Customer Reviews

Christmas Story

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

So many of the great Christmas discs, the tried and true Bing's and Nat's were already old by the time I first heard them. This 1999 release may well be the first time I've heard a new Christmas disc that I anticipate playing 30 years from now. It is that good and that distinctive. I write that w/o even being a fan of this group prior to this release. They work in a genre I normally don't listen to, but maybe I should have been. The Medlies of Let it Snow and Sleigh Ride, as well as the coupling of Carol of the Bells with What Child is This are both master works. Santa Claus is Coming... and Jingle Bell Rock may well be the definative recordings of those songs. I collect Oh Holy Night's and put their effort in the all time top 5. Can't compare their Joy to the World to anyone elses b/c the arrangement and vocal work make the song their own. Lastly, the end track Not That Far From Bethleham is the perfect ending for any Holiday Disc in that it leaves the listener with something to ponder in the silence that follows.

An incredible display of artistic talent and insperation.

This has become the one Christmas album that I listen to all the time this year. I became familiar with Point of Grace with Steady On, and have been waiting for this ablum for what seems forever. It is a well blended mix of Christmas standards you expect on an album of this type (Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town), and new arrangements. The way their voices blend with the harmonies can take your breath away, and their version of O Holy Night brings tears to my every time I hear it. Michael Tait is exceptional on O Light of the World, and it is a surprise to hear him when you first listen to the album. And Emmanuel God with Us shows the true meaning of the holidays. I haven't stopped playing this album and don't plan to. It's a beautiful addition to any Christmas music collection.

Point of Grace has scored another big hit with the release of A Christmas Story. There is something on this album for everyone, as we all have different musical tastes. If you like contemporary music, you'll enjoy "When Love Came Down", "Emmanuel, God With Us", "Light of the World", "One King", and "Not That Far From Bethlehem". If you like symphony style classics, you'll love "Carol of the Bells/What Child is This", "Joy to the World", and "O Holy Night". If you are into a jazzy sound, you will find "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" appealing. If you like celtic or midieval sounds, you'll savor "How Great Our Joy" and "Coventry Carol". If Glen Miller big band 40's style appeals to you, I think you'll like "Let It Snow/Sleigh Ride" and "Jingle Bell Rock" which is plain fun to listen to and sing along. "Angels We Have Heard on High" is a new rendition of an old hymn, and it gives a little spice to the familiar. If you want a new twist to classic songs or if you are hungering for some more gorgeous Point of Grace harmony and interest, A Christmas Story should be included in your Christmas stocking!

This CD is a fine display of the talents of Point of Grace in a Christmas setting. The arrangements are excellent, and the vocal performances are exactly what one would expect from POG. The covers of Christmas standards ring with freshness, and the original tracks are far better than most of the other Christmas fare I have heard over the past few years. I particularly enjoyed the "Let It Snow!/Sleigh Ride" medley, which has a nice 40's feel to it, and the haunting "One King". Although I am a POG fan, I believe that even if you've never heard them before, you will thoroughly enjoy this album.

This is an amazing CD by a bunch of amazing women. This is one of the best Christmas CDs I have purchased in a long time. I highly recommend this CD if you are looking for some wonderful Christams music that will remind you how special Christmas really is.

I buy at least one new Christmas CD each year, and of my collection of around 20 Holiday CD's this is by far the best! This is the first Point of Grace selection I have purchased- after seeing them on TV I was hooked! Their original songs are excellent and their arrangements of classical songs is a refreshing change. "When Love Came Down", "Not Far from Bethlehem" are my favorites! A wonderful Christmas selection for all ages. My kids love it too. Buy this one... it is a keeper.

I have to admit I'm a sucker for Christmas music. However, one CD that gets repeated on my CD player at any time of the year is this one by the extremely talented group POG. The instrumentals are beautiful and when accompanied by the women's vocals, provide emotional impact at every listen. The songs dealing directly with our Savior's birth are vivid reminders of why we are celebrating the holiday in the first place without being preachy. The secular songs showcase the fun and joy of being together with family and friends. Overall, I think this is POG's best work.

Point of Grace has offered an astounding number of tunes on this - one of the best Christmas CDs of the decade. Move over Amy, the Point of Grace girls have outshined you this year. Every song flows easily into the next, creating sort of a Christmas suite, and the original songs quickly become favorites. The Michael Tait song was a work of genius. The girls have never sounded better. Their talent shines on the songs "Santa Claus is Coming to Town," "Carol of the Bells," and "When Love Came Down." This CD will stay in your CD player all Christmas long if you get it. And even if you're not a Point of Grace fan, it's worth a try. This is a CLASSIC.

As I write this, I am listening to the Motown-style "Jingle Bell Rock". It is one of my favorites in the album, and it just makes me lie in front of a fireplace and watch the snow fall outside. This was a very well done album, and Point Of Grace deserves my props! I loved how the instrumental "Joy To The World" gave an introduction to what the album was going to be like. Favorites of mine were the combination of "Let It Snow" and "Sleigh Ride", "One King", and "Not That Far From Bethlehem". The girls' voices are in top form, and they stretched their limits on this album. You've got everything--pop, swing, Motown, big band, jazz, orchestral, and choral. It is a very eclectic album, and a must-have for Point Of Grace fans and Christmas music fans everywhere!

Point of Grace's Christmas effort brings their sound to the holiday effectively. The arrangements of the traditional carols shines, especially "Carol of the Bells/What Child is This?," "O Holy Night," and their high energy "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." I was a little disappointed with the new songs, but do enjoy "Not That Far from Bethlehem" and absolutely love "One King." Musically, the album feels like a Christmas album, making it an instant classic.

This CD is everything you would expect from Point of Grace on a Christmas album and should be bought, enjoyed, and treasured from year to year. Add it to your collection today.