Customer Reviews

Holiday Spirits

5 star:		(274)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This album is a PERFECT addition to your Christmas CD collection! There are classic Christmas songs, NEW Christmas songs, and twists of your favorites. You MUST listen! These guys are fantastic!!

My favorites are (of course) The 12 Days of Christmas (absolutely amazing!!!!), Santa Claus is Coming To Town, Indiana Christmas (original song that is wonderful...especially since I'm from Indiana!), and my favorite of all....Auld Lang Syne. You've never heard Auld Lang Syne arranged like this before!

It's amazing! Buy it today!!!! I'm already in the Christmas spirit and it's not even November yet! :)

Straight No Chaser's "Holiday Spirits" is a must have addition to your Christmas music collection. While you may have many of these songs already in your collection, Dan Ponce and Walter Chase's arrangements and the tight a cappella harmonies Straight No Chaser fuses together are more than worth adding repeats to your collection. They also include two original songs, "Christmas Wish" and "Indiana Christmas", written by Dan Ponce the founder of the group.

Their humor is never more apparent than in their live version of "The 12 Days of Christmas", the only live song on the album. The song truly encompasses the feeling of watching them on stage, which I have been privileged to do many times throughout the 10 years since they were formed.

Give it a listen, or two, or three, add it as a permanent feature on your iPod, in your CD player, and have a Merry Christmas!

After watching these guys on Youtube for over a year and loving their performances, I bought the cd in hopes they could keep the same beautiful harmonics and they didnt disappoint. AFter listening to the songs, I had to order more to give out as gifts this year. Couldnt think of a better way to spread the holiday cheer and share the passion and joy of the season. These guys have done a phenomenal job and I'm just thrilled they were able to share it with us.

Santa Claus is coming to town was arranged so beautifully, it became an instant favorite.

Jingle Bell Rock was always a favorite, but with their wonderful voices, it makes the instrumental version seem cheesy.

The Christmas song was never one of my personal faves, even with classic performers. But it fits perfectly with a 10 voice group that can show the true definition of how it SHOULD be done.

This Christmas is a fun song that you just cant hold still for. As soon as Jerome starts to sing, you cant help but bounce along.

Christmas Wish is a beautiful song and Dan Ponce did a fantastic job on the lyrics and arrangement.

Hark the Harald Angels Sing/Angels We Have Heard on High is a truly inspirational piece that brings out the feeling of the season. Their arrangement sounds like heaven opened up and allowed us the chance to hear a brief glimpse of perfection.

Little Saint Nick is probably one of my favorites. Like so many of their songs, they blew the original artists out of the water with their rendition!

12 Days of Christmas never gets old. I'm absolutely addicted to it. If I hear another version, I get mad and ask 'Where's Africa?" Now the song seems weak without it!

Indiana Christmas is another triumph by Dan. This song is tied for my all time favories. Though I'm from and live, in another state, this song makes me want to go to Indiana and feel the love and peace that seems to draw these guys to it. Perhaps thats why they're all so blessed. The atmosphere and people bring out the best. :D

Sweet Little Jesus Boy was a song I was unfamiliar with but was an instant hit. Steve does such a wonderful job.... you will cry. The song is so touching and sad, and its performed in such a way that you couldnt ask for a better presentation. Jesus is smiling!

Christmas is such a fun and quick tempo song that you cant help but sing along.

Carol of the Bells was beautiful done on Youtube but they surpassed themselves with the new arrangement. Charlie's deep voice resonates like a real bell and pulls you into the song. Just... wonderful!

Silent Night has a tendancy to get old with some artists but not with these guys. The alteration and mix of their voices add a fresh approach to an all time favorite.

Auld Lang Syne was never one of my favorites. Couldnt stand the song for the longest time. Now, with these fabulous guys in control of the harmony, I can't get enough of it. I find myself humming it all the time and listen to it with the speakers on full!

ALl in all, I would say the guys rank a 100, which no other group could possibly attain. Each of the ten guys gets a perfect 10. They are so talented.

This CD is definately worth every penny! I garantee you won't be disapponited by their performance.

If you like Holiday music, you will absolutely love this one. A fresh, current sound that will appeal to all ages. A must for the holidays !!

i will be playing this CD with my Christmas tree, stockings, while serving eggnog to my friends. it is a much needed addition to anybody's Christmas collection. bravo to the straight no chaser guys!

I somehow missed the YouTube phenomenon last year of 12 Days of Christmas. My old favorite used to be Kenny Roger's version of having audience members come on stage to sing it with him with hilarious results. That is nothing compared to the way SNC does it. By far the best and most entertaining. This cd is a must have on your Christmas list. Every song is artfully done and a pleasure to listen to. Pure Christmas joy.

I became enamoured with Straight No Chaser when I found them on YouTube a year ago. I proceeded to buy their 10 year reunion DVD and it was fabulous! I watched the promos for Holiday Spirits and purchased it post haste and it certainly didn't disappoint. I don't know what Dave Ponce's musical background is, but he is very talented as are all of the members of the group and I hope they set up a US tour in the near future. My favorites on this CD are the group's updated version of Auld Lang Syne, Dave Ponce's original Indiana Christmas and, of course, the song that made them famous The Twelve Days of Christmas.

This is a great change of pace in today's world of overmixed & digitially created music. While these guys are the result of today's YouTube world, this is straight unaltered acappella voices coming together to make some really wonderfully fresh music. I liked this CD so much I bought six for Christmas presents. I hope they come out with another CD soon.

In one word; FANTASTIC. The vocals are smooth, blended, and right on...who needs instrumental accompaniment! A superb addition to a Christmas music collection. This CD will be right in there with my "Manheim Steamroller" Christmas music.

I am not big on Christmas music but I saw the Straight No Chaser video's on YouTube and I was impressed. I purchased the cd to throw a little support their way and was very impressed by their arrangements of some old classics and the song "Indiana Christmas" actually made me wish I was from that state. I am quite happy with my purchase and I think that most people who buy it will be impressed.