O Holy Night

Sara Groves | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dedicated
• ASIN: B001FBSM8K
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,135 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Classic Christmas with a uniqueness that is Sara Groves. O Holy Night evokes all that is good, warm and friendly during this special season showcasing perennial Christmas favorites as well as four new original songs. Guest feature artist is Toby Groves. She was named one of the best Christian music artists of 2005 and the album, Add to the Beauty, was named "Album of the Year" for 2005 by CCM Magazine. Sara was the subject of a film released in August 2006, titled "Sara Groves - Just Showed Up For My Own Life", the first installment of a new reality film series called Nomad: The Show With No Home produced by Fearless Films Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Nice Album, November 13, 2008

By 

Troy McClure (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: O Holy Night (Audio CD)

I actually would like to rate this album 4.5 stars. It's not perfect, but its highs pull it towards 5 stars more than its lows pull it towards four stars.

I often think that artists tread upon dangerous ground when they alter the melodies of all-time favorite hymns and carols. Sometimes it works (see Fernando Ortega), often it doesn't. Sara Groves alters the melodies of several standard carols on this album, and I have to say, the results are fabulous. They are actually the strength of the album in my opinion. In particular I found "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" to be excellent renditions that I am excited to add to my Christmas music rotation.

In addition to the standard carols, there are also a handful of original songs. I don't have anything against original tunes on a Christmas album, but I often find them to be inferior to the standard carols (I have to admit, I'm a sucker for all the carol favorites). On this album I had a range of reactions to the various original tunes. Most of them I would put in the "actually pretty good" category, but one of them - "To Be With You" - is as beautiful and any Christmas carol out there. It will definitely be in the rotation for Christmases to come.

The reason why I would give it 4.5 stars instead of 5 stars is because there are, in my opinion, a couple clunkers on the album. Of course, music is all a matter of personal preference, so don't let this criticism keep you from checking out this album. Specifically, I found the original song "It's True" to be a bit treacly for me, and the song "Toy Packaging," while kind of quirky and fun, is also a little too, I don't know, quirky and fun for my tastes. But of course, that's just my tastes.

On the whole though, I highly recommend this album. It's one of the best to come out in recent memory.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Christmas music, June 30, 2009

By 

R. Cummings "bean" - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: O Holy Night (Audio CD)

This Christmas CD does have some well-known songs as well as some original songs, but beware if you like traditional tunes this may not be the CD for you. Sara came up with her own arrangements/music for traditional songs. They are good, but I was a bit disappointed because I am one of those weirdos who likes to have twenty different Christmas CDs all with the same songs, same tunes, just different voices.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars O Holy Night, October 17, 2009

By 

M. Pearson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: O Holy Night (Audio CD)

I completely love this cd. I love Sara Grove's music, but wasn't sure I wanted this cd; just because I didn't think I needed another cd of the same Christmas songs. My husband gave this to me last Christmas. I downloaded it to my ipod and listened, on our way "home" to be with family. The songs settled a joy and peace in my spirit and attitude. This in turn got my focus on the true meaning of Christmas-God and the peace and hope He delivered through his son Jesus. Recently, I have been listening to the songs in a shuffle and they always lighten my burdens and give me strength for the day. Thanks Sara!!!! I've just ordered your new album!!!