Customer Reviews

Joy for Christmas Day

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You have to give her credit. Instead of trying to surpass her masterful 1993 Christmas album "Good News", Kathy Mattea's second seaonal venture serves as a wonderful compliment to that first effort. This is quite logical since many of the performances of these songs are a result of expanding her concert set list while doing holiday tours for "Good News".

Like "Good News", the arrangements and song selection on "Joy Of Christmas" is superb, and the balance between traditional and contemporary selections is well thought out. Old friend Rob Mathes is called on once again and contributes the outstanding "When The Baby Grew Up". Perhaps the most surprising cover here is Jennifer Knapp's "Sing, Mary, Sing" , which is excellent as well.

Truthfully, everything here is superlative, from the opening "Christmas Collage" to the touching final hidden track, a song about Santa sung by Kathy's father, who (as mentioned in other reviews) unfortunately died while the album was being prepared for release.

Of all the Christmas albums I've bought this season, this is undoubtably the best. It celebrates the true meaning of the season without being "preachy", and does so in an incredibly tastful way. We now have two wonderful Christmas albums to enjoy by Ms. Mattea - something for which we truly can be grateful.

All the songs in this wonderful Christmas collection relate to the birth of Jesus, with four traditional songs, and seven original tracks, of which the beautiful "All Because of Him" was co-written by Ms. Mattea. The songs have a mix of styles that work well together, and it is a CD that should please a wide audience. The production, arrangements and musicianship are all top-notch, and the material excellent; there is not a single weak link in the song list.

The outstanding tracks for me are:
# 1, the exquisite "Straw Against the Chill"(by Bob Franke), with its lovely melody, poetic, moving lyrics, and Kathy's superb interpretation.
# 2, "Baby King" (Marc Cohn), is in the style of a rousing spiritual, and will get you into a hand-clapping, heaven-praising mood.
# 3, the "Extra Track". I had the privilege to be at the Crystal Cathedral, where Kathy performed "Unto Us a Child is Born" and "Angels We Have Heard on High", and explained this add-on, which comes 22 seconds after the final track, "There's Still My Joy" ends. It is of her father, singing acappella a sweet and funny tune from Kathy's childhood; he passed on while she was working on this CD, and this is touching tribute to him from a loving daughter. His voice is rich and full of tenderness, and a blessing to hear.

Kathy has a unique, pure sound, that is expressive and has many colorations, and in this marvelous CD she gives us some joyous, spirit-filled music to add to our Christmas cheer. The sound is very good and total time is 43'22, and because of its outstanding quality and broad appeal, would make a gift appreciated by all music lovers.

Kathy Mattea's JOY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY is the sequel to her 1993 Grammy-winning holiday collection GOOD NEWS. While GOOD NEWS consisted entirely of new (or fairly new) spiritual compositions, JOY FOR CHRISTMAS DAY is far more eclectic. It opens with an intricate "Christmas Collage" that weaves five traditional carols (including the oft ignored "O Come O Come Emmanuel") dealing with the birth of Christ into an Irish folk arrangement. A Celtic flavor also infuses the celebratory "Unto Us A Child Is Born" (dig the penny whistle!) and the stark, pensive "Straw Against The Chill," while the soulful side of Mattea is revealed with the call and response "Baby King" and the funky "When The Baby Grew Up." Mix in an acoustic take on "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (to showcase Mattea's rich, emotive alto) and a version of "O Come All Ye Faithful" that segues from staid, church organ traditional into a full-throated, gospel extravaganza and you've got one of the best albums of the year.

Not that it is an either/or proposition, but I cant help but compare this new Christmas cd with Ms Mattea's previous offering, Good News. First off, let me just say that they are both worthy efforts and better than most of the sappy fodder foisted on the public in the name of Christmas. Unfortunately, next to Nat King Cole's incomparable classic, Good News is my favorite Christmas cd. Ms Mattea set a standard near perfection with that recording, and perfection is a tough act to follow. The year it was released I bought numerous copies and gave them to my friends and family for Christmas gifts. I really think it captured the spirit of Christmas in a new and soulful way. Joy for Christmas is soulful in another sense of the word, less contemplative and more celebrative. The music is a little more all over the map stylistically. While this makes for a well-rounded and interesting listening experience, it does not move me like Good News. A few songs will find a permanent place in my personal Christmas music pantheon, namely "Straw against the Chill", "All Because of Him", and "There's Still My Joy". If you haven't heard it before, "Sing, Mary, Sing" is a great addition, but, in my mind Jennifer Knapp, who wrote and first recorded it, owns the song. All in all, I believe this cd will be among my perennial Christmas favorites, but it hasn't moved Good News from its place next to my heart.

