Customer Reviews

Joy

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Avalon is one of my favorite CCM groups, and when I heard they were coming out with a christmas album, I couldn't wait to get it! Now I finally have it, and it's one of the best christmas cds I've heard. My favorites on collection are Joy(to the world), The Angels Medley, Light a Candle, and Don't save it all for Christmas day. It is hard to choose favorites though, since it's all fantasic!

Joy (to the World)- This song is really up beat! I love it. It really gives off the holiday feel! Their voices really blend well.

The Angels Medley- This is a great mix of The first noel, Angels we have heard on high, and hark the herald angels sing. It's cool how it starts out soft and slow, and then rises to a hip hop carol!

Don't save it all for Christmas Day- This song is one of the most beautiful christmas songs I know. The whole message just gets to you. Jody does a great vocal job here. The overall song is so gorgous.

Jesus Born on this Day- The song is very pretty. The choirs that sing with Avalon on this add a great touch. This one is very well done.

Winter Wonderland- You can tell that Avalon really gets into this one! It has alot of energy in it. It has the same sound of Point of Grace's "Santa Clause is comin' to town".

Light a Candle- Great song! It has a very rich harmony in it. I love the message of this one also.

Good News- This one isn't one of my ultimate favorites, but I like it just as well. It has good harmony with the choirs.

The Christmas Song- This is one of my favorite christmas classics, and I'm glad they decided to put it on the cd.

Manger Medley- This is a very good mix of O come O come Emmanuel, Away in a manger, O little town of Bethlehem, and Silent night. Although not as up beat as the Angels Medley, it is still well made. The orchestra is fantastic on this song.

We are the Reason- To conclude the album, this song is very fitting. A very beautiful message; we are the reason Christ came to die for us.

This collection of gorgous christmas classics and new carols will be played in many homes during the holidays. That I'm sure. Avalon is a very talented group, and spreading God's love makes it even better. I can't wait till Oxygen (thier next studio release) comes out! God bless!

I received an early copy of this CD about four months ago (in June) and, as hard as it is to get into the Christmas spirit in the middle of Summer, it hasn't left my CD changer yet! This is one of the best possible combinations of Christmas songs and styles put together to date. The four amazing voices of Avalon (Jody McBrayer, Janna Potter, Cherie Paliotta, and Michael Passons) come together to form some of the most amazing vocal experiences you'll ever hear. This recording features both original songs (Joy, Good News, etc...) and classic favorites (Angels We Have Heard On High, The Christmas Song, etc...). The album also represents a large range of musical genres. From the big band feel of "Winter Wonderland," to the slick pop production of "Joy," to the jazzy "Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)," to the choral "Good News." One amazing highlight is the first single from the album "Don't Save it All For Christmas Day" sung by powerhouse tenor, Jody McBrayer. If you like Avalon at all or you like Christmas music at all (and especially if you like both!) pick up a copy of Joy: A Christmas Collection!

This is the finest Christmas recording I have ever heard. What a perfect compliment to anyone's holiday collection. These four are at their finest on "Joy." I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a new Christmas treasure to be enjoyed year after year. One of my favorite moments on the record is the resurrection of "We Are The Reason." What a wonderful new take on this moving song. Passons and Potter sound exceptionally good on their particular songs.

In one word: Fantastic. In two words: Breath taking... In three words: A must have....

What I'm trying to say here is, this album is a beautiful, peace on earth, good will towards man, type of cd. You'll find yourself tapping your toes, listening to this exquisite Winter Wonder Land of serenades. Great for parties and family get togethers, I assure you if you put this album on for your friends and family it won't be a Silent Night.

I really enjoy Avalon's music, so buying their Christmas CD was a no-brainer. Even though I expected a lot from this CD, it exceeded my expectations. This album has everything from medleys of familiar carols, artistically done, to a very lively and fun "Winter Wonderland" to what is destined to be a new Christmas classic "Don't Save It All For Christmas Day".

I especially love the last track "We Are the Reason", which was originally written and recorded by David Meece many years ago. This is an appropriate and very beautiful ending to a fine CD. We ARE the reason that He came into our sinful world, we ARE the reason that he suffered and died.

