Customer Reviews

Birth of Jesus: A Celebration of Christmas

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a really emotional album. Your heart hears the real meaning of Christmas and your soul will like it. If you are tired of the really POP Christmas music and would like to go to that quiet place, this is the CD for you. Michael is so talented and a really gifted musician. He uses traditional insturments to make this a very enjoyable listen. You will play this again and again. The birth of Jesus made me cry

I have almost 150 Christmas CDs, so believe me when I say this is one of the best Christmas albums I've ever heard! Christmas is about Christ, which this album makes abundantly and beautifully clear. Most of the songs are traditional carols, some of them quite ancient, while the others are originals written by Mr. Talbot.

The songs blend absolutely gorgeous orchestrations and arrangements with a boys choir and a hearty English chorale with definite medieval overtones. The two songs with Mr. Talbot's fellow monks just add to the overall effect of transporting the listener into the midst of a medieval celebration. I've heard no other Christmas album like this, although some tracks on Mannheim Steamroller's albums would be closest in style, and can't recommend it highly enough. Very beautiful, very spiritual, this album is truly what Christmas is all about.

'Birth of Jesus: A Celebration of Christmas' is John Michael Talbot's nineteenth release. This CD contains -12 tracks- of beautifully performed traditional songs of the season. Some you'll know, ('We Three Kings'), others you probably won't ('The Appointed Time'). Still all in all, a very nice addition to anyones Christmas CD collection.

If you want old-fashioned, reverent Christmas hymns, this is the CD for you. I was tired of all the pop music artists, and found exactly what I wanted with this CD.

This review is just an echo of the others already posted. If you want to think about Christmas - the birth of Christ - this is your album. Selections range from quiet and contemplative to epic. "Let All Mortal Flesh" is one of the best, but my personal favorite is "Lo How a Rose..." because of the imagery. Actually they are all good, and all about the real meaning of Christmas, not some nostalgic snowman and santa mishmash.
Great to listen to when meditating on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary any time of the year, too.

I absolutely love this CD and have been playing it every chance I can. This is what Christmas music should be: holy, reverent, joyous, and celebratory. My favorite song is The Appointed Time, due to the medieval flavor, although you really haven't heard We Three Kings until you've heard this version. John Michael Talbot's guitar playing is outstanding as always. I plan on giving this as a Christmas gift to some dear friends. This music will bless you and draw you into the true spirit and meaning of Christmas.

John Michael Talbot isn't everybody's cup of tea, but those who appreciate his meditative and worshipful style will love this CD. This is classic JMT - beautiful lyrics, melodies, and guitar passages. If you're looking for a bouncy, upbeat holiday offering, this isn't it. If you want a break from the holiday hassle and rush and seek to keep Christ at the center of Christmas, you will appreciate this beautiful CD.

There is much Christmas music today that is trendy and modern, which is ok.
But this Christmas CD has a more ancient feel to it, which somehow seems
appropriate as we reflect on the birth of Christ. JMT did a great job on
this project (I speak not as a musician but as one who loves hearing music).
There are several original songs, as well as a number of traditional Christmas
songs, all of them well done. Of the original songs that JMT wrote, I
especially like "Wonderful Counselor" and "Glory to God". I highly recommend
this recording.

My family loves this CD. We listen to it all year, not just around Christmas. It is very uplifting. Out of the recordings we have by Talbot, this is our favorite.