A Modern Day Classic
Posted September 11, 2009
By SarahFine_NRT, Staff Reviewer
BarlowGirl has said that it was always a dream of theirs a as a band to one day record a Christmas album together--to not only make for their fans, but also for themselves and for their family to cherish. On the green WOW Christmas album in 2005, fans got a taste of just how BarlowGirl could rock a Christmas tune with their amped up version of ‘O Holy Night’. But Don’t be fooled, although this band can rock, unlike fellow band Relient K who took the route of making a rock Christmas album, this time around for this full length LP, the girls decided to take the traditional approach and show just how amazing they can harmonize when they put their interments down as well.
‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year’ begins the album on a classical upbeat note while it goes on with one of thee best versions of ‘Carol of the Bells’ with ‘Sing We Now Of Christmas’ I have EVER heard. It’s no surprise why this was chosen as one of the best Christmas albums of 2008... ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas’ comes from the heart for these sisters while the song that they penned ’Hallelujah (Light Has Come)’ will go down as one of their best--Christmas album or not. It’s a tune that you will find yourself listening to year-round.
‘O Little Town Of Bethlehem’ takes more a quirky jazzy turn while ‘What Child Is This’, sung by Rebecca Barlow (in her first EVER time singing lead for a song in the group) takes this song to a blues-esq mood, very slow and full of soul. ‘Panis Angelicus’, a Latin Christmas song is sung seamlessly Alyssa Barlow while ‘Angelic Proclamation’ and ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain’ bring this album back to the upbeat swing of things. ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’ is one of the most chilling on the album, with a haunting string section and flooring harmonies. The album comes to a close with the classic piano driven ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’.
Not only is this one of the best Christmas albums of 2008, it’s one of the best that I own. Fan of the band or not, you’ll find it hard to not like this one. Many fans have stated that while they like this album they hope the band will take the Relient K route one day and make a Christmas rock album…I think that this will be the first in many Christmas albums by the band and rock or traditional, if they are anything like ‘Home For Christmas’, I will keep buying and listening to them time and time again. View All Music And Book Reviews By SarahFine_NRT | View SarahFine_NRT's Profile
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