Garth Brooks and The Magic of Christmas

Garth Brooks

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 23, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00003001Q
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #77,421 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Or, Will my fans forgive me for Chris Gaines? At this point, it's awfully hard to resist cynicism when it comes to the former (and future?) Chris Gaines. Brooks has settled in for an easy-listening, big-band, middle-of-the-road holiday album. Song selections, arrangements, even the title are all standard-issue Yuletide fare with only the hat on the cover to remind folks that Brooks is allegedly a country singer. This is certainly acceptable when Brooks invests the tunes with the emotion and sincerity necessary; it is atrocious when he doesn't. At its best, the CD is a mildly entertaining, leisurely holiday stroll with no surprises. At its worst moments, it sounds like the work of a two-bit, commercial-jingle hack. It's doubtful Brooks spent a great deal of time or effort putting this collection together--and he needed to pull a few songs off of 1992's Beyond the Season (a better though now-unavailable Xmas effort) just to flesh it out. But the truth of the matter is that releasing a Garth Brooks Christmas album is like printing money. The magic of Christmas? Garth Brooks's commercial power. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's the most wonderful Christmas CD of the year!, November 26, 1999

By	Josh Renninger (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This CD is so awesome. I have his "Beyond The Season" CD, which was good. This one is a lot better; although he does have some of the same songs on this one, and I can't tell a difference between the two song recordings. But the other tracks make up for this... besides they were good songs off of the first one, and seeing as to how you can't buy that one anymore, it's a good deal. "Baby Jesus Is Born" is by far the best song on the album. It's an upbeat, enjoyable song. the traditional songs are great too. The best are "O Little Town of Bethlehem" "Go Tell It On The Mountian" "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" and "The Wise Men's Journey" is a great instrumental song. Do youself and everyone in your house a favor and buy this CD... Spread a little holiday cheer!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice addition for your Christmas music library, December 7, 1999

By	Jon Eric Davidson (Redmond, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having been disappointed at Garth for delving into this whole "Chris Gaines" schtick, it came as a great relief to see this CD released for the holiday season. These days it seems like anyone with a heartbeat is releasing a Christmas CD, and the result is an overcrowded field of marginal holiday music. Garth's, however, is a welcome addition. His versions of (mostly) traditional Christmas songs are immaculately done. For the most part, Garth manages to avoid the "twang" in his vocals, and he is backed up wonderfully by a string section, choral group, and some very nice guitar work. However, where most artists compile similar backup musicians, Garth's is not overblown or overemoted. My favorite track right now is "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", which I think is one of the finer versions of that song that have ever been done. Heady words, I know, but it is very nice. If you buy only one Christmas CD this season, make it this one; you will truly enjoy it. For the Garth Brooks fans, it's a great effort, and certainly a better addition to his catalog than the last couple CD's he has released.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must buy, November 23, 1999

By	OJ (USA) - See all my reviews

This cd is super good. I may be an avid Garth fan, but when it comes to Christmas cds I am a lot more skeptical with my selections. Garth does a great job with his latest release, filling the cd with staple songs. This is a very good album and I would highly recommend it.