Something Old, Something New
Posted November 17, 2014
By CaitlinLassiter_NRT, Staff Reviewer
What things come to mind when I say the name Chris August? For me, a hilarious sense of humor, humble spirit, sweet personality and ridiculously smooth vocals are just a few things I associate with the artist.
What you may not know is that the genius behind "The Candy Wrap" is also a big Christmas fan. Chris has released Christmas songs before, but never as a complete album/EP. This year he's changing that. Simply titled The Christmas EP, Chris's latest musical offering puts a unique spin on some timeless Christmas classics and also introduces some new tunes for your holiday collection.
Opening with previously released "Come Now Our King," one of three originals included here, Chris paints a beautiful picture of Jesus's birth and why He came to earth. "Jesus, Savior" is a simple telling of the Christmas story sung in a way that captivates you all over again, even if you've heard it hundreds of times: "our salvation has a name / Jesus, Savior, precious Lord of everything / our whole world's about to change."
Chris brings a bit of his personality into every song he covers, and it always works as a bonus. This is certainly true of his remake of "I'll Be Home For Christmas," where he adds a new energy to the already beautiful classic. My personal favorite, "O Holy Night," is flawlessly arranged with a simple yet powerful piano backing. It's a difficult song, but Chris manages to pull it off seemingly effortlessly, tackling the high notes with ease.
Coming to an end, the EP finishes with "Tell Me What You Want For Christmas," a new song that shows off Chris's usual humor as he sings from the perspective of a volunteer Santa Clause.
Closing Thoughts:
The Christmas EP is mixed with serious and funny moments alike in true Chris August fashion. As always, his vocals are smooth and perfectly pitched. There's not much to find fault with here, and I'm sure we all got just enough to make us hope for a full length Christmas album next year.
Song to Download Now:
"I'll Be Home For Christmas" (Get it on iTunes here.) View All Music And Book Reviews By CaitlinLassiter_NRT | View CaitlinLassiter_NRT's Profile
|
