Customer Reviews

The Christ (Song For Joseph)

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

 

 

Billy Dean's humble cover pose compliments this beautiful and thoughtful tribute to Christ. It's refreshing to hear an artist who is not afraid to let their faith resonate through their music especially at Christmas. This is anything but your average Christmas album. Billy Dean's renditions of traditional Christmas favorites shine with simple warmth and sincerity (not slick or overly produced). I found more than a few tears filling my eyes. The `Silent Night' duet with Dolly Parton is particularly poignant. A huge fan of Christmas songs from New age to Rock to Country, I've heard most of the traditional carols in hundreds of forms; still I found Dean's performances (The First Noel, Little Drummer Boy, What Child Is This, Away In a Manger etc.) captured my heart and imagination filling me with that sense of Christmas Spirit I long for each year. Dean's deep mellow vocals meld well with the down tempo and simple instrumentation (i.e. the simple guitar thumping and strumming for Little Drummer Boy).

Dean `book-ends' the traditional carols with contemporary expressions of personal faith (`The Christ' and `Shine On') as well as the centerpiece `Just for You and Me'.

From the beginning homage to `the Christ' to the stirring ending `Shine On' I found every song on this Christmas album enjoyable and worshipful. Each song comes across as heart-felt. Short and sweet, this is definitely an album that will go on my iPod Christmas play-list in its entirety. Of the dozen or so new Christmas CD's I have this year, I'm thankful to have this one that keeps the focus on the `reason for the season' from start to finish!

Billy Dean's voice sounds amazing here. I normally don't listen to Christmas music, but stumbling upon this CD while browsing, I became inspired. This CD is simply beautiful, sweet, uplifting, and spiritual in the true sense of the holiday. This is a must buy. And even if you are not a country music fan, the music on this album transcends any labeling. Just listen and you will see. Billy Dean is amazing and I am very satisfied with this release. This is a very special album.

If you love Billy Dean's voice then this is a must for your holiday collection. Pure Billy, and uplifting for the holidays.

Many artists cut a Christmas album for the commercial value. On this heartfelt album, one gets the sense the Billy Dean is singing from a sincere Christian faith. There is a definite New Traditional Country feel, but it is so tastefully done, that the traditional carols are enhanced, not squeezed into the genre for the sake of a country music audience. Billy Dean has a pleasant voice, calm and relaxed. The duets add to the feeling of a family singing carols together in a loving Christmas tableau. It reminds me of those times each member of our family was "required" to bring their instruments to my mother-in-law's home for "performances" around the piano. This album may not become a classic, but it is certainly enjoyable and a worthwhile addition to the collection of anyone that loves Christmas music OR country music, a perfect blend.

Prime Cuts: Just for Me and You (Duet with Hannah Dean), The Christ, Silent Night (Duet with Dolly Parton)

Thanks to John Denver, Billy Dean has found a new lease of life at Curb Records. After years of frivolous wonderings without a record label, Dean's cover of Denver's "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" caught radio's attention, resulting in Dean being signed to Curb Records in early 2005. This resulted in two CDs: one a commercial country CD "Let Them Be Little" and this Christmas collection. Perhaps, Dean and his co-producer Ray Barnette have placed too much attention on his album proper resulting in "The Christ" sounding very much workmanlike. Unlike some yuletide offerings where the sound is rotund--filled with lush strings and heavenly-sounding choirs, "The Christ" has an acoustic almost demo- like feel. Depending on one's taste and preference, this may come across as a blessing or a curse.

Throughout the CD, Dean is not reticent about his Christian faith. And he is to be congratulated for getting to the essence of Christmas' real meaning in the anodyne "Just for Me and You." Coming from the pen of Mitchell Callis, this power ballad thumbs out the salvific mission of Jesus Christ that is in no way treacle. Noteworthy also are the vocals of Dean's daughter Hannah who is a melismatic powerhouse in the veins of Carrie Underwood. Mark my words this young lady is a name to watch. Taking a fresh perspective on the traditional story of Christ's birth, "The Christ" tells it from the perspective of the angel to Joseph (Jesus' earthy father) calmly assuring him that the baby to come is none other than the Christ. A little less effective is the last of the three originals, "Shine On" a popish number that fits more on a contemporary Christian album than a Christmas CD.

But, the CD takes a disappointing turn when it comes to the more traditional carols. They are just freighted with an obligated feel-on most of these tracks Dean does not sound too enthused. Offering an impervious read, there's not much creativity in Dean's take on these carols. Though Dean sings right on the mark, he does nothing new to these tried and true evergreens. In fact, if it were not for Dolly Parton, Dean almost sounds like he was about to doze off on "Silent Night." Described in the liner notes as one with an "angelic voice... (who) sang "Silent Night" like a sacred lullaby," Parton truly redeems this canticle from Dean's snoozing counterpart. But sadly the same can't be said of pop vocalist David Pack who joins Dean on the modern classic "Mary Did You Know." Though Pack's high tenor perfectly compliments Dean's lower baritone, Pack sounds off on numerous occasions, making his performance here embarrassing at best.

Dean's warm baritone is the perfect vehicle for Christmas songs and this CD shows that he can sing them-though he needs the added vocal charm to make this CD even more magical. Depreciative also is the fact that this CD avariciously only has 10 songs. Overall, this is a good CD, but not essential.

Here's a pleasant addition to anyone's collection of Christmas CDs. Dean's warm voice reminds me of Chris Kristopherson. The guitar accompaniment and additional instrumentation do not overwhelm the songs.

Two tunes are duets (one with David Pack and one with Dolly Parton) which varies the sound. The first two tunes were new to me (The Christ and Mary, Did You Know?) and I'm always glad to expand beyond the same old holiday tunes. Even when he reverts to standards like Silent Night and The First Noel, they sound fresh and sincere.

I particularly liked his rendition of What Child Is This. I'd given this as a gift for my sister, but after hearing it, I need to buy another copy for myself.

The last song (Shine On) is upbeat, energetic and quite different from traditional hymns.

Imagine inviting some musician friends over for a pre-Christmas gathering and they all sit around and play their acoustic instruments on traditional Christmas songs. That's what Billy Dean's THE CHRIST reminds me of. I can see them sitting by the fireside, with their acoustic guitars, cello, piano, etc. This is by no means a "showy" collection, but heartfelt and simple. Only the last song, SHINE ON, wouldn't fit in this motif, as it is more of a Christian "rock" song, and though it's okay, it sort of ruins the pre-established mood. Dean is one of those country singers who doesn't have a remarkable voice, but it is pleasant and emotional. He is joined by former Ambrosia leader David Pack on a touching rendition of MARY DID YOU KNOW that one reviewer found to be a little too much on Pack's part. I disagree, though---Pack has a marvelous voice and his high tenor blends beautifully with Dean's baritone and the result is moving. Not being a fan of Dolly Parton, I found her inclusion on SILENT NIGHT a little irritating, but one can't deny the sincerity of her vocal delivery. Dean uses his daughter Hannah on the lovely JUST FOR YOU AND ME, but unlike some others (Vince Gill, Collin Raye most noteably), he doesn't force her out in front to do a solo; her harmonies are complimentary to Dad's lead. Cellist John Catchings and guitarist Larry Beard add some lovely counterpoints to the songs, most of which are traditional carols, and the lovely new song THE CHRIST. This CD certainly won't rank as a classic, but it is moving and would be a nice change in your Christmas collection.