Kathy Mattea has always been kind of an unusual country artist, productively pushing the envelope of the genre without getting too annoyingly self-indulgent or "experimental." She takes a similar approach to Christmas music on this very fine album, which combines modern arrangements of familiar classics with mostly top-notch new compositions. The rocking "Unto Us a Child Is Born" is a nice Isaiah paraphrase, and her sllightly Celtic-flavored rendition of Bob Franke's "Straw Against the Chill" is tremendously moving. The arrangement of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" is the real powerhouse on this program, though: it opens with an organ-based Latin groove and then abruptly segues into strutting gospel, and the result is much more powerful than you might expect. For missteps you have the more self-conscious and mannered "Baby King", and a fairly pedestrian rock setting of "Angels We Have Heard on High." But Mattea's dark, rich voice is effective on even the less transcendant material, and this album can be confidently recommended overall.

As a well-trained singer myself I am very critical of the music I listen to, I adore this album. It's very well done and can only be compared to her previous Christmas album. Her beautiful voice is wonderful, but what I think is her best asset is her choice of material. Choosing a great piece that best shows off a voice is a hard thing. She has chosen a blend of traditional and newer songs that goes with her voice beautifully. I don't have a favorite piece, they are all excellent!!!

it was hard to believe you could ever top your classic GOOD NEWS CD from 1993. Joy to the World? This is a wonderful follow-up just as good if not somewhat better than the first. Your voice has never sounded better and you caress each song with the warmth and beauty of this wonderful Christmas season. The arrangements are superb and the overall effect is like standing before the manger. It's that good. The CHRISTMAS COLLAGE is great--love the way you combine the carols in counterpoint; your arrangements of the chestnuts UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN, ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH and HARK THE HERALD ANGELS are uplifting and fresh. Like hearing them for the first time. OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL...oh what a rendition. Although not one of my favorite carols/hymns, your reworking with the contemporary gospel feel and the pipe organ...oh, my, Joy to the World again! Marc Cohn's BABY KING is a nice change of pace, as aree STRAW AGAINST THE CHILL (gorgeous), ALL BECAUSE OF HIM and SING MARY SING. The heart-wrenching THERE'S STILL MY JOY is touching and reverent. And your Dad's finale is perfect. Oh, what a joy you are to the music industry. Country music may have somewhat abandoned you, but not those fans who realize what a voice you have, what a contribution you have made and continue to make in this generation of rap and hip-hop. Thank God for Narada and for your faith in your talents. God bless, Merry Christmas and thanks for such a wonderful gift!

I have a real "thing" about Christmas music and have a large collection of holiday CDs spanning a wide variety of music styles. If I had to select my top five favorites, this one would make the cut. Her voice is incredible and the music selection a nice mix between traditional songs and some new ones that I absolutely love. This is the first CD by Kathy Mattea that I bought so I'm not coming from the standpoint of a long-time fan.

If you only own a handful of Christmas CDs, this should be one of them. Wonderful!

I love Christmas...and the sounds of the season really set the tones. I love the traditional songs and carols, but am thrilled when I can find new tunes that relay the Christmas Spirit in a fresh new way. Joy for Christmas Day does both wonderfully.

The musical styles vary dramatically from track to track, which is a testament to Ms. Mattea's vocal abilities. Traditional, soulful, spunky, soothing....this CD has it all.

I first purchased this after my dad passed away, and could barely listen to the title track without tears welling up in my eyes. We wondered about the hidden song that plays after that track...now to find out that it is her own father who also has passed makes it even more special.

This is truly a wonderful Christmas album. You won't be disappointed in it!

Listening to this CD is just like opening presents on Christmas morning. Filled with surprises that keep getting better as each new song is unwrapped.

The CD is a blend of the traditional(Hark, The Herald Angels Sing)and newer material (Sing, Mary, Sing). Each song is beautifully arranged and complemented by Kathy's excellent vocal work.

Stand out track: Oh Come, All Ye Faithful which is both a traditional arrangement complete with pipe organ and a contemporary arrangement with live audience applause to conclude it's journey.

This is a joyous CD!!!