I also recommend Sheila Walsh's new Christmas CD "Peace: A Celtic Christmas" and "One Silent Night" which has songs sung by different artists such as Ginny Owens and Cindy Morgan.

Please check out my reviews of Christian music and books!

Merry Christmas!

I cannot say enough good things about this CD. I bought it at Christmas and have been playing it almost daily since... I Don't forsee putting it away until next year either. Songs like, "Light a candle" and "Don't save it all for christmas day" help me to keep the Christmas spirit every day. There have been weekends since I bought this that I will listen to the whole CD 6-8 times straight from start to finish. I will never tire of this cd, or the sounds or the message it contains. Thank you, Avalon. You have brightened my life.

Avalon has always had a way to sing with energy and harmony, and this album will continue those things. Some of the best songs from here are:

We Are The Reason
This is simply the best rendition I've heard. Nothing else can be said.

Don't save it all for Christmas day
This is too the best rendition I've heard. I prefer this to Celine's original version. You must hear it yourself to feel the energy from this group.

Winter wonderland
For heave jazz lovers, this track is AMAZING! It's crazy, it's fun, it's just WOW! If only they can make songs with big band style once in a while, that'd be great!

Angels medley
This is quite good but it can't compete with those 3 songs above.

I'm a piano player at church and bought this CD because I had to play "Jesus Born on this Day" and needed to hear the original version.
I really didn't expect to like any other songs because I'd really never listened to Avalon much. I listened....and I was hooked!
I've never really liked the song "WInter Wonderland", but that was before I heard the version on this CD. It's crazy, it's cool and totally addicting.
Their version of Joy to the World is the same way. Totally new and upbeat.
This is a Christmas CD that I keep listening to. It's almost March and I still am listening to it!
Since this CD, I've become a huge fan of Avalon, and I recommend, in addition to this CD, their Greatest Hits: Testify to Love CD.

Ever since Avalon first entered the music scene with their unique blend of vocal harmony and pop music, they've consistently released stellar CD's and had radio hits galore. With this CD, they turned their sound toward Christmas music, with great results.

The CD opens with my favorite track. "Joy (to the World)" uses the familiar carol as the chorus in a call to remember the joy in what we are really celebrating.

That is the only truly original song, although the CD is filled with covers of lesser known Christmas songs from recent years, like "Don't Save it All for Christmas Day" and "Jesus Born on this Day." And I must give special mention of their version of "We Are the Reason." I've heard many different versions of the song, but this is the first time I think I've ever seen it recorded on a Christmas CD, and I love it for the close.

They also cover several Christmas classics. Not that you'll recognize them right off. Most unique is the incredibly big band, incredibly fast "Winter Wonderland." Trust me, you've heard nothing like this before, but it's fun just the same. They do a more traditional version of the chestnut "The Christmas Song." Two medleys of traditional carols with an Avalon arrangement complete the familiar song category. "The Angels Medley" is upbeat fun while "Manger Medley" reflectively contemplates that Baby in the manger.

The biggest problem with this CD is that it is too Avalon. While I enjoy it, its arrangements are different enough that it doesn't quite work to get me in the Christmas mood. Still, it gets pulled out on a regular basis, especially when I'm looking for a slight break from the familiar sounding during the month of December.

Ultimate, if you like Avalon, you'll like this CD. Just don't expect it to sound familiar on the first go around.

I never buy Christmas CD's; my feeling is that once you've heard one Christmas song, you've heard them all. But, Avalon is totally different. I was amazed by the quality of the voices and the unique arrangement of each song. Since we are speaking of favorites, my personal favorite on the CD is "Jesus Born on This Day." I first heard the song on the radio, and I knew immediately that I had to have the CD based on that song alone. The female soloist has an amazing voice and the three different choirs (children's, boys, adult) are an incredible addition! My second favorite is "Don't Save it All for Christmas Day." The male soloist on that song is awesome. Needless to say, it's almost February, and I'm still listening to the CD. Buy it, you will not regret it!