Customer Reviews

Holiday Songs And Lullabies

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As an ardent fan of Shawn Colvin, I must admit I had my doubts when I first heard her new album would be a Christmas release featuring lullabies. In my opinion many holiday albums tend to be pretensious and lack originality. And lullabies? Not exactly what I was hoping for from my favorite singer/songwriter. However after I listened to the first track I was won over.

The beauty of this album is in its simplicity. None of songs sound contrived or overdone, but rather make the most of Shawn's subtle voice and distinctive style. Whether accompanied by a guitar or a brass choir, the arrangments never over power. I was surprised how much I enjoyed listening to this album. Also, like with the Cover Girl album, I discovered some old songs I never knew that have become favorite.

It is a very soothing and relaxing album that does not compromise Shawn's body of work.

This is indeed a beautiful album. It opens with the traditional "In the Bleak Midwinter" and then goes directly into the classic "Christmas Time Is Here" from "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Another traditional but seldom heard number is "Rocking", and then there's the haunting lullaby, "All Through The Night". "Silent Night" is the one absolute Christmas standard here. And "Close Your Eyes", Brahms Lullaby, is heard from time to time on Christmas CDs, though it isn't truly a Christmas song. However, with Shawn's voice, all of these are good.

Regretfully, I can't put this album into the same category that I have put CDs by other female vocalists such as Judy Collins, Natalie Cole, Anne Murray, or Julie Andrews. But this is a good folksy type classic record to own.

My dad is an avid Shawn Colvin fan, and so I've grown up listening to her in the car, on road trips, while making dinner, and sitting around the living room. I used to be irritated by it (apparently, I would have much rather had been listening to my Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas cassette tape). But now, I'm the biggest fan of Shawn's songwriting and her music. This CD lulls me to sleep at night after a stressful day, even mid-July, and is a staple around my house at Christmastime. I've never really liked Christmas albums, but this one isn't typical. Be prepared for a pleasant surprise. There's a nice mixture of Christmas and wintery sitting-by-the-fire-in-my-slippers music, as well as some sweet, rare lullabies that showcase Shawn's amazing voice. I love this CD. So will you. Also, check out her other CDs...Steady On, Cover Girl, and A Few Small Repairs are all wonderful CDs, as well.

I spotted this CD last year when looking for Christmas music and instantly fell in love with it. I quickly bought up a few more copies to give as "just-for-nothing" gifts for my friend who was expecting at the time, and my sister, who will have her baby next month. They both found the CD incredibly soothing and lovely. I just wish the book that provided the inspiration wasn't so difficult to find now!

I have a whole collection of Christmas/Holiday CDs and albums, ranging from the Winter Solstice series on Windham Hill to Hipster Holiday to Ella Wishes You a Swingin' Christmas. I'm always looking for a worthy addition to add to my holiday cheer. This is a great find. Not only does Shawn sing with great feeling , the arrangements are impeccable. While there are a couple of standard "Christmas Carols" on the CD, I really enjoy the less well-known numbers. The musical accompaniment by such luminaries as Mark Egan (bass) and Shawn Pelton (drums) is sympathetic and heartfelt. Light the fire, relax, enjoy the holiday season

Don't listen to the nay-sayers! This is an incredible album that shows a different, truly lovely side of Colvin. It is especially touching to remember that she put this album together when she was pregnant with her first child. When you listen with that in mind, her heartfelt renditions of these gentle songs seem all the more sweet. Children and adults alike will love to listen to this cd that became an instant holiday favorite in my house.

I bought this cd last Christmas due to the recommendation of a record store owner(one of the last indies!). I had never purchased a Shawn Colvin cd before. As a mother of a 6 month old, I was looking for a soothing lullaby cd to play in the car when errands ran a bit into naptime. Let me tell you, this cd is a WINNER when it comes to fussy, sleepy children. It has yet to fail when it comes to calming my baby AND me. I can't thank Shawn Colvin, Maurice Sendak and my friend at the record store enough for this wonderful cd.

As the title might imply, this is a very mellow album that might send you to sleep if you are in any way tired. But if you were to fall asleep while this CD is playing, you'd miss some great music. The book from which Shawn selected these carols and lullabies obviously contains many songs that are rarely heard these days, making this particularly interesting for those looking for something different, though there one song here that is famous all around the world - Silent night, which works as a lullaby as well as a carol.

The opening track, In the bleak midwinter, is a wonderful old English carol and it's great to hear this sung by an American - a rare occurrence. Rocking is another old English carol, one that is particularly suited to this album, being both a holiday song and a lullaby. All through the night is a carol I've heard before but recordings of it seem to be even rarer than Rocking and In the bleak midwinter.

Elsewhere, there are beautiful songs such as Windy nights (words by Robert Louis Stevenson), All the pretty li'l horses, Little road to Bethlehem and Love came down at Christmas. The final track is Close your eyes, so it seems that Shawn really does want you to fall asleep after that.

This is definitely not a typical Christmas album but very soothing - and very satisfying.

Colic! Oh no! While searching for every possible soothing technique for my little uncomfortable baby, I put Shawn Colvin's lullibies/holiday CD on and it really helped. Hard to find a CD your baby AND you can enjoy! Pretty songs, angelic voice and simple arrangements. Thank you for making my baby feel better.

I was, at first, slightly confused by Shawn's selection of songs until I happened upon a copy of Lullabies and Night Songs, from which many of the songs on the album were taken. It is a book of very simple arrangements of familiar (and not-so-familiar) childrens' songs and poetry by Alec Wilder. One of the beautiful things about his arrangements is that they sound so simple, while they are quite harmonically complex.

Shawn's endearing, wavering voice and intelligent re-arrangement of some of the songs only adds to the already endearing quality of the music.

The last song on the album, Close Your Eyes, really hit me; Shawn's voice sounds so thin and glass-like...it makes me smile every time I hear it.