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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Christmas Songs Redeems,
This review is from: Christmas Songs by Jars of Clay (Audio CD)
Anytime I hear of an artist recording a Christmas album, I become slightly nauseous. How many renditions of "Winter Wonderland" can one generation drivel out?
I was, to say the least, apprehensive when I heard that Jars of Clay would be making a Christmas album. When the album became available, I listened with hesitation. What I found was pleasantly original and surprising. In a culture saturated on the bubble-gum Christmas-spirit, "Christmas Songs" restores a sense of mystery and depth that has been lost. What is most refreshing is the effectively balanced range of territory that is covered on the album. It is serious without being grave; it is fun without being flippant; it is experimental without being disoriented; and it is traditional without feeling stringent. One of the most surprising gems on the album is the completely reconstructed carol, "O Little Town of Bethlehem." The melodies are hauntingly beautiful and permeate the song with an ethereal quality that brings out an appropriate sense of wonder incubated in the idea of the Incarnation. The album harks back to the 50s with "Hibernation Day", a fun original contribution by Jars about being snowed in with the one you love and is tinged with just the right amount of nostalgia to make even the most calloused of lovers feel at least a little sappy and long for a time out of mind. Other highlights include a rendition of Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime", "Love Came Down At Christmas", and the two instrumental pieces "Winter Skin" and "Evergreen" which bring a mood of enchantment to the album. Drawbacks to the album are that it can be somewhat too meditative in areas. The second half of the album is much slower-paced and while that works well for the most part, it can start to feel monotonous at times. And although a great Christmas record, it feels somewhat out of place to think of it playing in the background on Christmas Day. But this is probably true for any Christmas album put out by a recording artist. Part of what makes any song about Christmas feel timeless and universal is, to me, a sense of anonymity as to who is singing the tune. But this criticism may be too personal. The overall drawbacks are minimal and significantly outweighed by the diversity and creativity of the rest of the album. All in all, Jars have succeeded in creating an excellent traditional, and yet modern Christmas album. You will definitely get your money's worth.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rocky and Contemplative Christmas,
By Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Christmas Songs by Jars of Clay (Audio CD)
Jars of Clay has finally released a Christmas CD! Fans (or this one at least) have long awaited one. While it isn't the instant Christmas project I love, there is lots of great stuff here.
The disc features lots of rare and original songs. For example, the group wrote two instrumental songs, "The Gift of St. Cecilia" and "Evergreen." There are also three original songs. While "Winter Skin" and "Hibernation Day" celebrate winter and the fun it can bring, "Peace is Here" celebrates the peace that Jesus can bring. In my Christmas music collection, I had no copies of Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime." I can't compare it to anything else, but I like their alt rock take on it. I was also unfamiliar with "Love Came Down at Christmas" which is based on a Christina Rossetti poem. I really like it. I especially enjoy the reference to a kids folk song at the end. Then there are the classics. "O Little Town of Bethlehem" gets a makeover with a new melody. It makes the song very haunting. "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" is likewise slow and haunting. And yes, they include "Drummer Boy." This is a different version then their single released years ago, but it does sound very similar. "Christmastime is Here" is part jazz and part rock. It sort of works, but I still prefer the original. And that's the only real problem with the disc. Some artists can pull off a mix of their signature sound on a Christmas release. Jars of Clay comes close, but they don't quite do it. The CD is fine, but I think it will be several years before I consider it a true Christmas project. I will definitely pull it out in mid-December when I am ready for something different. But it won't be the first thing I get out the day after Thanksgiving. Don't misunderstand. This isn't a bad release. It is quite enjoyable for something different. And it will please Jars of Clay's many fans.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Unique Take on Christmas Favorites,
This review is from: Christmas Songs by Jars of Clay (Audio CD)
Last week, I would've given this album three stars. After listening to it off and on, I'm up to a four stars. By Christmas I might be at five. Why?
All the songs on the album have a unique feel - not the typical Christmasy feel. They have Jars of Clay's signature sound which isn't distracting. It's just that at times you don't feel like you're listening to Christmas music. Check out some of the song samples. After listening to it for a week however, I've come to appreciate this different take on songs you've had beat into your head by everyone from Bing Crosby to Seals and Croft. Christmas should be a time of contemplating God's gift to us of his son. By spinning the songs a little off center, Jars of Clay has forced me to do that. I focus more on these songs and their lyrics than I have on others. And by doing so, I've found myself reflecting on the upcoming Christmas season. Maybe I'll move to five stars by tomorrow.
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