient K released their first full-length Christmas album reworking some classics like “12 Days of Christmas”, “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas”, and many more. Pulling songs from their EP Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand and other holiday compilations, the result is a pleasing, solid album, which makes a perfect present for everyone on your list, except maybe your grandmother. The band’s rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” will sound oddly familiar to fans of the Beach Boys Christmas Album. Right down to the last detail, Relient K does an impressive cover of the Beach Boys’ version of “Auld Lang Syne”. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Relient K album without a couple of moody ballads like “I Hate Christmas Parties” and “In Like a Lion (Always Winter)”. It’s a grand mixture of rock, pop punk, excellent vocals, merriment, and melancholy—like a nice holiday meal at a Christmas party; that is, unless you hate Christmas parties. (You can read more about Relient K in the interview, “Building on the Best Things ”).

Bebo Norman, Christmas: From the Realms of Glory (BEC)
Bebo Norman’s acoustic guitar skills, smooth vocals, and gentle spirit come together to capture an element of wonder at Jesus’ birth more than 2000 years later. Using the song “Rebel Jesus” by Jackson Browne as the foundation for this album, Norman takes us through the scandal of Jesus’ birth to the wonder at the event to the reaction of the heavenly host. “Rebel Jesus” is a haunting reminder of the purpose behind Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection reminding listeners to take care of the poor and oppressed. Looking at Jesus’ birth from a heavenly perspective, “Born to Die” is a song about how the angels may have been perplexed by the God coming to earth as an infant. The chorus resounds, “And the angels filled the sky/All of Heaven wondered why/Why their King would choose to be/Be a baby born to die.” Drawing heavily on acoustic guitar and folk/grass roots, the album is simplistic and uncomplicated, yet deeply thoughtful and profound.

Michael W. Smith, It’s a Wonderful Christmas (Reunion)
Four different choirs and an orchestra of 67 different instruments have come together with the vocals of Michael W. Smith to make a Christmas album that is sure to please almost everyone. Masterfully orchestrated, It’s A Wonderful Christmas, takes listeners on a journey of delight with old time melodies such as “What Child Is This” and “A Highland Carol”. The album is composed of mostly original MWS material including “Audrey’s Gift”, a pretty little instrumental track. Citing John Williams as one of his inspirations when composing this epic album, the result is an album that is truly bright and beautiful, like a well-decorated Christmas tree. It’s MWS’ twentieth album, yet he remains ever the gentleman presenting listeners with a tasteful, yet elegant, Christmas recording. It also comes highly recommended by Smith’s son-in-law Jack Mooring of the band, Leeland.

Jars of Clay, Christmas Songs (Nettwerk)
Christmas Songs is one strange album. After a few spins on the DVD player, the album begins to rub off on listeners. Jars of Clay once again challenges the norm, by making an ethereal Christmas recording that builds on the experimental elements of Good Monsters. The band even remixed their previously released version of “Little Drummer Boy”. Christmas Songs includes classics as well as a few original songs including “Winter Skin”, “Hibernation Day”, and “Peace Is Here”. Jars of Clay’s version of “Wonderful Christmastime” is even better than the original. It’s far from a typical Christmas album, yet its artistry is as undeniable as its charm.

Print copy of review.