Customer Reviews

Family Force 5: Christmas Pageant

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you love Family Force 5, well then, YOU NEED THIS. If you don't, or have never heard of them, you're missin' out.

I discovered Family Force 5 on Pandora and liked everything I heard from the few songs that were played, so I bought, at the time, all three albums, which included Christmas Pageant. This was back in March, so I had no desire to listen to Christmas music that early, or late, depending on how you look at it. Enter the 2011 holiday season and I fire it up... only to find myself disappointed.

A little background info. I grew up celebrating Christmas, but without the singing, decorating or Christmas cheer. Only the occasional school play or a special event would have me singing Christmas period. Fast forward a dozen or so years and I am a father of three, married to a woman who was the polar opposite of me at Christmas time. Long story short, through my wife, practically being Mrs. Claus herself in Christmas cheer, has helped me love the Christmas season and go out of my way to sing traditional, classical and modern Christmas tunes, fully embracing the season.

Now, FF5 has some great music, but I feel like they failed to deliver here. As I listened to each song, it felt like the album became progressively worse. In fact, I became convinced that the music just comes across as too silly to enjoy. Some of the bass lines and tunes sound great and with some small changes, would have worked well for a standard FF5 song. Compared to other great Christmas albums by other Christian artists, like Third Day's Christmas Offerings, Mercy Me's The Christmas Sessions, Chris Tomlin's Glory In The Highest, or Michael W. Smith's Christmas, Christmastime, and It's A Wonderful Christmas, FF5's Christmas Pageant seems to lack the Christmas spirit; not a single one of the songs gave me a Christmas vibe or helped me feel the holiday cheer.

The icing on the cake was my wife, also a FF5 fan, being put off by this album, and she is far more open with her musical tastes than I am. Even Relient K, a great Christian rock band well known for their zany material, put out a Christmas album that we both enjoyed. I am no less of a FF5 fan because of this album, I just wish they went a different direction than applying their style directly to Christmas music.

It seems that every year I hear yet another person expressing their hate for Christmas music. After all, it's the same classics spelled the same different ways, by the same voices. For these people, there's a sub-genre called 'Dysfunctional Christmas,' which is home to classics such as 'Yingle Bells' & 'Christmas In Hollis.' Family Force 5 is clearly aiming for this, and for these people, because you can bet that Christmas Pageant is nothing like anything you've ever heard. You'll either love it or hate it, but there is no middle ground here. You may just stare blankly in confusion the first few times you listen to it.

Highlights Include:
Christmas Time Is Here
Angels We Have Heard On High
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Twas The Night Before Christmas
It's Christmas Day

Musically, this falls somewhere between a toned down 'Dance or Die' and a more electronic 'Party In the Back.' You'll find an assortment of electronic instruments on this album, the crunk quasi-rapping of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' and even a chipmunk finds its way onto here. Some songs like 'Do You Hear What I Hear' like to find itself in a canyon of weirdness only to find itself get out for the chorus, while others like 'Wonderful Christmastime,' play it pretty straight.

As for the original songs, 'It's Christmas Day' wins the award for highlight of the album with a totally laid-back pop direction that's completely new to the band. And surprisingly, they pull it off very well, appropriating the perfect mood of the chorus. It's not a new classic, but it is a very solid song. 'Baby' on the other hand is the lowlight of the album. Evoking the wrong mood, and wallowing in a sense of inappropriateness, this goes beyond the call of weirdness... the less listened to, the better.

Overall, it's not what I was expecting from the band, but if it's one thing you can expect with FF5, it's that you'll get the unexpected. So, if you're one to burn Andrea Bocelli's Christmas album when you get it in Secret Santa, or you're just a fan of the band, then by all means, at least give it a try. If however you're rocking out to David Archuleta's Christmas album, then by all means, stay far away. FF5 will scare the Frankincense and Myrrh right out of you.

