Customer Reviews

Bethlehem

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was obviously not one of his greater albums but then it's Brian Mcknight. The album was well thought out to include a number of his family members which emphasised the special time for family. His sons, his brother Michael McKnight (on the a capella piece) his wife on the last piece with the sweet touches of Dave Koz and Claude McKnight of Take 6 on 'Noel'. A great impression of another favorite of mine 'Nat King Cole' (Have Yourself A Merry Christmas) was certainly an added bonus. Not only is it a sweet album but he did it while he was working on another album. Let's continue to pray for Brian.

On Bethlehem, Brian McKnight let go and revealed all of his hidden religous side. He starts off with a song with family and then later on meets up with Boyz II Men. Then with Nate King Cole and his brothers from Take 6. Even has a track with his sons. Then the last song with Dave Koz and his wife was excellent. Dave Koz rips it up on that track. I just thank God Brian McKnight didn't use a Christmas album as another excuse to write songs about lost girlfriends and relationships instead of singing about the real meaning Christmas (Christ's birth) (like many artist have).

I am a huge Brian McKnight fanatic! This has to be one of the best Christmas albums I've heard! Even though the songs aren't traditional, they leave you with a real connection with the true meaning of Christmas. You won't get the warm fuzzies you normally get with the traditional Christmas albums. Instead, you get the heart wrenching tug that reminds you of why we really celebrate the holiday. If you haven't already added this to your collection, please do! You won't be disappointed! I would have to say "It's all about Love" performed with McKnight Jr would have to be my favorite.

I bought this CD a couple of years ago and although I've bought several Chrismas mixes since, Bethlehem is still the one that stays in my player the most. I love Brian's smooth, suave voice and the arrangements of these songs are absolutely wonderful. There's not one song on here that I don't like. I think it's time for him to do another.

Brian McKnight's Christmas CD release showcases his wide range of talent. His "Nat King Cole" immitation on "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" was so convincing that I had to look twice to make sure that Mr. Cole had not made a "guest (ghost)" appearance.

This album showcased the talent of the McKnight extended family. Artists (and upcoming artists) such as Claude McKnight of the renowned group Take 6, his two sons, his wife, and a song featuring his family (including in-laws).

This is an ideal album to play in the background during Christmas dinner, and a very appropriate album to play around the kids (unlike many of his other albums).

....The perfect album to get you into the Christmas Spirit.

This CD is great. Brian McKnight really shows his range as an artist - more so than on his Anytime CD. Although many of the songs are not traditional Christmas songs, this is the kind of album you can play all year long. After hearing what he does with Dave Koz, I would love to see him release a jazz album. He also has one talented family! His wife sounds like she has a beatiful voice, as do his sons. A worthwhile purchase.

The thought of Brian McKnight's amazingly soulful vocals on 11 seasonal songs sounded too good to be true and as it turned out it was! The CD overall is a hugh disappointment. I've heard of nepotism and I know that Christmas is a time for families but Brian takes it a bit far. If he wants to sing with his sons and his wife around the Christmas tree, then that's fair enough but to give his boys centre stage on "It's All About Love" is enough to have you reaching for the sick bucket. The song in itself is fine but it disappoints as you can only imagine what Brian's soulful voice would have done to the track. Mrs Nat 'King' Cole croaks her way through "Silent Night", she doesn't sing but speaks over a backing track for 1 minute and 21 seconds that has you itching to touch the skip button. Brian singing "Silent Night" now that would have been something else. Speaking of Nat 'King' Cole, Brian does his best Nat impersonation on "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" that has you thinking it's the great man himself. Brian's own take of the song would have been more appreciated. He does find his style on 3 sublime self-penned tracks that redeem the collection somewhat. "Christmas Time Is Here", "Home For The Holidays" and the heart-breaking ballad "Don't Let Me Go" show his talents shining through. Another 8 of these performances would have been greatly appreciated. The last track is billed as a duet with his wife - "Christmas Eve With You". A nice romantic duet to round off the album would have been nice but I realised something was amiss when there were no lyrics to this track in the inlay booklet. Apart from a little harmonising (and I mean a little!) it is 6 minutes and 24 seconds of instrumental music by David Koz that has you nodding off about half-way through. "Let It Snow '98" just goes to prove how good the original was. It is yawn-inducing as the heart and soul of the original has been stripped away to make the track sound really sparse and hollow. "Hail Mary" feat. The McKnight Family Choir and "The First Noel" carry on Brian's "let's get the family into the recording studio to do a few tracks" tradition. This album is so disappointing, even more so when you realise how good it could have been if all the ingredients were in place - Brian's voice and a collection of heart-warming seasonal songs but alas it wasn't to be. As an artist usually only makes one Christmas album in their career then this one must be seen as a hugh disappointment. It sounds as though Brian recorded the album solely for his pleasure and not that of his fans. If he wanted to hear his kids and family sing he could have made a private home-recording to entertain himself and not inflicted these tracks on the rest of us.

After reading comments left on his other Christmas CD I thought I should add a positive one here. This is by far my all time favorite Christmas CD and one that I play throughout the year. This CD does bring out his spiritual side and he did an excellent job with this CD. I play Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas over and over again, his rendering of this cut is simply amazing, and the added benefit of Mrs. Nat King Cole just makes it that much more sweeter. I just want to offer a big thank you for this work, it delights my entire family and we run from 9 to 63 years of age...It's not that there is something for everyone, but that the entire CD is for everyone in our family.

This CD..is one christmas album, i do play every-year. I do have a favorite though.."It's All About Love." With his two son's BJ and Niko. I replay that one a lot. The album is pretty tradional..his redition of "Let it Snow"..sorry, once you hear the boys to men's version it's kind-of hard to like his..even though he sings it wonderfully. He has Boys to Men as collaborators on this CD, as well. I think it's a pretty good CD..but I do have a favorite that I chose to play more than the album...ha-ha-ha..I think I announced that already.
:)

I didn't see anything wrong with this album. I enjoyed most every song on it especially Let it Snow 98. If you like Boyz II Men's "Christmas Interpretations" or Ledisi's christmas album, you will enjoy this one. I would chose this album over that Keith Sweat christmas album that came out last year (that album sucked). Bottom line, if you like Brian Mcknight and R/B christmas albums, you will enjoy this one.