One of the greatest and most original bands ever. If you are already a fan of this amazing christian group, then you will love this cd. Family Force 5 takes christmas music to a whole new level with this mind blowing cd!

While I cannot whole-heartedly recommend FF5 due to their objectionable "III" album, this album is fantastic! Fun and entertaining, with creative music making Christmas classics all their own. I especially like "The Baby" and "Carol of the Bells". Think the spin on "Drummer Boy" is clever, too "...on my drum, machine, watch me play, this thing". FF5 has done Christmas right. Whether you enjoy Christmas music or not, if you like FF5 you will probably enjoy this album as some of their best work. However, if you are just in it for the Christmas music and know nothing about FF5 or their style, listen to it first. It is NOT traditional in sound at all. My only complaint is they had to throw in their needless calls to dance, such as "Shaking their tails" on "Carol of the Bells". Come on guys, with this great music, we don't need that, especially on an album celebrating Christ's birth. But overall, great album, guys!

"Girls in white dresses with the blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, silver white winters that melt into the springs, these are a few of my favorite things."

Last year Family Force 5 gave the Christian music scene its own Christmas album. The Family Force 5 Christmas Pageant shows the variety in the sound of the three Olds brothers. Most of the songs are more hard rock and less traditional sounding Christmas songs. The album is a great addition to Generation Y's Christmas album.

They begin the album with the Christmas classic "Carol of the Bells", followed up with "Little Drummer Boy" and Charlie Brown's "Christmas Time is Here."

One of the best tracks on the album is Sound of Music song, "My Favorite Things." It is one of the louder and more rock sounding songs on the album.

They continue with two more classic rock renditions, "Angels We have Heard on High" and "Do You Hear What I Hear." The second is another great track on the album. They capture dialog and narration of the song. "T'was the Night Before Christmas," has a hip-hop feel.

They finish the album with, "It's Christmas Day," "The Baby," and "Wonderful Christmas Time." All three are decent songs but not some of the best on the album.

Whether you are a fan of Family Force Five, or have never even heard of them, this Christmas album will bring sheer joy and happiness to your Christmas season. It will also rock your Christmas season in a way you never saw coming - I guarantee it! I have loved the Family for years now, and was unsure what to expect from their Christmas spin. I needn't have worried though - this thing is true Family Force Five fun and awesomeness. I cannot recommend this album enough. The Carol of the Bells is unlike and rendition of the song I've ever heard. The Drummer Boy plays a drum machine - how "Family" is that?! Christmas Time is Hear - well, I love this song so much to begin with, I was unsure that the Family could do much more for it - they did...it rocks! All the songs on this album rock. Buy it...buy it now!

Simple, a must have to add to any diverse Christmas music collection - dare to branch out, FF5 does not disapoint. We find something new to smile about everytime we listen through the tunes - the boys are on fire with their beats and humor. Do You Hear What I Hear?

This album is really great. Family Force 5 has once again gone above and beyond to bring us an entire album full of Christmas songs. They were originally gonna give us just one song, but they just couldn't help themselves. You might as well call this one their 3rd album because it is that darn good. FF5 has put their spin on these Christmas classics, and yet once again do they put emphasis on covering multiple genres so that the beat stays fresh through the entire play-through. Although, this time around I think they broke a few more barriers and did stuff that sounds new coming from them. These are a few of MY favorite things about them: they are always full of surprises, they keep the music fun, and they work hard to make sure that every one of their songs is most excellent. Oh, and just in case you wanna know, my favorite song on the album is "Little Drummer Boy".

What did we ever do without family force 5 to ring in our holiday season? This album is a Rocking, Dance filled good time to worship our lord to. If you are a fan of the band, you will not be dissapointed. If your in a christmas slump, give it a listen and get crunk. ha. "Do you hear what I hear" and "The night before christmas" are definately fun and a stand alone track on the album "Christmas Day" featuring the Old's brothers father is a very well written and a beautiful song. check it out!